Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-11

about 1892 He was surely here on April IT,
1894, when he purchased from the commits
sioners lots and of square 37e. Therefore.
this spring might very reasonably have been
called after him from 1894, at least For o
number of years before this-quite awhile be-
fore the Government moved here-it was well
known, and was called Burnes Spring.
Though Dr. Busey, like all of US, was not
beyond making errors, yet he surely did not
intend to convey the impression that this spring
was not known before 1802-18l2. He rather
stated that the spring was covered over during
this period.
It is quite likely that this spring Is stin In
existence. as our correspondent states. but the
writer never saw it, nor does he happen to
know any one who has. Wherever it Is. 1t Is
quite likely leisurely dscharging itself In q
nearby sewer, and its sparkling water may or
may not be able to stand test for purity
at this late day. Personally the wT-ser would
pass 1t up.
Henry E. Davis. who was at or time The
United States district attorney for tl1c District
of Columbia and a man with an unusually E--n
intellect has left to us some OF his III lior 81
of this locality having been born midvsJ ca
the west side of Ninth street. between and +
streets. and continued to live here until h5
had grown to manhood. Mr.. Davis Statenle1is
in part follows:
my recollection of Ninth and F streets
dates from a time before the outbreak OF
the Civil War. was born with
in a half square of the spot and began
going to school in the Fall of 1859. and
lived in the neighborhood throughout
that struggle and for some years after
it had closed. 4"
when I first knew the place the
northeast corner was occupied % now by
the Patent Office, as we have always
called it: the southeast corner by the
residence of Mr.. George C. Whiting, the
northwest corner by tavern known as
the Model House and the southwest cor
ner by the more pretentious hosiery then
known as the Herndon House.
1.-THE Model House was bluish-gray
brick building, quite commodious and
very substantially built, and it was rather
tavern Of the old wholesome Maryland
sort than hotel in the modern sense.
It's proprietor, when I first knew 1t. was
q man named Brewer whom with his
family remember well, one Of the sons
having excited my childish envy and
admiration by attaining the distinction
OF appointment on Cne heCEOpOiCau
Police Force upon or shortly after It's
creation and had my first lesson In law
at the old tavern in the fact that on
one occasion the heartless revenue officers
invaded the premises and seized large
quantity of liquors that had evaded the
stamp tax and poured the same relent-
leSsly into the gutter from which, as 1t
ran toward the old sewer, some Of the
thrifty in the neighborhood caught 1t up
in pitchers, buckets and receptacles Of
various kinds under the considerate indif.
ference of the officers engaged at the
work.
Alongside the old tavern on the west
ran a stream which had been converted
into q sewer, running from point some
distance to the northeast in a south
westerly direction towards the river,
which sewer through many of the squares
which 1t traversed was open and as
remember, was not closed until some time
after the Civil War. ! often, with my
playmates traversed it square after
square. above and below ground The
Columbia National Bank is built either on
the eastern edge Of this old sewer or
directly over it.
"The present Masonic Temple occupies
the site of this old tavern and had
almost forgotten to say that under the
Masonic Temple may still be found
living spring inclosed with masonry and
bearing an inscription showing that 1t
was SO Enclosed during the mayoralty
Of Robert Brent, esq, che first mayor
Of Washington. While on the sidewalk
near the present western line of the
building was a pump, in those days
veritable mecca of all the neighbors and
their servants. because of the excellent
ifU Of ifS