Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-21

amusement purposes as we'll as for political
meetings.
ONE of the more important events associated
with the history Of this building is that
the Daily Globe, whose owners erected tho
building and later the Congressional Globe,
was published here until 1873, from which date
it became q Government publication, and has
continued to the present time as the Congress
sional Record.
In addition to the inaugural ball Of Presi-
dent Taylor, held at Jackson Hall, at least
three other inaugural balls were held in the
civic center area. One was on March 4, 1888,
at the second Inauguration of Andrew Jackson,
which was held In the Masonic Hall, at the
southwest corner Of John Marshall place and
streets. the building still being in a good
state Of preservation, although the cornerstone
was laid on September 10, 1926, which makes
the structure 1903 years old. Later one Of the
three inaugural balls given for President Will
liam Henry Harrison, in 184l took place here.
The deed to this property which was pur-
chased by B. O. Tyler, was made to Andrew
Tate. Jacob A. Bender, W. W. Seaton and
William Hewitt, the masters, respectively, Of
Federal, Columbia, Lebanon and New Jeru-
salem Lodges. The third story of this building
was used for lodge purposes, while the first
and second floors were rented out.
On the south side of Louisiana avenue, near
Sixth street. not far to the west Of the old
Masonic Hall. for many years stood the WASH
ington Theater, completed about August /,
1921, and opened just one week later, under
the management of Messrs Warren and Wood.
Here was held one Of the three inaugural balls
mentioned as rendered to William Henry Har-
rison, March T. 1841, at which a charge of $40
for oketc fho
local theater of this name, the first one, which
stood at Eleventh and streets northwest,
having been destroyed by fire in 1921. Later
1t became the American Theater and SUISSE
quently the Canterbury.
AS playhouse this building was popular for
many years, and many of the most celebrated
actors who visited Washington in the early
days came to this house. The Joseph jefferson
of our day-so well remembered for his great
impersonation of Rip Van Wnkle-tells us in
his autobiography that 1t was in this theater
that he. when a child, made his debut as the
little Jim Grow, to the big Jim Crow Of
T. D. Rice.
Mr.. JEFFERsON's own version of what
happened at this old theater upon this
particular occasion might be best told in his
own words, when he says:
"Of course this fantastic figure had
great influence upon me, and danced
Jim Grow from the garnet to the cellar.
The comedian saw my imitation of him
and insisted that I should appear for
his benefit, so on that occasion was
duly BACKED up and dressed in a COM
plete miniature likeness of the original
He put me In bag which almost smoth-
cred me and carried me upon the stage
on his shoulders. No word of this pro-
ceeding had been mentioned in the bills,
so that fguratively speaking, the public
was as much in the dark as 7 was
After dancing and singing the first
verse he began the second, the follow
ing being the two lines which intro
duced me:
20 ladies and gentlemen I'd have you
for to know
That I've got little darby here that -
jumps Jim Crow
And turning the bag upside down he.
en1ptied me out, head first, before the .
eyes Of the astOnished audience: =. g.
Rice was considerably over g. feet =
high; was but years Old, and as we