Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-12


along with other members of the Association
of Oldest Inhabitants. In all there were
around hundred of U.S. which is a good turn
out for organization none of whose men,
bers can possibly be under SO and the oldest
of whom 100 years old last August, but
who was not present upon this occasion. The
President and Mrs. Hoover looked fine, and
their greetings and handshakeS were cordial
and sincere. Some mighty fine people, these
Hoovers!
What real country this is, after ALL to live
in, to be able to walk right into the home Of
the Chief Executive of 120,000000 people and
wish him godspeed for the New Year, and
have the wish and compliment returned by
hin-even to the humblest of all the citizens.
Where, oh, where, can one find such simplicity
and democracy! Truly this is Gods own
country.
While guests were waiting in the building for
the line to move, along came Gen. John L.
Clem-Johnny Glen, the Drummer Boy Of
Chickamauga" What career-from drummer
boy at IL to major general, U. S. A., retired.
It is hard to imagine such a gentle, amiable,
lovable man being such a brave and diStin-
Kuished soldier. The Civil War veteran, Of
whom he is one, are fast disappearing, and few
besides he were there to greet the President
Brig Gen. George Richards also was OBJ
served passing by in full-dress uniform, with
badges and all The general is widely known
in Washington, where he takes keen interest
in our patriotic and civic affairs, as does our
own Maj Gen. Anton Stephan of the National
Guard, VINO spoke very cOrQlaly. 1eOIge n.
Carter looking 1.-The top of the morning" also
said Happy New Year" as he wiggled his way
through the crowd.
DR.. Charles Greeley Abbott, secretary of the,
Smithsonian Institution and noted physicist
and astronomer had laid aside his scientific
work for the day to pay his respects to the
first man and the first woman of the land.
EvER so many familiar faces and notable
people were there, including the gentle
manly Col. Startling who looks after Mr..
Hoovers safety as he has successfully that
of his predecessors. While President Wilson
was in health and attending Keth's Theater on
Fifteenth street, Col. Startling always sat near
his chief, and it so happened that the colonels
seat was next to that of the writer, and an ac-
quaintance Sprang up which has continued to
last.
AS we were passing through the East Room
on our way out one venerable member of the
association stopped long enough to say that he
had viewed the remains of Lincoln when the
public was admitted to the White House for
that purpose at the time of his funeral, while
another one said he had shaken hands with
every President from and including Buchanan
down to President Hoover-or a period of
about 20 years
1t was fine day. and big crowd was out
to pay respects to the President at his first
New Year day reception. Perhaps few like
the writer held back and remained in the
building awhile after the customary introduce
ton was over, to muse upon the great events
which have transpired in this historic build q,
ing, though one could easily see that the re-
cepton then going on was in no way to be
compared to some of the great social events
which have taken place there in former days
and which have contributed toward making the
old mansion famous at home and abroad.
Still within the memory Of many, for in
stance, is the wedding which took place there
nm Nov fho rtiroy Nortio holm
Agernon Charles Frederick Sartoris and Ellen
Wrenshan Grant-or plain Nellie Grant, If you
wish-the only daughter of the President,
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. Nellie Grant was
sweet and charming girl and her marriage in
the White House is one of the most notable
events in the history of that building.
Though the writer does not recall ever hav-
ing seen this lady, yet during his childhood
he heard much of her, for his people, prior to
his BIRTH lived I street northwest short
distance west from Minnesota Row." where
Gen. Grant resided in house numbered EOS
from 1866 until he went into the White House
in 1869. NellieS mother did not confine her
daughter to the house, but permitted her to
play with the little girls in the neghborhood,
one of whom happened to be the writer's eld-
est sister. Nellie Grant was always accom-
panied by nurse as a precautionary measure
since the feeling of the war was still quite
fresh in the minds of all, and Lincoln's as
sassination and the plan at the same time to
kill Gen. Grant most assuredly prompted the
exercise of care and prudence.
COME IS years ago the writer was introduced
to Mrs. Clara Hughes at a large assem-
blage of men and women and in the course
of her conversation she inquired If Katie Proc
tor related to him, and when told that she
was his sister, she feelingly told how a child
she had played with little Nellie Grant when
the general lived in the street house. Though
Mrs. Hughes, whose maiden name was Clara
McElfresh, is no longer with us, and Nellie
Grant and my sister have also passed into the