Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-28

professional viewpoint be true. Indeed, the
writer confesses that he, himself, is guilty Of
almost going into ecstasy over the Paul Junior
High School every time he attends there a meet
ing of the Brightwood Citizens Association:
for it is really about the best thing the archie
tect has to offer in the nature of an ideal school
building. and yet, half century from now,
it may be as much out of date We might
assume the Seaton Building to be. But to the
boy and the girl who went there to school, it
can never be other than the grandest school,
house on earth.
A T the time the Seaton School was dedicated,
Gen. William T. Sherman lived on I street,
Just opposite. He attended the ceremonies in
1871, and his remarks upon that occasion were
indeed interesting. He said:
Ladies and gentlemen: wish could say
boys and girls, as have been looking for them
all day. When entered this beautiful temple
had not the remotest intention of opening
my mouth, having come on invitation to wit
ness and hear but not to take part in these
ceremonies. Well, I am glad came. I am
the opposite neighbor of your school, and when
last Fall was called upon to join in a gem
eral remonstrance against its erection / re-
fused.
THE school was not welcome on its present
site. It was looked upon by property holders
as "a damage to property, and it is to me
loss of $4,000. Now, to be frank, can see
about me better sites for buildings, and
cannot see why the present one was selected,
but the school house has been built, and of
course, abide by it.
Il have watched its progress; it is beautiful
and commodious-10 large school rooms and
this beautiful hall, which speaks for itself.
Why, it is thousand times better than the
room in which I was educated The little
school in Ohio which attended has given to
the Nation Senators and to Army generals,
but when compared to this edifice it sinks into
1nsignihcance; it is like comparing a hovel to
a palace. All this is right and if it were ten
times handSomer I would say amen
- liked the remarks of Gen. Walker when he
said that it was important to have what is
beautiful before the eye at all times-beautiful
objects are attractive, ugly ones repulsive No
girl is going to take husband that is a dirty
fellow, and she is right. Hence like beautiful
school houses.
II am sure Congress will in the end be fair
for they are not going to let the people of the
District pay the national debt and this is q
part of it. They will do something for your
educational interests in good time.
Keep on building and improving your school
houses Why, in IS years, with the spirit Of
progress which animateS us this will be con.
sidered second-rate school house. and people
will wonder why didn't build bigger and
better ones. This school is not too large not
too good; the neighborhood is perhaps little
better than it ought to be, but for one am
willing to give my time and money if our boys
and girls will only grow up to be worthy of
the country that claims them as her own"
A PARTIAL description of the school given at
the time. which probably holds substan-
TALLY good today follows:
This building occupies most commanding
position, on the healthy and elevated ground
on I street between Second and Third streets
northwest. The ground slopes down at all
points of the compass from this SITE so hap
PLY chosen. The lot is 80 feet front by $50
feet in depth, and contains 500 square feet
The building stands in the center of front, is
So feet trent by "a feet in depth has a base
ment 10 feet in height, two stories of IA feet
and a third story, part of which is occupied
by PUBLIC hall of Is feet in height all meas
ured in the clear floor and ceiling 1t was de-
signed exclusively for male schools The build
ing is approached by doors from the four sides,
opening outward, so to facilitate egresS in
case of alarm. The arched, wide front door is
set back from face of wall in a deep recess for
convenience and relief of the plain exterior
architecture.
'"The basement is appropriated to play
grounds and wash room and the necessary
rooms for janitor There is also a vault so
feet in length and 16 feet in width under the
sidewalk. This contains boiler room and coal
cellars. The first story, the window sS of
which are elevated feet above ground for
obvious reasons, contains four school rooms
with adjoining well fitted-up cloak rooms and
airy passages; the second story has the same
accommodations, and besides it has library
room above the entrance and the third story
contains public hall, occupying SITS square
feet in SIZE and is large enough to contain all
the pupils of the house when assembled. The
finish and proportions of the room are planned
with due regard to the laws of acoustics and
a thorough ventilation. The floor of this hau
rises amphitheatrically from the foot of the
platform.
1.-TWO school rooms, with their dependencies,
are located in the rear of the hall, with store
rooms in the loft above them.