Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-02
MONUMENT HONORS
GUSTS EX-SLAvE
"UncIe Jim" Parks, Last of
Arlington House, Paid
Legion Tribute.

A modest stone monument bearing
an unusual inscription was placed, as
shown in accompanying Illustration, by
the American Legion last week in
Arlington National Cemetery to mark
the grave of old Uncle Jim" Parks,
ex-slave of George Washington Parke
Gusts, the last master of Arlington
House Estate
Uncle Jim" died last August 81 and
because of his long life and faithful
service to the Government, the Sec
rotary of War granted special permits
sion to bury him amid the scenes where
he was born and passed the whole of
his useful and eventful life.
Although Uncle Jim" was never a
soldier himself, he had five sons who
the World War. It was this diStinc-
ton, added to the valuable assistance
he had rendered to the Quartermaster
Generals Office in the restoration work
In and about Arlington House, that
prompted the American Legion to ar
range as final tribute for the perma-
nent marking of Uncle Jim's" grave.
The stone, contributed through Maj.
Julius I. Peyser, past departmental
commander for the District of Column
bia, carries a bronze tablet and sets
forth the epitaph composed by Uncle
Jim'S" friend, Enoch A. Chase.
Extra Tribute by Legion.
Although "Uncle Jim" knew before
he died that his dearest wish to be
buried in Arlington had been granted,
he never knew that the American Le-
gion would erect a monument over his
grave He would have been very proud
of the honor, because he was a rare
and courtly old fellow, slow, dignifled
and Serene-a page out of the past.
When anything pleased Uncle Jim"
or when some honor came to him un-
expectedly, he never for moment lost
his poise. He would take OF his hat,
bow low, and say, "Suh, yo' do me
proud, yo shore do me proud"
On hot. sultry day last August old
Uncle JIM was laid beneath the sod
of Arlington. 1t was a sunless, cloudy
day, and against the threat of rain.
Supt. Robert Dye of Arlington had
erected a large tent over the open grave
that stood waiting to receive "the last
of the homefolks" of Arlington House
Estate. At least threescore of colored
friends and family of Uncle Jim"
gathered beside his grave under the
widespread canvas, while the gray
haired chaplain from Fort Myer SOL
he had finished the soldier firing squad
stepped forward with their pieces and
three times the volley crashed upon the
still afternoon air. Then a trumpeter
stepped forward and from the head of
"Uncle Jim's" grave he blew the solemn
strains of TAPS" Uncle Jim" had
gone home.
"Uncle Jim" had a remarkable and
Photographic mind for an old man of
his race. He could remember way
back with a clearness of detail that
was at times astounding; but he would
not draw upon his imagination when
he lacked true facts. His grandfather
was gift" from George Washington
to his adopted son, George Washington
Parke Gusts, and was the head cook
at Arlington House from the time it
was first built until he died at nearly
100 years of age. In some OF his eX-
pressions "Uncle Jim" was very quaint.
For instance, he knew not the Revolu-
tionary War by that name, but called
it ''Washin'ton's War"
Often Aided Officers.
The Quartermaster Corps officers
brought him over to Arlington time and
that about the old outbuildings
adjacent to the big house, in reference
to the restoration. Uncle Jim knew
Just what had been there three-quarters
of century ago. Upon one occasion
he was telling Lieut.. Col. Charles G.
Mortimer that one of these old out
buildings, formerly used as a kitchen
| and laundry, had had a door at one
end of it once upon time, although
no door could be seen, nor any evidence
of one. The architects thought Uncle
| Jim was INDUCING his fancy and did
not believe him, but thought they had
best explore thoroughly, in any event.
The next day when the workmen cut
through the outside coating of pebble
dash and plaster, sure enough they
found the door, just as the old man
had told them it would be; but walled
up with brick for more than half a
| century, in all probability.
From the time he was old enough
to remember anything at all, Uncle Jim
saw and lived through all the changes
Of Arlington. He played with the Lee
i boys many time, coaSting down the
hill in front of the big house in Winter
time. He knew where all the springs
| were and the names Mr. Gusts had
! given to each Of them. He helped to
build Fort Mcpherson, now in the
| cemetery grounds, and said it was never
| gunned, because the war was over be-
/ fore 1t was entirely completed. He
told me he has seen the Potomac River
| frozen so solid that hundreds of people
congregated upon the ice to hold high
carnival. Frequently they would loose
a rabbit to be run by dogs between
long lines Of people, making lane for
the rabbits and dogs to run between
and that two-horse sleighs would drive
passengers over the ice on the river
| from near Analostan Island to Ions
Bridge and back again for so cents q
head.
\ The Quartermaster Generals ONO
was considerably puzzled about restor.
ing over the south wing p the mansion