Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31


There is copy of the old National Intelligencer
containing news of the almost Incredible vic
tory of Jackson at New Orleans. Nearby is a
bill of the Washington Theater,' corner OF
Eleventh and C streets, near Pennsylvania
avenue. Lessee and manager, j. Wilkes Booth
"a pair of old and rusty shackles hangs on
a wall, one marked as having been used on
board the Nightingale, SLAYER many years ago.
likeness of Mr.. Lincoln when he in
Congress in 1S48 hangs against the wall. The
flag yoke and pennant of the captains gig
belonging to the old frigate Cumberland sunk
by the Merrimac in 1862 are exhibited. Hats
of old firemen's organizations in 1917 and 1927
form conspicuous feature of the lower end of
the room.
OLD WEAPONS.
There is a great variety of weapons cover
ing different periods and representing different
nations. Firearms among the first made,
sabers, swords, cutlaSses, etc. There is suffi-
cient in this one collection of weapons for an
hours interesting study
"Near the front door is large case contain
ing hundreds of articles, many of which are
quaint and curious. A wineglass and small
tun1bler are labeled the identical glasses
out of which JEFF Davis when Secretary of
War. wont to take his regular toddy at
JoSt's liquor store No 1902 Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. A small strip of blanket was taken from
the which inclosed Booths body when it
was delivered TO his friends huge iron key,
rudely made, used to lock and unlock the
smoke house door on Washington's WeStmore-
land County plantation button taken off the
coat of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston on the
field of Shiloh, where he was killed; a cap of
the Mexican Lancers, taken at the battle of
Monterey; Confederate money in different de-
nominations, and Confederate postage stamps;
cane made of limb of a hickory tree which
was cut down by minnie bullets at the battle
of Spotsylvania Court House, May IL, 1854 a
fragment of the Merrimac; German pistol,
made in 1854; a pair of Confederate spurs,
found on the Fair oaks battlefield; the reading
lamp used by Capt. Hall of the Polaris on his
Arctic expedition; a pair of shoes which were
worn by George Washington; button of the
vest of John Brown when captured; lock of
hair Army badge and watch taken from the
body of w. A. C. Ryan after his execution in
Cuba, November, 1879 a hat worn by Gen.
Taylor at the battle of Okechobee, Fla, pre-
sented by Gen. Robert Buchanan, U. S. A.; a
matchbox gum made in 1900; Beau Hickman's
cane and umbrella, also receipt for 81 given
by Beau Hickman to W. d. Wylee, which dollar
paid an initiation fee for one year; the over
shoes worn by President Lincoln on the night
of his assassination and hundreds of other
articles of interest made up the contents of that
case"
A ROUND the corner from the Hancock place.
on the south side of D street between the
engine house and Twelfth street is another his
toric building much older than the one on the
Avenue; for it was erected in 1904 by Gen. John
P Van Ness as his residence, and the corner
building was erected by him at the same time
and rented for business purposes. The latter
has undergone considerable remodeling since it
was first built, but the former is substantially
as it was when erected.
The Van Ness residence, at 1902, was occupied
by the general and Marcia Burnes Van Ness,
his wife until the mansion house at Seven
teenth and b streets northwest was completed
and occupied by them in 1916, and 1t seems
quite likely that Ann BurneS wife Of David, the
original proprietor, died In the ID street resi-
dence.
Van Ness was always q good entertainer, and
loved to have distinguished company around
him, and it was while living on d street that he
was visited by Washington Irving. one Of
Americas most celebrated writer's and the son
Of Scotchman who had enigrated to this
country before the Revolution.
It was while stopping here that Irving in
January 1911, wrote to friend:
ST am delightfully."- moored, head and Stern.'
in the family of John P. Van Ness. brother Of
william p. He Is old friend of mine and
insisted on my coming to his house the morning
after my arrival Inc family Is very agreeapAe.
Mrs. Van Ness Is 3 pretty and pleasant little
woman and quite gay; then there are two pretty
girls likewise, Miss Smith, clean from
Long Island, her father being q member Of
Congress She is n fine, blooming country lass,
and q great belle here You see, I am I'm clover
happy dogl"
And again in the following month we ind
him writing
ITO show you the mode Of life lead, I give
you my ENGAGEMENTS for this week On Monday
dtned with the mess of officers at the Bar
racks; in the evening ball at Van Ness On
Tuesday with my cousin Knickerbocker and
several merry FederaliSts On Wednesday