Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-20


but surely disappearing and soon ye
eldest inhabitant will feel oalt Of
place when he visits this neighheR-
hood. Indeed, the writer's experience Of = few
days age leads him to believe that there will
be many sad hearts among the older members
Of our community when they visit this vicinity
again and ind many of these old buildings
removed: buildings in section they knew in
their childhood days-when they went to school,
where they played with the other children Of
the neighhorhood. and where they grew into
manhood and womanhoed while this was still
strictly residential part of Washington.
To the writer's way of thinking. the most
interesting person in tie world is the one who
II growing ola gracefully and charmingly and
whose mind is &C I've and alert and whose
recolIecticns OF e-~7.s OF the past are clear
and reliable. Indeed, We Go not often come In
contact with pers.ja Of sEcil delightful quail
ties and yet IL WIS just that good fortune that
the writer met wiil wiaa he had his guest
for Sunday ait1saaJas iide through the City
Hall section, HRS. Eta King Middleton, relict
of Frank E. AGida,eton. Who was born on the
northwest corner OF Tl.Se.i ard d streets north
west, Just q few feet ro2ta CO the statue OF
Sen. Albert Pike.
Today she Is 7e ycars yoiiz.g that is an
accurate way to put is-fsr this delightful lady
Of neatly four score years could pass for
much younger woman If che cared to- erect rs
the stately n; with complexion that denotes
unusual beauty in early lfe-a real Irish beauty
at That, for her fathers people originally came
to this country from Glen McQuilde, near Gar
yah, Trsland-and eyes-not bedimmed, we
might expect for one of her years-but as clear
and penetrating as those of woman Of 40.
Such person my delightful guest, to-
gether with her daughter, Miss Middleton,
we drove through the streets of the Municipal
Center now strewn with old building material
of all kinds.
OF course, Mrs Middleton pointed out the
che told hon
she was a child. she and the sons of James
Manderville Carlisle would park themselves
under the window of that noted lawyers home
(stdll standing at 3o7-9 D street until the elder
Carlisle would give each one of them large
copper penny, about the size of the present
silver quarter. and then of they would scamper
to Aunt Barbara, q colored woman who sold
dainties Third street. opposite Trinity
Church. and here they. would buy honey cakes,
peppermints on paper, horse cakes and such
sweets would for the moment appeal to their
childish fancy
m those days the children's playground WAS
! In Judiciary Square, and there was much
vacant ground thereabout. The T1ber was then
an open stream and upon occasions Of heavy
rains would overflow its banks and become quite
atorrent In referring to these interesting events
Mrs. Middleton said that when she was quite
young the creek once became 50 swollen that
the sbockyard Of Voltaire Wfllet at First street
and Indiana avenue was flooded, and large
number Of his pigs had to be rescued to keep
them from drowning Mrs. Middleton said that
they squealed terTifcany when being taken
from the water by Mr.. willet's men, and actu-
ally woke up the neighborhood."
Speaking Of the early conditions In this
vicinity-which bears out Mrs. 1Giddleton,S
recolIections-Mr. Charles N. Bradley said In
I902:
~It was o comfortable, cheerful, unconven-
ticnal and rather popular old community then
much visited from other parts Of the CITY,
and its two boarding houses much freQuented
by members Of Congress. It was the day Of
small incomes. cheap food and clothing and
Old-fashinned hospitality. It was also the day
Of pure democracy and the freedom Of the city
was generally accorded to the animal kingdom
giving certain neghborhoods, and ours espe-
cially, . Semi- pastoral appearance. Stately pro-
cessaonS Of conceited geese and insane, Qnack-
ing ducks waddled calmly and peacefully along
the streets to and from their morning bath IN
T1ber Creek: stray pigs rooted unmolested In
the cutters until their day Of Judgment came
once Q year-when q stalwart Negro appeared
with an eager bull dog, which rushed with APP
parent glee and enjoyment to his business OF
catching pigs by the ear and holding them until
secured and carted of. Cows browsed lazily
along the curbs and in vacant lots, and
occasionally one more intelligent and romantic
than the reS-tired, perhaps, OF q steady diet
OF grass-would wander forth moonlight nights,
stealthily unlatch front gates and make her
way to the garbage barrel in the back yard and
was never cured until one fateful night the
barrel remained on her head and led to ex-
poSure and punishment. not infrequent sight
was . wagonload Of fresh hides being hauleS
through the streets and followed by dozen
or more frantic cows, rearing. plunging, kicking,
stamping, swinging their tails high in the air
and believing with every sign Of grief and
frenzy"