Evening star., 1931-12-08

Grosvenor: "as we examine the in
numerabl good U5rkJ which it has
zealously and persistently champicned,
as we estimate its immense influence
in fostering among all American citi-
zens love and respect for Washington,
we are in unanimous agreement that
in the history of the city no single
family has contributed so much to its
progress as the Noyes clan and no
native son has had so wise and benefi-
cent an influence as Theodore w.
Noyes."
Turning to his discussion Of the Ma
tional Capital, DR.. Grosyenor said, IF
the father of his country could look
down from the aircraft which inces-
sanity soar across our city, he would
ing UP. Now, after 142 years, the archi-
tectural ideal conceived by that ro-
mantle Frenchman, Pierre Charles
L'Enfant, is coming true.
Long, wide. tree-fringed avenues
sweep the rolling Potomac hills" he
said, "and stately palaces of marble and
granite rise. just as Jefferson, Wash
ington and the French artist planned
them on paper, when they dreamed of
this Capital that SHOULD some day be- -
Describes L'Enfant Dismissal.
DR.. Grosvenor told the story of how
L'Enfant was dismissed from his post
as architect and chief engineer of the
Federal city
"L'Enfant had composed his grand
plan" said DR.. Grosvenor, "and was
stalking out the city with extreme pre-
cision, when he learned that one of
the three city commissioners was build
N ~ a1- Anr $A
across the route of one OF his grand
avenues-on New Jersey avenue inme-
diately south of the Capitol LEnfart
demonstrated. Nonetheless, the com
missioner, who was his superior officer,
persisted with his building. Then
L'Enfant sent lieutenant with a gang
OF men to tear down the house in the
night. In the uproar that followed,
L'Enfant was dismissed for insubordi-
nation after not quite IL months sery-
Ice, but the house was abandoned, and
the principle that LFEnfant's master
plan must be followed was definitely
established.
George Washington never dwelt in
the White House." declared DIR. Grosve-
nor. President John Adams, its first
officlal occupant, moved here in 1900
from Philadelphia overland.
Oficiais Come by Sloop.
Other officials, with the furniture
and meager archives, came by sloop,
and still others tricklei in by stage
coach and hired conveyances. The
whole Federal force of clerks then num-
bered 1876.
The party escorting Mrs. Adams got
lost In the woods on the way over from
Baltimore. But this intelligent northern
woman perceived the charm of this
neighborhood, for on November 81,
1900, she wrote to her daughter: 1T is
beautiful spot, capable of any i'm
provement, and the more I view it, the
more I am delighted with it,"
DR.. Grosvenor told the story of
how the Treasury Department was To-
Gated in its present position. I'm An
drew Jacksons term the Treasury
burned" said the speaker; Architects
disagreed as to where new building
should stand. The story goes that Jack
son, appealed to as umpire, stalked
from the White House early one morn
ing, testify poked his cane into the
ground, and arbitrarily marked the ex-
act spot where the new building should
rise. Old Hickory may never have
heard Of the L'Enfant plan, for the site
he chose violates the city plan by OBJ
structing the view between the White
House and Capitol A later President
has suggested that, perhaps Andrew