Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-08


hesitation that Mr.. jefferson is re-
sponsible for the Colonial simplicity
of the Presidents Palace" Until recently there
was tiny model Of the White House on exhibit
there among the relics Of Jeffersonian handi-
work that add so much of color and interest
to the home of the versatile Virginia statesman.
This model was generally conceded to be the
one from which Mr.. Jefferson made his plans
for the construction of the historic mansion on
the Potomac.
There are Frenchmen who viii point out the
villa in France from which L'Enfant gained
inspiration for the design Of the White House.
Less than a year ago 1t was published as news
in America-accepting without question the
authenticity of a statement of foreign CORE
spondent,-that LEnfant, to whom We owe the
whole comprehensive plan Of the National
Capital. personally designed the official home
Of our Presidents.
Just now as we are preparing for great
national celebration comes the thought that
thousands Of Americans win be trekking across
the land to pay homage to the FIRST great
Anaerican-and one Of the chief objects OF
interest to them, of course, viii be the White
House. Hundreds viii ask who built it?" No
doubt many will look for the corner stone Is
the inquisitiye Sightseeer + won't to do when
studying a public building. But they win not
find st. Not that the White House lacks Q
corner stone; it Is perfectly normal building
in that respect But, unlike any other public
the entire colntry-has no visible corner stone
Some seven or eight coats Of white paint. or
whiting cover the important marker which gives
the date of the building together with informa-
ton concerning its designer, information which
seems to have been buried effectively beneath
the coating 50 far as the general public Is
concerned.
% ECENTLY an Army ofncer in charge Of
plans for reconstruction work at the White
House following the IRE IN the west wing made
inquiries about the corner stone with a view to
having it brought TO light. He was informed
that not only would there be the task OF re-
moving many coats Of whiting, but also the
problem of discovering which corner Of the
building should be scraped, IS records fan 70
indicate clearly which corner holds the stone.
So much red tape and such heavy expense would
have been involved that he abandoned his plan.
fortunately, in q long, low building on the
NAH are some musty old records, yellowed with
age some Of them pen-written and fast fading
into eligibility, which tell the story Of an
almost forgotten genius Of early America whose
work we daily admire, but whose name and
personality have long since been buried in
oblivion, even as the stone bearing his name
has been buried beneath its eight coats Of
paint.
James Hoban native of Ireland, citizen Of
the United States and faithful servant Of the
infant City of Washington, devoted u years Of
his lie 10 the design anu cOtlSCIucIAOu Oh tie
White House, together with that Of other public
buildings in washington.
From purely geographic point Of view James
Hoban's work and personality are wen worth
remembering His genius, combined with
singleness Of purpose, is q thing too fine to be
forgotten. For his service to the City Of Wash
ington alone-in the capacity Of architect,
councilman and general supervisor Of important
construction work-he should have a place
among our national figures. Yet in the length
and breadth Of the land today not 50 much as
q stone has been raised to his memory, not
street, not highway bears his name Save for
a modest headstone erected by members Of his
own family over a bit Of ground in Mount
Olivet there is nothing Of permanence TO show
that such q man as James Hoban ever lived
It is well known that both Mr.. Jefferson and
Mai L'Enfant had vital interest in the COM
struction Of the first buildings In the Federal
City-especially LEnfant, since his was the
master mind behind the entire magnificent
scheme-but L'Enfant was far too busy with his
whole comprehensive idea b concern himself
with details OF this or that building, and Jef-