Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-22

/ Az of them; still refer TO MN as the
~ General; still recall days and occa-
sions on which he came to town, when
he visited this or that place, attended this or
that social gathering, put his interest and
influence behind this or that project. They
recall when, as a young man. he drilled his
soldiers on the commons where now STANDS
the City Market, and they envelop with idol
lied military romanticiSm the giant, clear-cut
frame as the dusk of evening swallowed it up
at the great doorway of Gadsby's (then the
City TAVERN after each imaginary fray against
the French, while the bellies of the village
cast glances in the near presence of the mas
terful, forceful Napoleon in their midst" There
were stumps in the square then; maybe the jail
was there; sure, the Court House.
How well do they recapture the early scenes
the rougt-hewn streets of clay in the wilder
ness by the river, its cleaning silver at the foot
of King, the famous Ramsey and Carlyle houses
by it. And there they still stand, the one facing
the Potomac as of old, its neighbor nearby it
and bit way up old Fairfax, Gadsby'S Tavern
and the square across the street One hears
the echo of footsteps of long ago as he treads
this memorable ground. He shuts his eyes and
the dim past rises up like wrath that soon
resolves itself into corporal reality and there
stands before him old Alexandria set in its
half thinned world, a tavern here and tavern
there, a few shops scattered wide, the market
square with its civic buildings and in the fields
to the west Christ's Church And clouding
on the streets neighbors and friends of the
General"
TT is the year 1798 THE General" is back
home from the affairs of state. His services
are over. He is living quietly at Mount Vernon
under my own vine and fig tree" as he hoped
that he soon would be able to do in letter
to Lafayette shortly after the close OF hosiitieS
in 1881. He was visiting Alexandria from time
to time, taking an active interest in the welfare
of the town, where he not only owned property
and voted but resided from time to time in ms
town house"
There were many sides to the character of
"the General" He not only won independence
for the Colonies from Mother England and
served as the first President of the newly
founded Republic but he stood in his own home
community as a sterling citizen in his own
right one of integrity, industry and vision. The
battles for independence over and the young
Nation on its way to place among the nations
of the world, he retired and took up again IN
the community from which he went forth TO
war and headship the old duties of citizenship
and local leadership.
What Washington did for Alexandria would
have endeared him to the community had he
never answered his country's call to arms or
sat in its highest seat. When the town was
surveyed and the lots laid out in 1749 Washing
ton was at the elbow of John West, jr., county
surveyor, as assistant. In 1866 he became
many things improving the municipality and
the trade conferred there were introduced. The
water Of the city being complained of by Brad
dock years before Washington, as trustee, saw
that a new water supply was set up for the
town through the digging Of wells at various
corners within its boundaries He was an
honorary member of its first fire company, a
property owner in it and taxpayer, member of
its Masonic Lodge. subscriber to its lotteries,
patron Of its shops, securer of its standard
weights and measures and guest with his family
at all its grand socials, to say nothing Of being
guest of honor to the city and its inhabitants
on great national days.
A LII of which accounts for, aside from the
greatness that was his as a result CT his
exalted services to the Nation, the love, honor
and esteem in which he was held by Alexandria
and Alexandrians. And because of the man
and the affection he was held in at home
and abroad throughout the land they hon.
ored him. AS Washington's birthday APP
preached in 1898 it was recalled by many
citizens of Alexandria that an old custom used
to obtain among them of celebrating the
birthdays of their majesties. This was be-
fore the Revolution, when every Virgin1an
was a subject of the Crown of England,
Washington among the rest. The custom was
to give birthnight balls, to which all the gentry
of the countryside came, bringing with them
their wives and sweethearts. 1t was the custom
to hold them in Alexandria and it is not to
be doubted that there were many squabbleS
between the tavern keepers to which should
have the signal honor of the ball of the season.
Washington used to attend these balls with
his family, and to the half dim light of flicker
ing candles he danced the evening away. These
birthnight balls were joyous affairs, indeed
Why not now therefore, thought the citizen
ship of Alexandria, honor our most distin-
gUished citizen as he and we formerly honored
their British majesties"? And no more sug-
gested than done. Thus originated the custom
that has prevailed to this day of honoring with
every form of dignified entertainment the
birthday Of Washington
What was the form Of the first celebration