Evening star., 1932-08-28
Passing of Old Theater
Recalls Historic Events
Site of Shubert-Belasco Entered Into Life OF
Early Washinston-How Henry Clay
Obtained Possession of the Land.
By Imosen T. Walcott.

| An amusing story tells us that Clay
came in possession of the land by the
exercise OF that avocation, which Mrs.
| Clay said did not disturb her. as Henry
ALWAYS won. The donkey which Clay
won from Commodore Rodgers was sent
to his celebrated stock farm In Ken
lucky where it propegated its kind Tor
many years. Tradition further says
that the mules for which this State Is
so Justly famous owe their origin TO
their "braying grandfather OF La
fayette Square"
After the commodore's death, the
house was occupied at different times
by several of the leading ofi1cials OF
the Government-Secreta Of the
Navy James K. Paulding. Secretary OF
the Treasury Roger Brooke Taney, Sec
retary of War w. w. Belknap and Sec
retaries of State William H. Seward
and James G. Blaine.
1t was in the Blaine nome that Wal
! ter Damrosch, the celebrated musician
and composer, courted and won Mrs,
Damrosch. who was a daughter of the
late James G. Blaine.
In 1859 the residence was used as
club house and on its old walls gayety
and tragedy in turn inscribed their
memories. Here Phillip Barton Key,
son of the famous author of THE Star
Spangled Banner" invited death from
a bullet fired by Gen. Daniel Sickle,
when the general discovered his charm
ing Spanish wife signaling the young
Washington attorney from her home
on the north side of the square. The
age-old domestic drama was here In
triangle reality enacted In setting
which later was destined to be repeated
/ times untold on the mimic stage OF
that site.
Not so many years after this no
torious affair, on the night OF April
IA, 1865, the very night old Ford
Theater echoed to an assaSSin's bullet
which left a bleeding Nation leaderless,
the life of Secretary Seward was at
tempted by a Young man named Payne
co-conspirator of Booth, who, by sub
terfuge, gained admittance to the Secre-
tary's home and attacked him as he
Law Ill. The room in which Secretary
Seward was assaulted was later as
signed to the late Brig. and Commits
sary Gen. Samuel T. Gushing, U. S. A
The famous landmark was torn down
in 1895 to make room for the Lafayette
Square Opera House, which was opened
by Lillian Russell in 1.-THE Tzigane'
| ("The Gypsy') on the night of Sep
| tember 80 Of that same year. John
w. Albaugh of Baltimore and Wash
ington theatricals was the house man
ager.
when the house was taken over by
Shubert and Belasco. it was re-
christened the Belasco Theater and was
opened October %, 1905, with Blanche
Bates in THE Girl Of the Colder
West" Ten years later the name was
changed to Shubert- -Belasco Theater
For az years this theater entertained
audiences of world renown, its dress
ing rooms sheltered the greatest OF the
actors profession, while on its stage
many notable plays were produced.
During these years, L. Stoddard Tay.
lor has from season to season watched
actors and audiences ebb and flew; his
interest in his profession is expressed
by the quotation from Anthony anc
Cleopatra" which graces his desk: "Tt
business that we love. we rise betimes
and go tot with delight"
Great numbers of the acting profes-
sion, many warm friends of Mr.. Tay,
lor, will keenly regret the darkenine
of the Belasco doors. Credit is dut
Mrs. Robert Giles, granddaughter o.
Commodore Rodgers, and to Miss Sarah
K. Gushing, daughter of Gen. Samue
T. Cushing, for furnishing valuable his
torical data