Evening star., 1932-04-24

Jumping at conclusions, the old
timer would Immediately say that we were
getting worse-much worse! But let the same
old timer run over the files of the early news
papers, and after he has read to his hearts
content some of the crimes and scandals Of so
or 100 years ago. he will be forced to agree that,
generally, people not any worse than they
were formerly, or if there is any difference, it
is in favor of the people Of today.
With present-day conditions. one thing that
must be taken into consideration is the fact
that there are millions more of us than
there were few years back, and, consequently,
though crime and scandal may seemingly have
increased, yet whatever difference there may
be is due entirely TO the increase in population.
Another thing, perhaps that makes us think
that things are worse, is because today we get
such full accounts of everything in the news
papers, which are now made up Of many pages,
whereas there are many of us who can recall
when such an important paper as The Star
could say all it wanted to in just four pages,
including advertisements and everything.
In the District of Columbia we have a Pc
culiar condition, far crime and scandal
are concerned, for here We not only have our
own citizens TO keep in the straight and mar
row path, but also those who come here because
it Is the seat of the Federal Government, or
who may be directly connected with national
affairs and when they get into trouble, the out
sider-and our own residents, too, for that mat
ter-indiscriminately credits Washington people
with all the improprieties and indiscretions
which may occur. A part, at least, belongs to
transents and those domiciled here in a
strictly national official capacity such, for in
stance, as the killing of Philip Barton Key by
Dan Sickles, the Ciley duel, the killing of Rep
resentative Taulbee by Charles E. Kincaid, the
Teapot Dome case, and many others which
have happened from time to time, and which
will no doubt continue to happen
OF course, where the writer feels that the
yet modesty naturally, would prevent him from
saying so, and yet he does know and is willing
to admit, that occasionally the people of this
city will get their names in big type in the
newspapers, and stay there until the editors
patience and the printers ink give out.
A CASE which is now almost forgotten and
which involved the reputation of so prom
inent and charitable a man as John Peter Van
Ness, was before the courts during the latter
part OF l846 and the early part of 1847.
John Peter Van Ness was distinguished
looking man; indeed, besides he was a man of
much ability and was greatly admired by the
people OF the District of Columbia, who made
him mayor of Washington in $780, and contin-
ued him in Office until 1884
Van Ness came here a congressman from
New YORK, In 1901 and because he had ac-
cepted and exercised the Office of major Of
militia, under the authority of the United
States, within the Territory of Columbia" his
seat was declared forfeited January II, 1903.
By 1913, the rank OF major of militia had
grown into major generalship and he was,
no doubt, for awhile at least, the city's most
distinguished citizen.
As business man he was a success and
early demonstrated this by marrying Marcia
Burnes, the heiress and daughter of the original
proprietor, David Burnes, on May 10, 1902 and
who was reared in q modest cottage which
stood ON the ground now occupied by the Pan
American Union Building Nearby Mr.. Van
Ness built mansion house which he FIRST
occupied in May, 1916, and here were enter
tanned many people Of note and distinction,
the Van Nesses being in later years assisted by
Mrs. Van Ness cousin, Ann Gertrude Wight
whose father was the brother of Mrs David
BurneS.
AS to Ann Gertrude Wight, or Sister Ger
trude, name by which she was well known
much has been written. At early date she
entered the Convent of the Sisters of Visitation
in Georgetown to become a nun, and she be-
came Sister Gertrude" Apparently happy
and contented for many years, in the Spring
Of 1881 she left the institution i'll the garb
Of one Of the students and made her way to