Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-05-29

Monument.
On Memorial day, tomorrow, he will be hon.
ored for the first time since his death, in 1855.
when the American Institute of Architects, &C
companied by Col U. S. Grant, Sd, will make
a pilgrimage to the humble graves of great
architects who first conceived the beauty OF
Washington. Probably few know Their names,
but even the most casual observer is interested
in the Washington landmarks which are ex-
amples of their skill.
Dr. William Thornton, who designed the
United States Capitol as it was first built, is
buried at Congressional Cemetery In Airing
ton lies Pierre Charles LEnfant. the dashing
young Frenchman who planned the Federal
City In Congressional Cemetery the Memorial
day procession will pause at the grave OF
George Hadfield who planned the City Hall,
now usually referred to the Court House.
At Mount Olivet the tombstone bearing the
name Of James Hoban will coniure up the
Vision of the young architect who designed the
White House.
1T has been said of Americans that they take
! their public buildings for granted. Though
they may appreciate paintings and. of course.
know the name Of the painters not one in
hundred could name the architect of the Treas
ury Indeed it is strange that men who spent
their lives that their countrymen may dwell
in better and more beautiful buildings should
quickly be forgotten.
Robert Mills though he does lie in an I'M
marked grave, has many monuments TO his
skill still standing in Washington. Besides the
Washington Monument there is the central
portion of the Treasury Building, the old Land
Office Building. at Eighth and E streets north
west and the old Patent Office Building. He
was Americas first native-born American
trained architect. Born in Charleston. S. c.,
August 81, 1881, he the son of William
Mills of Dundee, Scotland, who had settled in
Charleston, and Anne Taylor Mills, descend
ant Of Thomas Smith, landgrave ana later
Governor of Carolina.
Young Robert Mills was educated at Charles
ton College. At 10 he left home to come 70
Washington and work under James Hoban the
architect who was then at work his mas
terpiece. the White House When Hoban had
first come to American from England he had
settled in Charleston and set up his practice
of architecture 1t Is probable that he knew
the Mills family and that was why young
Robert came to Washington to go to work in
his Office.
While here Mills became friend OF President
Jefferson Frequently they visited together at
Monticello, and it is more than likely that
they both worked on the plans for that beau
tiful mansion and that Mills also assisted in
planning the University Of Virginia. President
jefferson interviewed to secure Mills a position
with Benjamin Henry Latrobe, who had re-
Gently been appointed architect in charge of
the construction Of the Capitol
His friendship with jefferson and frequent
visits to Monticello seem to have affected Mills
private as we'll as his professional life. For
here. it is believed, he met Eliza Bornwell
Smith, the girl he married while still in his
early twenties.
In about 1910 Mills went to Philadelphia,
from there to Baltimore and South Carolina.
He did not return to Washington until 1890.
At that time President Jackson appointed him
architect to aid in the planning and erection
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