Evening star., 1932-06-05

eventually became one of Washington's
greatest attrac-
Beginning OF tions, Potomac
Potomac Park. scribed aib, i in in The
Star Of May 20, 1882:
.'The Select Committee Of the Senate
on the improvement OF the river lfoliI
OF Washington. after a thorough eN-
animation Of the whole subject, nave
unanimously concluded in favor OF the
Albert -Twining plan for the reclamation
of the flats That plan. adopted py
the Engineer Commission. was NANNY
that devised by the late Maj. IWnlng,
with some features recommended oy
Engineer Albert, and in the Judgment OF
the committee 1t meets all the require
ments Of the case. 1t Is, IN prleI' 10
AN the fats with clean earth, nrst ex-
tending a sea wall along the rlVer
channel IN front of them, and to pro
vide the low ground thus filled with
ample subsoil draining to keep 1t dry,
the land thus reclaimed to be converted
into a park. planted with trees, snrup-
bery and grasses. The committee, not
satisfied with their own Judgment, TOOK
the opinions Of numerous medical, sanl-
tarv and scientific experts, all OF whom
approye this plan. The committee Will
report a bill, supported by an el2borate
renort. yery soon, and, backed as 1t Is
by the concurrent favorable opinions OF
engineers, physicians and sanitarians,
there should be no room to doubt the
passage of the measure. The importance
of relieving the National Capital OF
the baleful influence Of the mats mas
long been recognized and admitted IN
Congress. Members OF both houses are
generally agreed that the only tnlng
necessary to secure an appropriation Tor
the reclamation Of the hats was to pre-
ient q plan for the work which would
hmu,and confidence. The Senate COM
Hittee will submit plan which has
stood the test of the closest scientific
scrutiny, and it is to be hoped that
Congress will act promptly upon 1t, that
the retaining of the fats may begin
at once"
Practically the only difference between
the plan thus outlined and that which
was eventually followed was that the
space within the "sea WALL boundaries
was filled with dredging from the river
channel instead Of the clean earth"
suggested by the engineers.
The following news item In The Star
of June 5, 1852, brings back to mind
Promising Local which besides
Dramatic Talent. pIeasSr. gls,ns 10 the
people of Washington nifty years ago
supplied o number Of gifted actors TO
the American dramatic profession:
"One of the most successful perfor-
mances of the season was given at the
National Theater last evening by the
Lawrence Barrett Dramatic Club for
the benefit of the Washington Light
Infantry Corps. Julius Caesar was
rendered in a manner that would re-
fleet credit upon professionals. The
stage setting. the costume and the caste
were all excellent. The audience was
and the appreciation Of the efforts OF
the young tragedians was shown in fire.
quent and prolonged applause. The
National Rifles, in full dress uniform,
occupied two rows Of seats in the or
chestra. At the close of the first act
Lieut.. Danenhower Qately rescued sur
vivor of the ill-fated Jeannette Arctic
expedition), accompanied by his father
and several other members Of his fam
lily, appeared in a box. He was at once
recognized by the audience and was
greeted with applause and cheers. Be-
tween the fourth and fifth acts COM
pany Of the Washington Light Infantry
In full dress uniform, under the COM
mand of Capt. D. r. Ross, gave an ex-
hibition drill This was without doubt
the finest performance Of the kind ever
seen in Washington. The clocklike
regularity with which the thirty-two
men went through the manual was
really wonderful. The curtain fell
amid tremendous applause, which con-
tinued until the curtain again rose
showing the same company in fatigue
uniform. A still more difficult exhibfN
ton was then given.
In the caste Of the play Mr.. Charles
B. Hanford in the role Of Cassius and
Mr.. James A. Mahony as Julius Caesar
were very good indeed. 1t is learned
that both Of these gentlemen have in
tention Of following the stage as q pro-
fession. and If they continue as they
have begun their future success Is as
su1ed. The performances Of Clarence
,. Nheem o Dyutus and william 4.
iAckey as MAIe Anthony were also very