Evening star., 1932-04-10

attractive residence now owned by Rear Ad-
miral Cary Grayson. This property pur-
chased by the senior Mr.. Nourse in 1877 and
the house-known as The Highlands-was
built by the son. and completed IN 1927
A few days ago the writer was attracted to
old stone building to the Of Admiral
Grayson's home, close to where there Is now
being completed q large public school building
It had every appearance of being quite Old
and so the writer sought out Miss Adelaide
Brown. whose people had once occupied the
place. and from her comes the information that
1t was built by James Ncurse. another son OF
the Register. probably as q tenants quarters
Mr.. Nourse must have been q most efacient
public servant, for he served the Government
Of the United States from Its beginning in 1889
to 1929. when he was dismissed by President
Andrew Jackson for nepotism-or for showing
too much favoritism to relatives. Indeed
we look In the city directory at about the time
he died we win find the following members Of
the Nourse family serving the following FEDERAL
positions: Michael Nourse. chief clerk, Reg
ister's once with a salary Of $l,700; John
Nourse. clerk. Registers once, 81 900; WiMam
Nourse clerk. General Land Once. $1,000,
while Charles J.. who apparently could not get
landed was conducting an exchange brokerage
on the north side of Pennsylvania avenue be-
tween Sixth and Seventh streets. and Joseph
T. and Charles H were teaching. one On the
south side Of Massachusetts, avenue between
Sixth and Seventh streets and the other on
the south side of Indiana avenue between
Third and Four -and-a-hslf streets.
1 IOwEvER. Mr.. Nourse was a valuable Fed
eral empioye, and II his relatives were as
capable as he, no doubt the Government was
just that much better of. Indeed, If our civil
service today gave employment to the most
efficient, rather than separating the Federal
force into State quotas the Government would
greatly profit by the change In method Of Sc
lecting Uncle Sans workers
The shock of being fired" did not kill Mr.
Nourse, for we find him living IL years longer,
when he had nearly reached his eight-eighth
year, and the old National Inteligencer at the
time of his death, September /. ls4l. spoke
kindly and thruthfully OF him In its obituary
notice. saying:
"On the first instant near Georgetown. the
venerable Joseph Nourse in the eighty eighth
year OF his age.
The name OF Joseph Nourse Is familiar to
Of Charles Thompson IN the minds and mem
ories Of those who lived and served during the
trying period Of the Revolution.
Mr. Nourse was born in London In the year
1754; he emigrated with his fathers family to
this country In lT69 and settled In the lower
",
and served in it In different departments con-
nected with 1t until the close of the war; from
which time he continued in the civil depart
mert Of the Government until its reorganiza-
ton In 17ss, when he was appointed By Gen
Washington to the ONCE Of Register Of the
Treasury. In which he afforded great assistance
to Secretary Hamilton in arranging the details
Of his system Of revenue and finance In this
once Mr.. Nourse was continued. giving by his
faithful and laborious services the most entire
satisfaction to every administration Of the
Government until 1929
Believing firmly from his youth In the truth
OF the Christian religion, he fulfilled, through
long series OF years, In a most exemplary man
ner, all the duties required by it, adorning the
profession by a life of the purest virtue and
benevolence.
After such a life he was permitted to de-
part full Of years, without sickness and with
out even struggle, to a brighter and better
world
May our latter end be like unto his"