Evening star., 1933-02-26

Of his store, where he offered the leadlng
make of wheel sold in the city. Atwater's
store and the yard where SO many learned to
ride later became the Avenue entrance 70 the
theater, and remained as such until the build
ings in the block were removed
THE next OF the local miiitary companies that
ranked close to the top in efhciepcy ana
as to numbers was old National Rifles. organ
lied in 1859 Many of its members also joined
the Union forces and participated in the great
Civil War, and some even served on the other
side and wore the uniform of gray. In 1880,
it was also reorganized, and about this time, or
a little late-, its chief officers included: James
F. Oyster. captain, man who later faithfully
and honorably served his native city as Com
missioner; ]. o. Manson, first lieutenant;
George w. Evans. second lieutenant, q native
Washingtonian, who served paymaster in
the Department of the Interior for so years.
w. c. Keech was at this time additional sec
ond lieutenant
Between the Washington Light Infantry
Corps and the National Rifles there was al
ways much friendly rivalry, and both organi-
zations always put up the best possible display
upon such occasions as inauguration day. In
deed, they never showed up to a disadvantage,
irrespective of what the occasion might have
been. There are members of these two crack
military companies still living in Washington.
Perhaps they can not drill they did in days
of yore, but their love and enthusiasm for their
Gown respective organizations is even keener
today than ever before.
From the earliest days Washington and
Georgetown have had some very excellent
military companies. Many have gone out OF
existence entirely; some have even been for
gotten, while others, true to the spirit that
prompted their formation in the beginning,
still maintain a veteran organization.
80 TrNp
coast to coast, for hardly year passed that
one or more local military bodies did not leave
home to attend national encampment with
the avowed purpose of returning home with
the first prize for the best drilled company and
they seldom missed it.
At this late day it is hard to recall all the
separate companies here four five decades
ago. The Union Veterans had several organ1-
cations, such as the Union Veteran Corps or
the Old Guard, as it was also called, and
which had its beginning back in 1880. Then
there were the National Rifle Cadets the En-
NETT Guards, Washington Continentals, Ar
thur Rifles, Presidents Guard, the Morton
Cadets, National Fencibles, Corcoran Cadets,
Ordway Rifles and Hannemann's Artillery.
There were also several colored military
companies years ago. including the Washing
ton Cadet Corps, Lincoln Light Infantry. Butler
zouaves, Capital City Guard and the Webster
Rifles, and they received their share of ap-
plause along with the rest when they marched
along the Avenue with clocklike precision to
the strains of Sousa march.
NNCE in while We read in the paper that
Oone of our early military companies is to
hold a reunion, and then our minds 60 back
to the old parades and the great outburst OF
hand-clapping the boys frequently received for
their perfect alignment across the Avenue.
This has all changed now and the old touch
is lacking. OF course, we delight in seeing
our National Guard and the Governments
military contingents but the same home pride
that existed before the formation of the Guard
somehow or other cannot be aroused to the
same degree of enthusiasm-the same old ap-
peal is just not there.
Only few days ago remnant of one OF
these old companies-now known as the Cor-