Evening star., 1934-02-18

came known as Dunlop House" the
property remaining in their posses
sion until 1912.
Leaders In Social Life.
Not since the days of its builder and
first owner, John Laird, whose thrift
and business acumen founded the
family fortune in the New World, had
the old house echoed to such delight
full hospitality as now prevailed. BY
birth, breeding and education its
chatelaine and her husband were
leaders in the social and cultural life
of their time, not only in Georgetown
but in the circles of the National
Capital. 1t was at this time that
the two one-Story wings which bal
ance the original house in harmony Of
lines were added to the eastern and
western ends. Many other changes
we're also made in the way of porches
looking TO the south.
Valedictorian of his class at princ e.
ton, Mr.. Dunlop later became law
yer of reputation, secretary of the
Corporation of Georgetown" the law
partner of Francis Scott Key, and
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Of the District of Columbia.
Upon the charm and gayety of old
Georgetown there gradually crept
nearer and nearer the lengthening
shadows ensuant upon the bitter dis
sentions concerning national issues.
which finally eliminated in the strife
of civil war, when family was pitted
against family In the seething stress
of factionalism and divergent view
point.
Past the fan-shaped front portal
and the inclosed garden of Dunlop
House, Lincoln's troops in Union blue
often marched while the women folk
within prayed for the safety of their
kin in Confederate gray.
Removed From Bench.
Judge Dunlop was an ardent South
litical expediency it became President
Lincolns duty to remove Judge Dun
Iop from the bench.
Today a life-sized statue of Presi-
dent Lincoln, erected upon a pedestal
of granite, stands in the little SQUARE e
before the steps which ascend to the
front portals of the court house at
John Marshall place and Indiana ave-
nue., where the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia is domiciled
Within, upon its walls, in its chrome
logical place with the long line of
Chief Justices of the Supreme Court
f1tfinclu
Justice Dunlop.
Prior to the World War, circum-
stances linked the destines of a Lin
coin with those of a Dunlop In
1911 i'll health and the progress of
the years caused Robert Todd Lin
coin, Oldest and only living son of
President Lincoln, to retire from the
presidency of the Pullman Car Co.
in Chicago to become its board chair
man. Determining to spend his de-
clining years in Washington, Mr.. Lin
coin IN 1912 purchased Dunlop
House" from the widow of William
Laird Dunlop, son of Judge and Mrs.
James Dunlop.
Here Robert Todd Lincoln resided
with dignif1ed simplicity in the quiet
and privacy that we're so essential to
his nature. He Stunned public acclaim
and all appearances at public functions
IN connection with commemorations
for his distinguished father, with the
thought that such affairs should
honor Lincoln the President, not capi-
tall1e the son. Neither did he give
interviews, write for publications or
permit himself or his family to be
publicized in any way.
Public Unaware Of Presence.
Although the sale of Dunlop House
to President Lincolns son in all
probability began the present-day
exodus to Georgetown and the re-
construction Of its old homes, so
great was Robert Todd Lincoln's in
slstence upon his personal privacy
that the rank and file of the general
public was unaware that the eldest
son of the Great Emancipator had
taken up his residence in their midst.
Mr.. Llncoln's recreational pleasures
in The old Georgetown residence CEN
tered chiefly in astronomy and In the
solution of algebraic problems. The
papers OF his father, which Hay and
Nicolay had collaborated upon in the
eighties, he Kept in steel trunks and
retained IN his possession during his
lifetime. Upon his death at Haldene,
his Summer home in New Hampshire,
on July 26, 1926, it was found that
he had willed them to the Library of
Congress with the proviso that they
were to be kept sealed for 81 years
from the date of his death. After this
time, which will have elapsed in the
year l947, the Library of Congress is
given Jurisdiction as to their use as a
source Of historical research.
One of Mr.. Lincoln's few public ap-
pearances In Washington, and his
last one, was at the dedication of the
Lincoln Memorial. He declined, how
ever, to make any remarks whatsoever
or to take any part in the ceremonies
other than that Of reverent guest.
Visited With Mr.. Glover.
Mr.. Lincoln was not man of many
intimate friendships, but invariably
on his trips to the banking institution
of which Mr. Charles Carroll Glover
was president, he would stop in Mr..
Glover's Office for a personal visit with
this friend of his since early man.
mood Upon one of these occasions
Mr.. Glover called to the then cashier
of the bank (Joshua Evans, jr),
Josh, get out the checks Of Mr.. Lin
coins father and bring them to us"
The checks were in the custody of this
institution because it was at this time
not the custom for banks to return
Cancelled checks to depositors or their
heirs at law. When the checks were
brought, some % in all, Mr.. Glover
took them cut of the envelope in
which they we're kept, looked them
over one by one, with his cashier
standing by, turned to Mr. Lincoln
in his quick, decisive way and said,
Bob, you should have these. Here
they are" MIR. Lincoln was greatly
gratified and so expressed himself, but
in his characteristically conservative
fashion. He in turn slowly and care
fully surveyed each one in the order
Of its chronological arrangement with
his leonine head bowed forward almost
upon his chest. Then without further
word he returned them to the enve-