Evening star., 1934-05-06

ards busy. with the result that nearly all the
missing property returned
One article, however never appeared. This
was according to a report made at the time,
"a costly feather duster," and the loss of this
and the method by which it taken. gave
to Washipgton's last legislative body the char
acteristic title, Feather -duster Legislature"
The Daily Critic. which ceased publication
many years ago, tells that the delegate
who succeeded in getting away with this par
ticular article concealed it by running the
handle down inside his Wristbands through one
Of the legs of his pants, and buttoned up the
feather end beneath his vest, and thus walked
away with it.. So far as known, its where
abouts was ascertaned, although the
name of the delegate who performed this Won
derful feat generally known at the time.
OF course, no WaShingtonian at this late date
would admit that his ancestor took this famous
feather duster and did not return it. And real
ly, matter of fact, it might have been pur-
loined by outsider, as happened in the
of the clock
Surely all members of the fourth Cor finaD
District of Columbia Legislature were not relic
hunters, and, undoubtedly, the taking of the
articles mentioned confined to limited
few. and since this was the case, there is
reason why their names should not be here
corded. In the Council were William Stickney
president; Daniel Smith, John H Brooks John
w. Baker, S M Golden. Adolphus Hall, John
w. Thompson. A. K Browne, Samuel Cross
Joshua Riley and George F. Guick. Ernest F.
M Fachtz was chief clerk and Samuel Gedney
was appointed to succeed Daniel Smith, who
resigned during the session
The House of Delegates included Arthur
Shepherd, speaker; Joseph Brooks Clement A.
Peck, Edgar P. Berry, John E. Cox George B.
Wilson, Albert H. Underwood, George W Dyer
AlphonSo Youngs, Robert l. Fleming William
Dickson Matthew Trimble, Leonard Gordon,
Charles j. Brewer John A Perkins Samuel
p. Robertson Frederick A. Boswell William r.
Hunt, M. - Urell, Joseph G. Carroll Lemuel
Bursley and Josiah L. Venable. H A. Hall was
chief clerk.
A LTHOUGH Alexander R. Shepherd and the
Board of Public Works, in particular did
marvellous work for Washington during the few
years the territorial form of government exist
ed yet. so far as the Legislative Assembly was
concerned, there really seems to have been few
tears shed when it expired The Star editorially
commenting on its closing hours, burst into
rhyme, saying:
Like the dew on the mountain,
Like the foam the river
Like the bubble on the fountain,
Thou art gone and forever!'
THAT is to say. our District legislature
But We have left to the Board of Health"
The National Republican. catching the same
spirit said
Earthly things but the transient pageants
of the hour:
Earthly pride is but like the passing flower
which springs to fall and blooms but to die"
Yesterday at 10 O'Clock we went to the DEATH
bed of the District Legislature and watched its
life slowly ebb away There have been but
very few livelier deathbed scenes and none,
perhaps in which the patient exhibited so much
indifference to its fate
a. Ten minutes before IL. Life was
fast ebbng. The chairman arose and in slow
and measured tones said: Friends and relatives,
at the hour when yonder clock strikes IL this
Legislature must die. It has been so ordered
by the powers that be. Before this sad event
transpires I feel it my duty to thank each
and every one of you for the kindness, sin
cerity and fidelity which you have shown
throughout your official career as members of
this dying institution. And now, in accordance
with the act of Congress, which set the hour
Of IL today as the time when we, as legis-
latve body, shall cease to exist, all that remains
for me to do is to say that the Legislature
adjourns sine die. Scarcely had the Speakers
voice become silent when the clock struck - in
mournful notes. There was gasp, a sicky
shudder and the old thing was dead"
The First Congregational Church also met in
this hall early as 1865
ORIGINALLY there were IL lots in this
~ block, known as square 379, which extends
from Ninth to Tenth streets and from PennSyl-
vania avenue to D street Lot was at the
northwest corner of Ninth and the Avenue
and lots to Z, going west faced the Avenue,
lot being at the extreme west end of the
block Lots g. 10 and II were on the D street
side and extended west to the alley from Ninth
street. Later, lot No. l being subdivided, the
corner part became lot SO. further sub
division of lots l and H. facing Ninth street.
provided additional lots 81, So and SO.
In 1874 lot so was owned by William Gunton;