Evening star., 1934-09-17
.CONST|TUT|ONDAy
OBSERVED BY D. c.
Class Room References and
Display of Flag Are Chief
Celebrations.

Washington today joined the rest of
the Nation in observing the 147th an
niversary of the signing of the Consti-
tuition.
Throughout the country patriotic So
cieties, particularly the Daughters of
the American Revolution and similar
organizations, participated in cere-
monies of tribute to the signers of
that historic document.
In the National Capital, with the
public schools opening today, refer
ence was made in many class rooms
to the anniversary, but, in the main,
Washington's observance was confined
to displays Of the American flag.
Kiwanians to Celebrate.
Kiwanis clubs of the Capital district,
however, planned their own special
ceremonies, to be concluded tonight
with a dinner dance at the Beaver
Dan Country Club. DR.. william j.
Darlington of Atlantic City, interna-
tional president, is to be the chief
speaker at the dinner. Edwin F. Hill,
international trustee, will be toastmas-
ter. The Prince Georges County Club
will be host and a large delegation
from nearby Maryland and Virginia
is expected to be present.
In Alexandria-the birthplace of the
Constitutions special program is
planned tonight when Mayor Emmett
C. Dawson will broadcast a radio ad-
dress from historic Gadsby's Tavern.
The address will be given at a public
meeting especially called for the
purpose.
1t was in Alexandria Immediately
after the Revolutionary War that the
articles of Government later known
as the Virginia plan" and adopted
at the Philadelphia convention were
born at a meeting of Alexandrians.
fellow Virginians and two Maryland
neighbors.
ID. A. r. Makes Appeals.
Special appeals to all D. A. r. chap
tiers to observe the day were sent from
D. A. R. headquarters here by both
Mrs. Russell William Magma, presi-
dent general, and Mrs. Florence H.
Becker, national defense chairman.
Tree planting will be part of the
general observance of the day. The
Washington Kiwanis Club planned to
plant a Seeding from the famous
Connecticut Charter oak" in the
memorial grove in Anacostia Park at
$3.50 pm.
District Commissioner Melvin C.
Hazen and Engineer Commissioner
Daniel I. Sultan jointly signed a
proclamation setting aside the day
and calling for appropriate observ-
anees of the anniversary.
The National Flag Association also
issued a proclamation calling upon
the public to display the American
flag during the day.
Two of the Capitals Constitution
experts-not learned lawyerS-came
into their own today with the many
pilgrimages to the famous document
at the Library of Congress, the Asso-
ciated Press reported.
Close to Constitution.
They are folk whose day-by-day
jobs have brought them close to the
Constitution: George Mcnamara. its
watchman for nine years; Mrs. Mary
Evans of the Capitals oldest photo !
graphic family, to whom the faces of
the signers are familiar friends, and |
some of the employees of the State |
Department, where it repoSed for 1873
years.
The grizzled Mcnamara, Tipperary-
born and keeping bit of his native |
brogue, has primed himself to answer |
popular questions as he stands re-
spectfully alongside the Constitution
in its gold case beside a second-floor
window at the Library of Congress,
overlooking the Capitol.
His year-around conversation runs
along like this:
THE yellow in the glass over It is
to keep the ink from fading any fur
ther. It's two sheets of glass with yell
low gelatin in between.
"'Who did the writing?' I've been
asked that question a thousand times
knows.
You can see by looking up at the
Declaration of independence, there,
that there were six who signed both
documents-Benjam Franklin, Rob-
ert Morris, George Clymer. James
Wilson, Roger Sherman and George
Read.
BY a coincidence Benjamin Frank
lin, the oldest Signer, 81, is next to
the youngest signer. Jonathan Dayton
Of New Jersey, who was only 81. He
was the Dayton VINO went out to Ohio
and founded Dayton.
"One woman asked me If Christopher
Columbus signed 1t, and another want
ID to see where Lindbergh's name
was"