Evening star., 1934-12-30

been vending their way to call on the Presi-
dent but regardless Of how cold it was or how
stormy the weather. they were generally in line.
But naturally, If it were a good day. the turn
out was all the larger. as was the case in 1905,
when the largest number Of members up to that
time shook hands with Theodore Roosevelt.
The association attended the receptions dur
ing the administration of President Taft, and
when Mr.. Wilson called of the public recep-
tons the first year he became President the
association paid a visit to Secretary of State
william Jennings Bryan at his home, Calu-
met place.
After Mr. Wilson left the White House the
receptions were renewed by President Harding.
and January /, 1922 fell Sunday. the
following day was observed, when the President
shook hands with 6,576 persons including MEM
bers Of the Oldest Inhabitants. A year later Mrs.
Harding was not well, and for this reason the
usual function was called of. Before another
year had rolled around. Mr.. Harding had passed
away and Mr. Coolidge was President, and held
the usual reception.
IN JANUARY /, 1925, the association met
~ with a sad loss, when one Of the active
members, Samuel D. Boss dropped dead at the
gates of the mansion, as the members were ON
their way to extend their annual New Year
greeting There were about 100 members in
line at the time, when Mr.. Boss was seen to
fall backward on the icy pavement. He was
picked up unconscious and rushed to Emergency
Hospital, where the doctors pronounced him
dead
An account printed at the time said: "Mr.
Boss was the senior member of the Boss FAM
lily, which has been identified with the National
Capital for three generations. He was born In
Washington In 1883 and was educated in the
local public schools. He was for many years
an employe IN the mail division Of the Post
Once Department"
An unusual thing happened at the reception
held January /, 1927. when the Oldest Inhab-
ttants, failing to arrive at the White House on
the minute. were not admitted, but were told
to return an hour later-but. Of course did not
do so, since the weather about that time was
at the freezing point. However, it was an un-
usual occasion In more than one way, for IN
line we're three men whose total ages amounted
to 282 years. They were Judge Charles s.
Bundy, aged s5; Mai willard s. Saxton, 81.
and James r. Pettey, 80.
Maj Saxton was a Civil War veteran and
a Government official for many years. and sur
vived to the age Of nearly 1o4. Judge Bundy
was for many years q judge Of the Municipal
Court of the District Of Columbia, and Mr..
Pettey had held the Office Of auditor for the
District, and it does seem, when We consider
the high standing Of these men, their service
and their ages, that somebody at the White
House made q blunder upon this occasion.
The highest temperature on January 1, 1928.
was 81 degrees above zero, and the lowest IL
above, but the Oldest Inhabitants shook hands
with Mr.. and Mrs. Coolidge just the same.
Six thousand three hundred and eighty per-
sons paid their respects to the President on
New Year day, 1880, and Mr.. Hoover greeted
the public again in 1881 and 1882. In 1888 he
was in Florida.
Recollections Of past New Year days would
not be complete. or even partially so, If refer
ence to F street and Connecticut avenue were
omitted, for these were the great promenade