Evening star., 1935-10-13

many years by Mrs Margaret Mil
burn Amidon, whose name after her
death was appropriately given to
school building in this vicinity. This
probably was the first instance where
a public school building in Washing
ton was named for woman.
Miss Annie Evans also ably taught
a Girls Grammar School in the First
District which included the neighbor-
hood in which the Franklin School
was one day destined to bring laurels
to our schools as being the finest
school house of its time in America.
School Board Courageous.
Despite the problems of school ad-
ministration in war-driven Washing
ton, the courage and resourcefulness
of the school board were evidently un-
daunted, as is shown in this passage
of their annual report in 1864: 1T
may be of interest to those who are
to come after us to find that in a
city burdened with extraordinary ex-
penses, distracted by the convulsions
of a civil war, thronged with passing
troops, in close proximity to great
armies, at times within sound of
hostile cannon, and almost in a state
Of siege. the public schools in the
midst Of all these adverse circum-
stances have not only steadily con-
tinued to dispense their benefits to
the community. but have so advanced
in usefulness as to mark the three
years Just ended as the beginning of
a new and proud era in their history"
When the fall of Richmond was an
nounced, all the schools in the city.
private or public, were closed Albion
K. Paris of Georgetown, in his
"Recollections of the Early Sixties"
tells Of being in a private school
taught by two sisters, with lessons
proceeding as usual when a dashing
young officer rushed into their midst.
Giving the younger of the sisters a
resounding kiss Ito the great delight
of the pupils, he exclaimed: Julia,
the war is over. just could not
wait one minute longer to see YOU"
And school was over for that day.
James Ormond Wilson, the second
superintendent in charge of WASH
ington's public school system, gives an
interesting account of the participa-
tion of the public school children of
the District in the gala review of the
veteran armies of the Union in 1865,
when they marched past the Capitol
on their route up Pennsylvania ave-
tn ho rouiayI-ad frcv,o cfo IN,
front of the Executive Mansion by
the President of the United States,
their commander in chief; the Secre-
tary Of War. the generals who had led
them to victory, and other distin-
guished citizens.
Children See Parade.
I'm the early morning of that bright
and lovely 23d day of May" said
Supt. Wilson, promptly at the
hour named thousands of school
children were in the place assigned
to them on the northern portico of
the Capitol and all down the grassy
slope of the part in front extending
to the line of march. Decorated with
rosettes of the red, white and blue;
laden with bouquets and floral wreaths,
waving thousands of miniature flags
and Bearing aloft a multitude of ban
ners of their respective schools. there
was proudly displayed over them a
great standard inscribed: The Pub
lie Schools of Washington Welcome
the Heroes Of the Republic. Honor
to the Brave
"For six hours during the march,"
continued Supt. Wilson, "the boys
and girls presented their floral Of
ferings, waved their flags. rent the
air with cheers, and at intervals
grand chorus Of $500 voices, under
the leadership Of Director Joseph
Humphrey Daniel, sang The Star
Spangled Banner Battle Cry Of Free
DOM When Johnny Comes March,
ing Home Victory at Last and
other patriotic songs and hymns"
The grandson Of this really great
director to whom the schools
and school children of Washington
owe q very real debt Of gratitude for
the love of good music, which his
teachings inspired. is Ernest Humph-
rey Daniel, who served as vice presi-
dent and acting president of the
School Board of Washington schools
during the World War
An interesting story has to do with
dashing Gen. Clusters dramatic recep-
ton Of the school children's tribute
to him upon the occasion of the pa
rade. As he approached on horseback,
q group Of boys stepped forward and
presented to him the largest wreath
Of their choicest flowers which, ac-
cording to chronicler Of the episode.
''he most CALAMITY received and threw
over his shoulder" Almost sirnul. |