davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1935-05-26

where around 175o. and sold by Daniel
Carroll of Duddington, in 1874, 10
BENJAMIN Burch. who almost imme-
diately transferred title to Capt. Easily,
whose widow took up her residence
here about 1857.
Col. James S. Easily Smith, a grand
son of Capt. Easily, few years ago
gave the writer his personal recollec-
tions of East Capitol street, between
First and Second streets, In which ne
said, in part:
"My earliest recollection of this
house dates from 1875. when I was
a small boy and paid, with my mother
a three months visit to my grand
mother. From 1879 to 1894 it was
my home.
I'm 1875 the only houses on the
north side of East Capitol street be-
tween First and Second were houses
numbered 116, 1872. 124, 128 and 1S0
(which still EXIST and two large frame
houses next to the corner of Second
street, which were demolished few
years ago when an apartment house
was erected on their former site. Inc
latter, and all other houses except
those above mentioned. were built
after 1875.
House 116 was built by Charles NC
Nance, sr., about 1851. He was a
lawyer and for many years was one
of the clerks of the Supreme Court OF
the District. This house was occupied
by him and his wife and his sons
Charles, jr. who was also lawyer
John, conveyancer, and Samuel.
The descendants of Charles. sr.,
through his son Samuel, still live In
Washington.
"The sister, Catherine, OF Charles
McNamee, ST., is the ancestress OF
many present residents Of washington
including the distinguished officers OF
the Marine Corps, namely. Col. Cnaries
and Capt Richard T. Sanderson:
House 124 belonged to Miss Cara
Bayne, who married Woodbury. Vince.
Ter, a lawyer. In 1875 this house soooo
back about 30 feet from the bullolng
line. In 1879, Mr.. and Mrs. Wheeler
built a front addition to the building
line. Mrs. Wheeler belonged to the
old Maryland family of Bayne and was
a sister of the late distinguished DR..
John w. Bayne. who lived around the
corner on Second street, whose son,
DR.. ]. Breckenridge Bayne, and otner
descendants still live in Washington.
Mr.. Woodbury. Wheeler was son
of an early United States Minister to
Nicaragua and a grandson OF the IA
nous portrait painter, Thomas Sully.
The descendants Of Mr.. and MIS-.
Wheeler still live in Washington.
House 1913 was also of early origin,
and long prior to 1875 was owned ana
occupied by James Lynch, clerk IN
one of the departments. After his
death, it was occupied by his widow.
and subsequently by his son, Millard
Lynch, and his wife and children.
House 1870 was built prior to 1875,
and belonged to and was occupied
ffrom my earliest recollection) by L.
D. Merchant, superintendent OF the
Evening star., 1935-05-26
Poultry Shortage
Decreases.
THE soaring price of meat wi

THE soaring price Of meat which
caused q greater demand for
chicken, which became less of q lux
ury than beef and pork, has brought
about a reduction in egg production
which leaves the demand somewhat
in excess of production.
The high price Of feed has reacted
against egg production. for raisers have
fought shy Of the grain feeds as much
as possible, with resultant loss OF
egg production. This Spring, how
ever, laying is about up to average
figures, the shortage being the result
Of the curtailment in the f1ocks. How
ever, there is a considerable increase
in young chickens this Spring and this
may bring production and consump-
ton back to q balance.
Evening star., 1935-05-26

folding room Of the Senate. and, after
his death, by his widow. They had no
children (ss I recollect). and this
house passed into other hands on the
death of Mrs. Merchant, many years
ago.
CAPT. WILLIAM EASBY. who
owned 122 East Capitol street for
many years. was a prominent pioneer
resident of Washington, fought in the
Battle of Bladensburg in 1914. and
held many local Offices between 1920
and 1854. He married Agnes Mary
(King) Overstreet, widow of James T.
Overstreet. a Representative in Con-
gress from North Carolina. Their
daughter. Wilhemine Mary Easily,
shown with her father and mother in
the picture, married William Russell
Smith, Representative in Congress
from Alabama, and. strange as it may
seem, by a pre-nuptial agreement all
of the children of the marriage were
to be baptized with the surname Of
Easby-Smith. Col Easily Smith also
mentioned the Curtis and Bassett FAM
lilies, who were part of Capitol Hill.
No doubt the Supreme Court will be
glad to get into its new, and the only
separate home it has ever had, for it
never knew when it would be crowded
out Of its quarters. In the early days
it stayed in New York, but one year,
when it opened court in Philadelphia
in February. 1871, in the City Hall
Building, Fifth and Chestnut streets,
next to Independence Hall. The first
lawyers to be admitted to practice be-
fore this body, we are told, were Elias
Boudinot Of New York, Thomas Hart
ley of Pennsylvania and Richard Har-
rison Of New York.
The first court, as appointed by
President Washington, pursuant to the
judiciary act Of September "a, 1859,
consisted of John Jay Of New York as
the Chief Justice, who was then in his
44th year, and the following associate
justices: John Blair of Virginia. aged
81; william Cushing of Massachusetts,
also 81: James Wilson of Pennsylvania
and native Of Scotland. who was juss
10 years the Junior OF these two
justices. Robert Hanson Harrison OF
Maryland was next selected. He was
A years old and resigned the ofice
just five days after he had been con-
firmed, to become chancellor OF his
State. James Iredell was appointed to
Judge Harrison's place. He was from
North Carolina, and was the youngest
member Of the group, being but 80
wears old. Another appOintee to the
bench was John Rutledge, South
Carolinian, who, however, never at
tended q session of the court. In 1871
he resigned to become chief justice
Of his State. His place was filled by
the appointment Of Thomas johnson
Of Maryland.
PERHAPs you viii recall that Gen.
Thomas johnson was one Of the
commissioners designated by President
washington 70 make arrangements for
Evening star., 1935-05-26
1t Also Mas
Kn0zvn as the
Place Where
Calhoun Died.
War of1812
audC1viI WM-
Con II eCted
WXh Historic
Background
of an AnCient
Structure.

of the north wing Of the Capitol,
dungeon
There is a question, however, If thi
court did not for a while, during tn
time the Capitol was being recon
structed. also occupy the old brio:
Capitol.
WHEN the Capitol wings we're built
it moved into its present cham
Der and remained there until 1895,
when it was forced to vacate for a
while on account of an explosion, fol-
lowed by fire, when it temporarily oc-
cupied the committee room of the
Senate Committee on the District of
Columbia, of which Senator McMil-
Ian was then chairman. and it also
sat for & brief while in the Judiciary
Committee room.
The present court room was the
old Senate chamber until 1859. II
was designed by Benjamin Latrobe,
after the model of a Greek theater, a
semicircular hall with q lov-domeo
ceiling.
AS the Senate chamber it was here
that Webster replied to Hayne. Cal
houn debated with Clay and Webster
and in it the Electoral Commission
sat to decide the presidential contest
between Hayes and Tilden in 1877.
The new building was erected under
the direction Of the United States
Supreme Court Commission, Of which
Chief Justice Hughes is chairman
and David Lynn. architect Of the
Capitol, is a member and executive
officer.
The ground upon which the build
ing stands cost the Government ap
proximately sl,750,000, and for the
construction work Congress appropri
ated s9.740000. 1t is a great credit
to the Nation,
Evening star., 1935-05-26

laying out the Federal City, and that
it was he and DR.. David Stuart and
Daniel Carroll who met in Suffers
Tavern. Georgetown. September 8,
I79l, and agreed that the territory
selected should be named the "City
Of Washington" AS is historically
well known, johnson was an ardent
admirer of the first President and
availed himself of every opportunity
to display his loyalty 1t was on
Thursday. June IS, IT'S, that he
nominated Washington to command
all the Continental forces raised. or to
be raised, for the defense Of liberty;
and in 1889 he, by argument and
persuasion. contributed largely in
causing Gen. Washington to accept
the presidency.
Since John Jay, the following have
served as the Chief Justice: John Rut-
ledge (presided one term, not con-
f1rmed). Oliver Ellsworth, John Mar
shall, Roger B. Taney. Salmon P.
Chase, Morrison R. Waite. Melville W.
Fuller, Edward D. White, William
Howard Taft and Charles Evans
Hughes. The present court includes
Charles Evans Hughes, Willis Van
Devanter, James Clark McReynolds,
Louis Dembitz Brandeis, George
Sutherland. Pierce Butler, Harlan F.
Stone, Owen j. Roberts and Benjamin
N. Cardozo.
JUDICIARY SQUARE in this city
was intended as site for build
ing for the United States Supreme
Court, but this never ,naterialized and
when that body came to Washington
and opened its Winter term, on Feb
ruary 2, 1901, the Senate gave 1t the
temporary use Of one Of its committee
rooms, which adjoined on the south
the Senate chamber. When the court
met for the 1909 terrn-according to
Mr.. Bryant held its session in the
library room, which had been fitted
up with rough seats, benches and in
closures for its accommo odation.
BY the following Winter the new SEN
ate chamber was ready, and so was
directly u1,der 1t, so that the term
Of 1910 was the first held in that
room, which became historic as the
home for many years Of the first tri-
bunal of the land" 1t was occupying
these quarters when the British
burned the Capitol in 1914
It was at this time, upon the ap-
proach of the enemy, that the clerk
of the court, Elias Boudinot Caldwell,
took the court records to his home at
206 Pennsylvania avenue southeast,
and well that he did, for the British
did all in their power to destroy that
particular part Of the Capitol.
The Caldwell House was standing
until recently, and was interesting,
because the court accepted the nospi-
tality Of its clerk and held its sessions
there until 1t moved back into the
Capitol in 1917. when it was provided
with an ofice temporarily prepared
for It's Use Ia the less ruined portion
Evening star., 1935-05-26

Zurich. Switzerland. and came to this
country in 1849. Three other execu-
tons look place there during the Civil
War period.
Incidentally, Capt. Wirz was con-
victed by a military commission and
executed 10 years ago. The facts
connected with his case are generally
we'll known. However, what the pris-
oner had to say in his own behalf at
that time is interesting:
II was very seriously wounded at the
Battle of Seven Pines, near Richmond.
and have nearly lost the use of my
right arm. Unfit for field duty,
was ordered to report to Brevet Mai.
Gen. John H. Winder, in charge of
Federal prisoners of war, who ordered
me to take charge of a prison in
Tuscaloosa, Ala. My health failing me.
1 applied for furlough and went to
Europe. whence returned in Febru-
ary. 1865 I was then ordered to re-
port to the commandant Of the mill
tary prison at Andersonville. Ga, who
assigned me to the command of the
interior of the prison.
The duties had to perform were
arduous and unpleasant and I am
satisfied that no man can or will Justly
blame me for things that happened
here and which were beyond my
power to control. I do not think that
I ought to be held responsible for the
shortness of rations, for the over
crowded state Of the prison (Which
was of itself prolific source Of fear
full mortality, for the inadequate
supplies of clothing, want of shelter,
etc. Still, I now bear the odium, and
men who were prisoners have seemed
to wreak their vengeance upon me for
what they have suffered-I, who was
only the medium, or, may better say,
the tool in the hands of my superiors."
AT THE time Tunnicliff conducted
his hotel near the corner of First
and A streets northeast. he main
tained a beautiful garden along the
First street side of the block. Some
years ago James Croggon gave a list
of the early owners of Square 728,
where now stands the Supreme Court
Building and where was formerly
Tunnicliff's Hotel and later the Brick
Capitol. Mr.. Croggon says:
Square 728 (Old Capitol Prison
Square) was plotted for 80 lots and
title to IS each vested in Mr.. Carroll
and the United States. At the COM
miSsioners' sale In 1893 H. Nichols
bought lots IL and Is for $3.50. SO,
r. Mickey lot and N. Phillips lot
6, in 1876 George Collard bought "a,
on A street. Luke Washington bought
lot l6, corner First and A, for S409.75,
which the following year was sold to
George Walker for $3.50, and in this
General washington and Thomas Law
Evening star., 1935-05-26

were interested. In 1889 A. Robinson
bought lot q. Second and A streets,
with house, and R. E. Griffith became
interested in lot 5, on East Capitol
street. DR.. John Kearney, in 1900,
bought lot 18, on A street, and in the
following year sold to MacIntyre e.
Armstrong for Sl,435.86. with the
brick house thereon. S. Collard, F.
Kirby and MIR. Walker owned ground
on A street and W. Byram on East
Capitol street in 1901. In 1902 E.
tered as buying lot l8. In this year
Mr. Walker sold lots 16 and II to
William Tunnicliffe, who, in 1904,
sold to Pontius B. Stelle. In 1905 q.
Farrell and j. N. Brashears bought
lot 2, on East Capitol street.
The prices of the lots in 1903 were
and Z cents a foot, but that these
figures do not cover all the improve
mentS within the square is evident
from the title records and the ad-
vertiSementS in the old Intelligencer.
Some of these are signed by Mr. Car
roll, offering buildings about the
northeast corner of the square for
sale or rent, and Carroll buildings
often appear in the records. While
title was vested in others, they all
afterward went to Mr.. Carroll
The corner as above stated, First
and A streets, passed from Luke
Washington to George Walker prior
to 1900, and in 1902 Mr.. Walker had
title to II, on the east. On these
lots had been erected three-story
brick buildings and stabling, and Will
liam Tunnicliffe, who had been in
the hotel business near Ninth street
and Pennsylvania avenue southeast,
bought them and opened Tunnicliffe's
Hotel This, in 1904, went into the
hands of Pontius D. Stelle, and the
place became widely known Under
that name. The consideration ito Mr..
Tunnicliffe was $4,000 for the
ground, buildings and effects. with
stabling for so horses"
RY 1846, East Capitol street, for
~ several blocks from First street.
had grown into quite settlement.
and on the north side, in the block
where stands the Supreme Court
Building, the following persons re-
sided: r. T. Mills. grocer, at the corner
of First street; Mrs. Phillips, widow;
Phillips & Smallwood, grocers;
James B. Phillips; Edward Riley, shoe
maker; William Clare; go. Clary; ].
Horning, baker; -. Kitchell, mes
senger; Charles McNamee, and baker
with a suggestive name-J. H. Cake.
An even older building than the
brick Capitol, which was also removed
when the site was cleared for the
present structure, was known as 122
East Capitol street. 1t was for many
years owned by Capt. William Easily,
and u said to have been erected some
Evening star., 1935-05-26

Mentione in Mr..
Top lei Notha OF N Captds a
Court
at met
m the burning o
of A a
East t
Below a et:J John Jay first VI
Evening star., 1935-05-26

JUDGING by the practically COM
pleted condition of the United
States Supreme Court Building,
- it is evident that the members
of that august body are holding
Evening star., 1935-01-22
Open Saloon or Health
Department Activity

To the Editor of The Star:
Something should be done about
it-quickl
According to the reports in the
daily papers, as a result of Washing
toms peculiar system of mixing drinks
behind hidden bars" shameful
condition exists. Unused portions Of
beer-filled glasses left by one Gus
toner" are reported to be reflled and
served to another. (From the agita-
ton for the return of liquor, one
would never have dreamed that there
would be leftovers.)
Still worse, we are told that Cheap
brands of blended whiskies are being
served the public for bonded liquor
memories of the days OF good old
corn licker."
To remedy this unsanitary condi-
ton one solicitous legislator proposes
to introduce a bill to bring the bar
tender out in the open"-the open
saloon. Sounds like the old story OF
getting roast pig by burning the sty.
But legislation is likely to be slow
and ''lots of folks" in this good old
D. C. may not want the open saloon
if they are given a chance to vote on
this and other questions in which
they are vitally interested.
Hence, in view of the exigency OF
the question, some one sh@lld notify
the D. c. Health Department at once,
inStanter! w. w. COBLENTZ.
Evening star., 1935-01-22
Arguments ON Gold Clause
Widely Reviewed by Pres

The impending decision by the
United States Supreme Court on the
constitutionali.. OF the Governments
abrogation Of the gold clause in bond
contracts is the subject of extended
comment in the press. The general
opinion is that, whatever the wisdom
Of the administrations action in this
matter, failure of the court to sustain
Congress would result in serious
financial difficulties for the country.
The Wall Stree Journal observes:
IF the gold clause should be sus-
tained the corporations would find
their Indebtedness increased by the
difference between the former gold
dollar and the devaluated one, or
about 40 per cent. Even the bond
holders may well ask themselves if
they would be gamers or losers in that
event.
THE power to coin money and de-
termtne its value Is the greatest of
all powers delegated to the Govern
ment," comments the Canton (Ohio)
Repository. "Once exercised, it can
be altered in the future only with
consideration to what has been done
in the past" With these opinions
many newspapers agree
THAT the court will find some way
to avoid full condemnation of the
action is a reasonable speculation,
although it is hard to see how, upon
straight issue. that can be done"
thinks the Charleston IS. c. Evening
Post. while the New York Herald
Tribune says that what the country
hopes to See-and what there is every
reason to expects a strong decision
by an overwhelming majority of the
court deciding the status of the gold
Evening star., 1935-01-22
Free State Prosperity
Related to Sweepstakes

To the Editor of The Star:
In your issue of January l8 there
appears letter from Andrew I.
Hickey in which he writes: "The De
Valera government has demonstrated
that Ireland contains such potential
resources as make her Gree State)
independent OF England" The entire
letter is so far from the facts of the
matter that it is foolish to lose time
in recognizing or discussing it. The
only prosperity in the Free State at
present is represented by the sweep
stakes. and this only to the govern
ment, which gets a good slice of the
profit. The loss to nearly all the peo-
pie who purchase tickets is very con-
siderable.
To give some idea Of the condition
of the cattle trade-their chief source
of income-it is only necessary to re-
port that many thousands of calves
have been sold for 25 cents each to
meat markets, and the farmers are
vicious at De Valera and his meth
ods, but unable to help themselves.
The conditions have been such that
farmers have been trying to smuggle
cattle across the border into Northern
Ireland, but are only successful to a
small extent.
1t is the opinion of this writer that
English statesmen were really grieved
at the sad condition of Free State
farmers, despite the non-payment of
money due England, and agreed to
exchange coal for cattle to alleviate
some suffering.
Perhaps Mr.. Hickey belongs to that
type of Free State rishmen who
Evening star., 1935-01-22

in the President, under the bill, by
Congress. No power is greater than
the money powerAthe power to spend
where and how the Executive decides.
In the administrations bill men,
ton is made of a dozen things for
which the money may be used, rang
ing from Slum clearance to rural
electrif1cation. But the House Com
mittee which framed the legislation
made no effort to earmark any of
the money for any of these purposes.
Furthermore, it is provided that the
money may be used for any "other
useful Federal or non-Federal work. "
Could any description be wider, could
more leeway be given?
This is the bill which is to be put
through the House under a special
rule permitting no amendments to be
offered except by the committee
which is sponsoring the measure. 1t
is to be hurried through the Senate
as fast as that body will permit, in
the name of emergency. To make the
emergency nature Of the bill more eff
fective as an argument for speed
there has been included provision for
the transfer of $SSC,OOO 900 from for
mer appropriations to be used also by
the President to care for the relief
rolls until the work relief program is
put into effect. The need Of this
money to keep the relief work going is
said to be imminent.
Evening star., 1935-01-22

from admission fees-tWenty-five cents
for grown-ups, ten cents for young
sters. Only the construction cost
would require financing. The main
tenance and operating expense would
be small and could be met without
difficulty from ticket sales.
Surely the subject is one which need
not be argued. A planetarium is an
educational instrument which is its
own justification. The fate of the hu-
man race depends upon cultural prog
reSs. and the Capital of the Nation
should have the equipment to set an
example for other communities. AS
President Roosevelt has said, life in
America must be made worth living
One way to achieve that end is through
the wise and generous development OF
the instinct for increased knowledge
which is active in the mind of the
people. 1t happens that knowledge is
power in the twentieth century as
never before since history began.
Evening star., 1935-01-22
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Next Merry Christmas.

Next Merry Christmas.
The moment arrives when the merri-
ment drops
And the lights all have faded away:
The Christmas tree YEARLY fickers
and flopS
That once was so honest and gay.
The snow and the sleet will cucumber
the street
At the sport of the wind and the
rain;
The old fairy story is closed and COM
plete
And we'll have to start over again.
The laughter, like stars, becomes dis
tant and cold
AS We struggle to live and to learn;
The fables of old have been frequently
told
And as often forgotten in turn.
The woe or the veal that events may
reveal
The future alone will explain.
Well welcome the hope of another
New Deal
And we'll gladly start over again.