Evening star., 1935-01-13

Frelinghuysen, Aristarchi Bey, Hon. Hamilton
Fish. Baron de Bussiere Algernon Saroris,
Chief Justice Waite ard Others.
The following men have served the Metro
politan Club as president from 1887 to 1920:
C. r. p. Rodgers, c. John Davis, George Dewey,
John A. Kasson, John G. Walker, o. H. Tit
man. Elihu Root, Nathaniel Wilson and Wood
bury Blair
THERE several exclusive clubs in Wash
nston with large membership that have
been iii existence for long while and which
seem to be gaining increasing importance-if
such is possible-as time goes on One of these,
the Cosmos Club, was organized in 1878 and
Is now therefore. more than fifty-six years old.
The idea OF forming this club, 1t is said, "arose
from strong conviction with part of the
members of the Philosophical Society of this
city that further development of the social
side OF their natures Than the regular meetings
of the society allowed would be both pleasant
and useful" and SO a social club was established
and given the name Cosmos" meaning, in this
connection, order and harmony.
Its first meeting place was on the third floor
of the old Corcoran Building. which once
cupied the site of the Hotel Washington, at
Pennsylvania avenue and Fifteenth street. OFF,
GERS were soon elected. and Prof. Spencer F.
Baird, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
became the first president. In its charter, which
was soon secured the qualifications for member
ship required that candidates for admission
should be interested in science literature OF art
limit for membership was fixed at $50, and this
was nearly reached in 1886 when the Dolly
Madison house at H street and Madison place
was purchased by the club for $4,000 from the
Wilkes family The building then had two
stories and attic, but full story soon
added to this Additions were also made to the
south and east sides, and what remained of a
once spacious garden, which extended to the
south and east along street put to good
use in supplying additions al space for the use of
the club
The Improvements were made from the plans
and under the supervision of w. NJ Poindexter
g. Co, and cost at the time Sis 900. The original
building erected shortly after 1921 by
Richard Cults brother in law of Mrs. Madison,
and here she passed her declining years and
finally cSsed away. when 1t became the property
of Commodore Wilkes. At one time the house
was re. ted to Attorney General Crittenden and
upon other occasions it was occupied by Hon.
William Preston and James L. Roosevelt, and
during the Civil War was the headquarters of
Gen. George B. Mcclellan.
ONE could w,tc Almost indefinitely about
~ Lafayette Square and the many promi-
nent people who have reSideu IN Madison place,
Jackson place and H street. opposite the park.
The beautiful trees here among the sights
OF the city, and their height would almost make
one doubt that Philip Barton Key could have
been seen by Mrs. Sickles signaling across the
square with a handkerchief, but then many
years have passed since 1859. and what
then probably saplings have grown to be
majestic and beautiful trees.
Prior to 1919 st. Johns Church (erected in
1876 was the only building this square ard
the park was merely piece of waste land until
1926 when it was leveled to an extent and
fencing begun. Up to 1845 its Identification had
not commenced and congressional committee
even recommended at that time that five resi-
denceS for the use of cabinet officers be erected
there Following the placing of the Jackson
statue within the square. in 1853. the wooden
fence was removed and an iron one substituted,
the work of grading at this time being done
by Mr.. HarknesS commissioner of the first
ward. Madison place and Jackson place were
given their names in 1858. though they were
known as Fifteen and a-half street and Sixteen
and-a-half street for some years afterward
Christian Hines in his delightful little book,
tells us of the Pearce Cemetery, which once
occupied corner of the square and which was
removed about 1900. He also speaks, from
personal recollections, of the Pearce farm house,
which stood somewhere near the northeast
corner of the park, of old tobacco barn,
weatherboarded with clspboards, which stood
nearby.
Referring to the vicinity, he mentions cus-
ter of forest trees to the east of Lafayette
Square and between G and H streets where he
had often gathered hickory nuts
TODAY. this beautiful park contains 81 diff
ferent kinds of trees and shrubs. And of
course. the famous wishing tree" is there too
close to Jacksons statue. That 1t has its virtues
is vouched for by many, though thousands of
others doubt its efficacy. One story related
about this tree tells us that upon one occasion
young lady who was member of an opera
company. playing at what was then the Lafayette
Square Opera House (nOW the BelaSco) was a
daily pilgrim to this tree of good omen.