Evening star., 1935-09-01

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to be able on these occasions to throw
all care aside and Just relax to the
fullest and enjoy the show completely
He was generous with his applause
and even enjoyed Jokes which might
be regarded as OF color. much to the
embarrassment, it seemed at times, OF
those who accompanied him. But
then we must remember: "A little
nonsense now and then is relished by
the best of men" Indeed, it was for
tunate he seemingly could throw of
the burdens of his ONCE in this way.
THE site Of this theater. which was
occupied by the Riggs House, was
one of Washington's best hotels from
about 1876 to 1911. Many noted men
stopped there, and many important
conventions made it their headquar-
tiers. Back in 1881 a room at the Riggs
House cost 81 a day. The Arlington,
the site of the Veterans Bureau, $3.50;
the Ebbitt, site of the National Press
Building. $3.50; Willard's, $4; the
Metropolitan, until recently on the
north side of Pennsylvania avenue,
between Sixth and Seventh streets,
So; the National, at Sixth street and
Pennsylvania avenue, So, and the st.
James, opposite the National, from 81
to $6. These prices of half century
ago compare favorably with those of
today, which shows that hotel room
rent has not advanced much, II any,
during that long period.
An amusing incident that occurred
at the Riggs many years ago. which
caused quite q stir at the time, was
when Gov. Beaver of Pennsylvania
had his nose pulled by the irate Maj.
George A. Armes, u. s. A, retired.
Beaver and Armes were both Civil War
veterans, and Beaver had lost leg
in the service. It happened during
one of the inaugurations, when the
Governor and his staff were holding
reception at the hotel, and Armes-
an old Indian fighter-for some rea-
son which the writer has forgotten,
stepped up and gave the nose OF the
honorable gentleman from PennSyl-
vania a vigorous tweak. ArmeS was
court and probably repri-
manded.
The block in which stands R-K-O
Keith's Theater Originally Chase's
Theater) was soon built upon after the
Government decided to move here.
Thomas Munroe early owned the north
front extending to G street and erect
ed lust to the south of that street
a frame house valued at $4,000, which
in the '3os was used as tavern and
conducted by Louis La Billie. In 1887
it was sold to Paul Kinchy, confec-
toner. A fine three-story brick also
stood nearby and adjoined the Bank
of the Metropolis. During the early
'4Os it was occupied by Col. Truman
Cross, deputy quartermaster general,
and later Gen. Winfield Scott made
his home there. Three substantial
brick houses, we are told, painted
white, abutted G street, Mrs. Ulrich
living at the corner, where some OF
the foreign representatives, members
of Congress and Government officials
made their homes.
The picture of Col. Monroe, post
master Of Washington from 1893 to
1929, which appears in the Record OF
the Columbia Historical Society, Is
sometimes mistaken for Valentine
Reintzel, first grand master Of Masons
of the District of Columbia.
CoMMoDORE J. H. AULICK. ac-
cording to an old account, was the
occupant Of the south house Of the
row. On the 6 street front was
house erected about 1900 by Mr.. Ho-
gan. It was occupied by Sally NC
Carthy, a colored woman, and up un-
til the Civil War 1t continued to be
occupied by colored people. Tobias
Punington of the Treasury Depart
ment. some time about the '40s, lived
in a fine three-story residence on g
street. In 1s45 Benjamin r. Reise,
father Of the late secretary OF the
Oldest Inhabitants Association. came