Evening star., 1936-01-12
Vision of IndIstriaIist Finds
Fruition in Georgetown Library
Housed There Is Peabody Collection
and Peabody Memorial Room, With
81. A. Own Curator and Librarian.
/, EoRGE PEABODY, adopt,

her ships sailed the seven
seas and brought home in re-
turn for her cargoes Of tobacco and
the foodstuffs of the new world for
tunes that rivaled the wealth OF the
1huies, believed in sharing his accum-
ulated fortune with his fellow men.
For his benefactions to the sailors and
dock men of the port of London town,
Queen Victoria would have knighted
him. Instead, he asked for her por-
trait in oil as token of her apprecia-
tfon. This courtesy England's ruler
graciously accorded.
The Peabody Library was his gift OF
appreciation to the people of George
town, the community where in his in
dustry and vision found their outlet In
world martS.
Andrew Carnegie, another great
American upon whom fortune smiled
in return for unusual natural endow-
ments, believed with George Peabody
that libraries were the open sesame of
the knowledge Of the past and the
present.
The vision of these great industrial
lists finds fruition today in the new
Georgetown branch of the Public
Library at Wisconsin avenue and r
street, overlooking from the old reser-
voir site, the Georgetown that Mr..
Peabody loved and knew so well.
Room Has Own Curator.
Housed within it is the Peabody
library collection and the Peabody
Ia De Cd
tained by the trustees of the Peabody
Memorial fund with its own curator
and librarian, Miss Eva Gilbert. OF
Georgetown herself, she is adored by it
from the colonial mansion to lowly
cottage. If you revel in seeing treas
ured for posterity that which was the
heart and symbol of Georgetown. visit
this newest school of the people.
Should you dread the steps which are
the bane of most sightseeing excur-
sions, an elevator will whizz you up
stairs in q hurry to where yesterdays
are blended with today. the colorful
past with the glowing present.
Georgetowniana might well be the
pseudonym for the Peabody memorial
room. The general book collection of
the Peabody library, formerly housed
In the Curtis School. has been merged
with the general book collection of this
branch. But, in the Peabody memorial
room you may dip to your hearts con-
tent into practically every book of
merit that has been written about
Georgetown. The collection here as
eembled is for reference only and prop
erly does not leave the library. Here.
too, there are fascinating old George
town publications and imprints.
As If to time its advent with the
convening of Congress, there has just
been acquired-in an original calf
binding with marble-edged leaves-a
rare second edition. This little volume
is Thomas Jefferson's Manual Of Par
liamentary Practices for Senators OF
the United States, with the last edit
ings of the author. Published George
Town (note the two words used in the
spelling) 1912, by Joseph Milligan and
in Washington by william Cooper"
The book plate, on its inner board,
tells us that it was once Volume No.
1877 Horace Bailey's Library, Newbury,
the name "Wm. r. Shedd, 1852"
Gunpowder Transaction.
Did YOU know that the Government
of the United States once lent some OF
its sunpowder to certain residents Of
GEORGETOWN? A pamphlet just added
to its treasures by the Peabody me-
mortal room refers to such q trans
f~ after From
Secretary of War Transmitting Pur-
,suant Resolution Of House Of Repre-
.sentatives of oath Ultimo, Information
in Relation to q Loan Of Gunpowder
Made to the Firm of Stull & Williams,
Merchants of Georgetown, in the Dis
trict of Columbia, March l., 1920"
The gist Of the matter seems to be
that the ordnance Office, February
28, 1920" addressing itself to John c.
Calhoun, Secretary of War, refers
to the loan or sale Of gunpowder made
to Stull & Williams, guaranteed by
Daniel Bussard, all Of Georgetown, for
S21, 900, value Of gunpowder at 36
cents q pound" (This document we
noted was printed for the Government
by Gales & Seaton, both of whom
were connected with the National In
telligencer and for whom the Gales
and Seaton Schools were afterward
named because Of their labors for the
public schools Of this city,
1, What was the fate of the Govern
ment in regard to the transaction or |
what were the merits of its case we
do not know. A printed notation,
I'.Read and ordered to lie upon the
table leads us to suspect that our
Government then was no more sue
rcessful in its collections than it Is
today with certain overseas borrowers |
who are behind on loans made during |
the World War.
Among other recent gifts is an auto
graphed copy of Miniatures Of |
Georgetown" by Father Nevills, be-
loved by both Protestants and Cath
ioiics during his recent term as presi-
dent Of Georgetown University.
Miss KurtZ has also presented an |
oil painting by Baden Snyder in its
original frame that links GEORGETOWN
ties Of today with those of an older |
time.
In this connection, Miss Cordelia |
jackson, whose father wrote "Chron-
fcles Of Georgetown" and who in |
addition to compiling a valuable in |
dex to her fathers volume Is herself |
an author Of interest. has contributed |
q fascinating old Grocery Map" Of |
Georgetown. In q charming antique |
black ebony frame with a gilded in
set, it shows Georgetown marked of |
Into wards. Recipients of the towns |
bounty IN the way q groceries and
establish designated residence on
similar maps in specific wards to pre-
vent doubling up on civic spending. |
Human nature it would appear is |
nnchanging, as certain New Deal
agencies have discovered to their ag-
efavation and the Nations irritation. |
NpA