Evening star., 1936-01-12

many rare and valuable clippings
which are being arranged in scrap
books. Among them is one dated at
the time of George Washingtons
funeral written from Georgetown to
an out-of-town paper. Still another
interesting gift Is a framed photo
stat copy of "Vol. The Times and
Potowmack Packet" the first news
paper published In Georgetown on
Thursday, April %, 1889.
OF absorbing delight for the bib
liophile is another first, a calf-bound
volume of the First Ordinances Of
Georgetown" From two extracts
culled at random, a Safety Drive"
and a movement to clear the streets
OF slow-moving impedimenta would
appear to have been simultaneously in
progress as early as 1795. Item one is,
"A Bye Law to prevent accidents aris-
ing from galloping Horses through
the Streets, Lanes or Alleys within
Georgetown" Item two is an act
which evidently had in mind not only
the speeding Of progress for man and
beast in the streets of Georgetown, but
the probable improvement of these
self-Same streets from a sanitary
standpoint. 1t follows: BE it ordained
by the Mayor, Recorder. Aldermen
and Common Councilmen that all
Swine found running at large in this
Town or its precincts thereof from
and after the 18th day of August
next shall be forfeited to become the
property Of any White person or per-
sons who shall take up or seize the
same" Can't you just see the pig
chasing contests that ensued? One
wonders, too, whether the white"
persons indicated were permitted to
have colored helpers assist In run
ming down the errant swine? :.
Old Chest in Collection.
Another cherished treasure In the
present collection is q little leather
bound chest to hold writing materials.
1t is the gift of Miss Katharine Dougal
Of 5000 p street, whose house and
garden constitute one of Georgetown's
joys. Miss Dougal tells Of how it was
made for his grandson, Morris Adler,
by her great, great grandfather, John
Lutz, to whom George Washington
wrote in appreciation of his services
as one of his bodyguards. All about
the chests upper portion is an over
hanging leather valance of con-
trasting shade, its edge in a neatly
pinked pattern. The chests edges are
brass nail studded and the lock and
key are the original ones. Take heed,
you high school youngsters of today,
who are constantly having to pay Is
cents extra for additional locker keys
to replace lost ones.
This chest was evidently meant to
be carried about by its brass handle
which held in place brass name plate
inscribed IN. Adler" Its interior is
papered with a blue figured trunk
lining paper whose Prince of Wales
plume and alternating pattern Of the
rose of England, the thistle Of Scot
land and the shamrock of Ireland are
evidently as vivid as when the paper
was carefully pasted on SO years ago.
In the center Of the top Is this printed
label: John Lutz, Saddle, Trunk and
Harness Maker. High Street, George
town, D. c., 1885,"
In this chest today there reposes
q little old pin cushion, the size Of a
child's rubber ball and in the shape
Of o double Lilliputian hassock or
foot stool. When it was feared that
the British were going to destroy
Georgetown in their advance upon
washington during the War of 1912,
John Lutz, for their safety, removed
his family to Frederick, Md. After an
interval he made the return trip on
horseback to ascertain the possible
fate Of his home. AS he was again
about to set forth to rejoin his family
he thought to himself, "I must take a
token to reassure my wife that our
house has escaped violation" So,
man like, he picked up the first small
object that his gaze rested upon-this
self-same little needle and pin cushion
from his wifes sewing basket. The
original over-and-over silk thread
stitching which covered it is in excel
lent condition. A protective silk COW
ering, whose remaining halves are
held together by a cat-stitched band,
has almost dropped away.
The soft simmer of brass candle
stick with a snuffer and scissors, an
once the property of the
Morris Adler for whom the writing |
chest was fashioned. is further eN-
dence of Miss Dougall's interest in her |
native Georgetown and this memorial |
room.
AS you look out of the windows of |
the Peabody room you view, across
the way, 352s r street, fine old
cream-colored mansion. It was once |
the home of William H. Dougal, father |
of Miss Katharine Dougal and of her
sister, Mrs. Walter Wheatley, so 1t |
would seem as If the Dougal gifts are
really almost coming home. To fur
ther this thought, as 1t were. there are
two photographed copies of paintings |
completed by Mr.. Dougal in the late |
flfties. One is a view north from the |
Peabody room windows and his home
across the way looking toward the
present cathedral. The famous great |
oak" by which Georgetown sailors
returning from over seas used to steer
their ships into harbor, is plainly in
The other shows a view of |
Rock Greek valley with the City Of
Washington in the distance. A little
wooden bridge spans Rock Greek to
Lyons mill.
Scenes Of Old Canal.
Two other recent acquisitions are
two original etchings by e. Hutchin-
son Miller. Both depict scenes along
the old c. g. o. Canal. One shows a
Negro woman walking along the tow
path balancing basket on her head.
The other gives view of o black
smiths shop near lock with the
smithy forging shoes for the waiting
mules while the canal boat Is tied up
to the shore.
A veritable gem Of great value Is a
framed hthograph Of Georgetown Of
the period after 1871, published and
sold by e. Sachse & Co. of Baltimore.