Evening star., 1936-01-05

open space everywhere and 50 many
beautiful streams coming through the
city, including, naturally, the famous
old Tiber.
The population Of the District Of
Columbia in 184o, year after Miss
Mordecai was born, was 23,364, there
being 16,843 whites, lib slaves and
4,S09 free colored people. Georgetown
then had a population of 1912. In
other words, this charming lady, who
is not far from the century mark.
has lived to see her native city greatly
increase in population and develop
from one of magnificent distances to
be the most beautiful Capita in all
the world.
It was the day before Christmas
when the writer paid his last visit to
this venerable woman, and the em-
ployes and the guests Of the Louise
Home were decorating the tree and
arranging a long table upon which
to place the presents which they were
expecting, and the marble bust Of
Washington's noted benefactor, w. w.
Corcoran, standing on pedestal near
by, seemed TO be benignly looking on.
Every one appeared to be so happy and
full of sentiment of the season that
you could hardly realize that you were
in a house where are usually found
people whose minds have somewhat
drifted from the exuberant pleasures
of childhood to the more sober
thoughts of the aged. But. no doubt,
Mr.. Corcoran would not have had it
otherwise-nor would any one else,
for there is too much sadness in the
world as it is, and the one who can
think of the happy days Of yore. rather
than the melancholy days which may
come, is surely to be encouraged and
congratulated.
Many will recall this old building.
and Mr.. Corcoran, who built and
founded it, and which perpetuates the
name Louise. borne by both his wife
and his daughter 1t is situated on the
south side of Massachusetts, avenue
between Fifteenth and Sixteenth
streets, and was erected after the close
of the Civil War, the building and
grounds costing at that time $4,000
when the donor endowed 1t with q
further gift of s25o,000. The home Is
for women of refinement and culture
who have become reduced in circum-
stances in their old age. AS stated, 1t
is named after Mr.. Corcoran's wife and
daughter, and is testimonial Ito their
devoted concern for the poor and un-
fortunate"
MR.. CORCORAN'S daughter Louise
married George Eustis, Rep
resentative In Congress from the State
of Louisiana. They resided for several
years in Paris, whittier her father FREE
quently went to share in the sweet
social atmosphere for which her home
was noted.
Representative and Mrs. Eustis were
blessed with three children, which
added to their many joys and blessings.
But the dark days of sickness, and
finally death, bedimmed the sunshine
of pleasure, and Louise Corcoran
Eustis passed into the great beyond, as
TT was truly a sorrowful day." as
has been said, "for the fond father.
when so dear link was severed and so
bright jewel taken away to add to
the radiance above, but he who had
surrendered many worldly possessions
in acts of Christian charity laid this
best and fondest treasure, with be-
coming submission. at the feet Of Him
who shapeth the lily and coloreth the
violet and plucketh them from earth
to shed fragrance in the fair garden
of His keeping"
Mr.. Corcoran's gifts were varied and
many. He presented the Trinidad
tract, which is now nearly all built up
with houses, to the Columbian-now
George Washington-Un!versity. He
gave the Washington City Orphan
Asylum the site recently vacated by 1t
at Fourteenth and S streets northwest,
and contributed sufficient amount to
build a medical hall for old Columbian
College. He donated 1000 toward
erecting Ascension Protestant Episco.
pal Church, and supplemented this
later with gift of $4,000.
LIS gifts we're not confined to WASH
ington. but included a number Of
outside places.
To Washington and Lee University
he gave library Of 5000 volumes, as
sisted william and Mary College
financially, and generously made gifts
of money to the University of Virginia
and to the Virginia Military institute.
His enterprises included the erecting
in 1s47 Of the Corcoran Building.
which stood until few years ago,
when 1t gave way for the Hotel WASH
ington. at Pennsylvania avenue and
Fifteenth street. 1t was erected for
Federal departmental use, but finally
gave way for private ONCE purposes.
As q lad, the writer recalls that the
Western Union Telegraph office was
IN this building at the corner Of p
and Fifteenth streets. For 8 number
Of years Mr.. Corcoran-wfo was an
early member Of the Association Of
Oldest Inhabitants-gave this orsani.
zation permission to occupy q room
here, rent free.
On January 1. 1885, few years be-
fore Mr.. Corcoran's death, the mem.
bers Of the Association Of the Oldest
Inhabitants called on him TO pay their
respects at his palatial home, Con-
necticut avenue and H streets north
west, where is now the National Cham
Der Of Commerce Building.
One Of Mr.. Corcoran's most thought
ful acts was the bringing to this coun-
try Of the remains Of John Howard
| Pavne. author of Home Sweet