Evening star., 1936-08-23
(Continued From Second Page.)

ocGOIlo 1dScD
corps preparing to entertain the Ma
tional Greys of Philadelphia on the
eve of the Inauguration of William
Henry Harrison. Upon this occasion
Mrs. Shields offer to furnish the din
ner for 100 subscribers at So each,
which probably included the National
Greys, was accepted, and it was also
agreed to hire the Marine Band for
March 3. provided they agreed to re-
ceive $50 for their services.
THIS inauguration proved to be a
very sad one for the country, since
Gen. Harrison died just one month to
the day after being inaugurated Presi-
dent, and in the minutes of the In
fantry Of April S, l841, We find the
following resolutions on his death:
Whereas it has pleased an all-wise
Providence to take from us our late
much-respected President, William
Henry Harrison, it is deemed appro-
pirate that this corps join with their
fellow citizens in expressing their deep
and heartfelt sorrow at the sudden
and unexpected calamity thus visited
upon the country.
Therefore, resolved, That the
members of the Washington Light
Infantry wear the usual badge of
mourning on all parades for three
months; and that the armory of the
corps be hung in mourning for the
same length Of time
Resolved, That it is expected that
every member Of the corps will be on
parade on the 7th instant to join the
escort in paying funeral honors to
the late President"
In the early days the w. L. I. Corps
was lionized by the people of Wash
ington, and their presence at all pub
lie places was solicited. Indeed, even
the theaters looked upon their pres
ence as an added attraction, and on
February l6, 184l. we find them ac-
cepting an invitation from Miss Vir-
ginia Monier, 1.-The managress of the
National Theater," to visit that play
house on February %.
The practice of entertaining out
side military companies continued
we'll up into the COS, and so IA
vorably was the corps regarded that
an invitation to one of its balls or
outings was highly priced Some years
before it ceased to exist it began to
encourage, for the amusement of its
members, basket ball and other
sports, and many of the finest en-
tertainments and balls given in the
city, subsequent to 1885. were held in
their new armory, which stood on the
northeast corner of E and Fifteenth
streets, to the north of the Depart
ment of Commerce Building.
THE upper part Of the armory
building was constructed for the
atrical purposes, and here was origi-
nally Albaugh's Grand Opera House.
John W. Albaugh, lessee and manager.
The theater was opened on November
10, 1884. with Emma Abbott and her
company in "Semiramide President
Chester A. Arthur was there, among
the many distinguished persons pres
ent. E. B. (Ed) Hay opened the the
ater by reciting a poem written for
the occasion by John v. Hood OF Bal
timore.
The patriotism of the members of
the Light Infantry was manifested
even before the beginning of the Civil
War, and on March 4, 1861, when
Abraham Lincoln was first inducted
into Office, the corps, under the COM
mand of Col. James Y. Davis, took
part in the inaugural parade, when,
it is related, they carried 40 rounds of
ammunition, the muskets being loaded
with ball and buckshot, fully pre-
pared for whatever might happen.
At the beginning of the war, which
soon followed, of the "a District
companies that volunteered for the
three months service, members OF
this organization were among the first
troops to be mustered in by the Gov
ernment. Indeed, IN tnlS connection
we might appropriately repeat what
the well-known newspaper corre-
spondent, Ben: Perley Poore stated
number of years ago when testifying
to the patriotism of this fine body OF
men. Mr.. Poore, it may be recalled,
came to Washington at the beginning
of the war with the LIST Massachu-
sets Regiment, and was speaking
from personal knowledge. He said:
"This Is the thirteenth anniversary
of the mastering into the service of
the United States of the District OF
Columbia Volunteers, which at once
went on duty, and this became the
advance guard of the Grand Army OF
the Union. Twelve companies, each
100 strong, Of the District Volunteers,
had been guarding the Capital week
before five companies of Pennsylvania
militiamen, unarmed and mostly un-
uniformed. arrived here on the after
noon Of the 18th Of April, 1851"
4