Evening star., 1936-10-18

lack Of initiative induced by poverty
that she might, somehow, make the
way easier for parents and their
children.
Prior to the neighborhood celebra-
ton in Miss Sisson's honor, through
the courtesy OF Mrs. Jake 8. Hess,
president of the Langdcn Parent
Teacher Association, and her asso-
ciate, Mrs. Curtis w. Jones, chairman
Of publicity, the writer was enabled
to make q series Of visits to the homes
Of those who had been pupils Of Miss
Sisson or had been associated with
her in her work FOR the community.
From Mrs. j. 3. Trittipoe, another
moving spirit In the Parent-Teacher
Association, we learned that scarcely
a day passes which does not bring q
message to Miss Sisson concerning q
wedding, birth, a christening or per-
haps a death among the families OF
her former school children.
Records Preserved.
William s. Torbert. who is past
president of the Rhode Island Avenue
Citizens Association, who as editor
of the Neighborhood News has pre-
served for posterity much valuable
material concerning the history OF
the community, gave fascinating
glimpses into various records, en-
phasizing Miss Sisson's leadership in
this locality and attributed 1t to the
fact that she never had sought self
gloriflcation, being content to find
satisfaction in the larger horizon OF
self-improvement in which she might
be an instrument in bringing to her
pupils and their families.
From DR.. Joseph Began, who served
as a teacher in the Langdon School
before he studied medicine; Mrs.
Louis D. Bliss, whose husband heads
the Bliss Electrical School and who as
Suzanne Warren was one Of Miss Sis
sons first pupils, the Misses Grimes,
who were also early pupils; Mrs. Al
bert Fall, whose grandchildren are now
in the Langdon School; Drs. Allan E.
Cowles and Rush B. Franklin, and
Reid Baker, whose family was one OF
the Oldest in the vicinity. From
George Keneipp, who had been Sc
lected to serve as master of cere-
monies at the celebration. We heard
varied tributes as well as definite rea-
sons why the neighborhood with
spontaneous acclaim wanted to call her
blessed. They told, too, of the esteem
Of other former pupils, including Maj.
Carlton Edwards, Aurelia Beck. IA
nous over the radio as Hazel Money;
Mrs Alfred Timberlake, Mrs. Cornelius
Gibson, Philip Love, who was an early
friend Of Lindbergh's and flew with
him in mail flights. and Of many more
whose affection only deepens with the
years.
But even prepared as we were be-
cause Of the tributes of neighborhood
biographers and our knowledge Of the
neighborhood's solidarity in all that it
undertakes, We somehow hadn't
plumbed the depths Of affection that
it manifested for that slight little sill
yer-haired woman for whom it had
gathered en- masse that it might tes-
tify to its love and loyalty to her. The
great and the simple were there Is
true spirit of friendly democracy
which contradicted the often-mads
assertion "the nearer Washington ap-
proaches the million population mark
the less neighborly it becomes"
AS tangible evidences Of affectionate
regard we viewed the petite point
embroidered chair whose tapestry
covering had been fashioned by Miss
Sisson's fellow teachers. We ap-
plauded Mrs Jake Hess presentation
of the Memory Book and the dressing
table set which were the gifts Of the
children of the neighborhood, and
we were one in all the good wishes
which George Keneipp said accom-
panied the watch given by the citizens
and inscribed simply with the dates
of her service.
Yet beyond the gifts and the spoken
words were those enduring intangibles
which we're represented in the COM
munity's appreciation Of one who had
been true to the tenets Of that noblest
Of all profeSsions-teaching. Her life
and work, we felt. had lighted flame
of self expression commensurate with
her dreams, aspirations and achieve
ments for those among whom she had
taught for a span Of years, covering
nearly half century.