davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1938-03-06

THE Sign Painting Committee, which
consists solely of DR.. Schmecke-
bier, had problem to meet in the
Katahdin sign. The first of these
proved such a great temptation to its
readers as place to autograph and
carve their names that the lettering
and distances could hardly be read. It
was replaced by new, metal-covered
sign, while another. placed beside it,
caustically bore this legend, If you
must write your name, write it here" I"
It hardly needs to be stated that this
new l8-by-24-inch contribution has
been put to good ca use. y
The club has not only developed
trail, but has built shelters, with the
view Of having them follow the trail,
and hopes to have more placed at reg
ular intervals, determined by the aver
age days hiking distance. Shelters
are used for overnight trips and serve
as base for hiking or fishing expedi-
tions. They are not steam heated, and
story is told of the supervisor of
trails, one of whose hobbies is fishing
Using one of the club shelters for an
overnight trip one winter, he found
that his bait-worms-was likely to
freeze If left in the cabin. So ingeni-
ously he put the worms under the cover
with him when he went to bed.
The shelters are supplied with hunks,
bedding, stoves, cooking utensils and
some food. They are inspected once
q month and rules include leaving
them in orderly condition, clean and
the replacement of more firewood than
was found. The person reservins the
shelter u responsible for strict obssrv-
Evening star., 1938-03-06

may be just for the fun of hiking, with
White Oak Canyon the destination.
Here in a towering growth of white
oak and poplar, there Is a drop of
$500 feet in a mile, having six water
falls so feet high. 1t may be work
trip, where 40 or so people who have
put in their reservations early in order
to be included. help to relocate trail,
or prune old trail, using shears, axes
or woodcutters.
IRON Washington, the nearest
point. Turner's Gap Is only Sc
miles. There the distance of the Po-
tomac Appalachian section lengthens
to 119 miles to Overview, on the west
bank Of the Susquehanna River. to-
ward the north, and 148 miles on U. 8.
route $50 at Rocknsh Gap, to the south.
Many hard-surfaced and dirt roads
crossing the range make 1t easily ac-
cessible to private trips.
The Appalachian Trail has grown
from a one-man idea through a few
sectional leaders to include thousands
Of men and women definitely con-
nected with the Trail Conference by
membership in local clubs. The hum
dreds of others who make use of the
trail cannot be numbered.
The trail has used the spare time Of
. few as developed power and in
vites that of the many. Mr.. MacKaye
has written: I'VE want the strength Of
progress without its puniness. We want
its conveniences without its fopperies. :"
His solution, the Appalachian Domain,
has certainly been for many the sn-
sver to this prayer.
Evening star., 1938-03-06
ion The Star of November 4, 1861

ton The Star Of November 4, 1861,
says:
The Burning Of the E Street In
f1rmary-Terrible and Thrilling Incl
dents-Removal of More Than One
Hundred Patients-A Woman Sup
posed to Be Burned. This morning
at very early hour the E Street Hos
pital, better known as the Washington
Infirmary, was discovered to be on fire.
It contained at the time from 80 to
100 sick and wounded soldiers and a
considerable number of other Govern
ment patients. The fire is believed
to have originated in defective flue
from the furnace. which was located
in the cellar under the addition which
projected from the center OF the main
building in the rear The rooms of the
Sisters Of Charity were in this addi-
tion-over the furnace-and the three
medical cadets had a room on the
floor above. The rooms of the sisters
were filled with smoke about half an
hour after midnight, and the sister
superior first gave the alarm They
had barely time to hurry on their
clothing and escape, leaving everything
but the clothing they had on in the
burning building. Their cries brought
in the guard. and soon the alarm be-
came general. Drs. Rodman, Hutchins
and Allen, the cadets alluded to, lost
all their personal effects with the
exception Of the clothing which they
hurriedly put on to leave the burning
building. The Metropolitan Police
were soon upon the ground and ran
through the house arousing all the
inmates, and about this time the scene
was awful in the extreme.
"All Of the sick and wounded able
to rise wrapped the bed clothes around
them and escaped from the building,
and the shrieks of those unable to do
so were terribly piercing and thrilled
the hearts of all who heard them. The
citizens present, the officers of the
institution and the Metropolitan
Police were all active in rescuing the
weaker patients, who had to be taken
up bodily and brought through the
smoke and flames to place of safety.
Some were carried to the City Hall,
some to the schoolhouse on Judiciary
Square "a hospital for some time past),
some to the former quarters of Griffin's
Battery. some to old Trinity Church
on Fifth street. and many to private
residences in the neighborhood 1t is
believed by the officers of the insti-
tuition that all the patients were
Evening star., 1938-03-06
The Medical Buldng Tenth and streets NW erected
1926 site the present Potomac Electric Building

rescued with the exception of one, an
aged woman named Mrs. Hussey, who
was sent to the infirniary some time
since by the commissioner of public
buildings. She cannot be found, and
it is supposed she has perished in the
flames"
pROBABLY being homeless for q
while, We next and the Medical
College occupying a building on the
north side Of H street, between Thir-
teenth and Fourteenth streets, and Of
this building, Keim in his handbook
says:
THE National Medical College of
Columbian University on H street,
between Thirteenth and Fourteenth
streets NV, was founded in 1925.
The building was the gift of w. w.
Corcoran, 1864, cost $4,000. was
originally intended for a mechanics
library and lectures, contains two lee
ture rooms, with anterooms. chemical
laboratory and dissecting room. In
winter the janitor will admit visitors.
The dSpensary Is open daily. except
Sunday, from l to 3 pm. to the poor. 81
Evening star., 1938-03-06
ance of rules by every one in the shell

ance of rules by every one in the shell
ter.
RESIDES these opportunities for pri-
~ vate use there are club trips once
a month, including bus transportation
to and from the mountains. It is ar
ranged for the bus to leave mixers at
one point and to pick them up at the
end of the jaunt, so that there will be
no retracing of steps or landscape.
There are some special thrills, un-
arranged by the club, however. One
recorded is Of young man who de-
cided to walk on ahead by himself on
the trail. His enthusiasm for solo
walking changed, however, when he
met an elephant. It seems that this
animal had found escape from circus
passing through Smokers Gap (this Is
not q pun but real name) and the
elephant had chosen the nearby trail
for a pleasure trip.
There Is = rock-climbing group
and skiing group, which try to per-
feet techniques Of members in these
lines. There are educational functions
sponsored-botanical, historical, geo.
logical, etc. Lectures, some out Of
doors, some indoors and Illustrated,
are given.
A club trip may point out stone
tower, the first monument ever COM
pleted to George Washington, and that
on top Of mountain; the geological
aspect Of Mary's Rock may get the in
terest Of another; spring trip Offering
study Of trillium, laurel and szalea, in
differing stages Of loveliness, depend.
Ing On tho altitude level. The trip
Evening star., 1938-03-06

Trail Which Has Been Magnet for Efforts Enthusiasts
New England to North Carolina and Has Growing List
of Warm Supporters.

visable as the trail developed. Maine
now offered the last hurdle and that
has just been passed. Record Of this
Is to be given in new article to be
published by Mr.. Avery. This COM
pletes the cutting and marking of
1850 miles of trail-the longest foot
path in the world.
THE Appalachian Trail Conference
has been material factor in the
development Of tho chain of new clubs
throughout the length Of the Appa-
lachian Mountains. Relying on the
experience partly Of New England
organizations. the technique of trail
equipment has been spread and the
"List Of Camping, Hiking and Trail
making Equipment" which Is the
most complete Of its kind, has had
such popular demand that it has
just been brought out as sixth edi-
tion by the Potomac Appalachian
Trail Club.
To hear those talk-the ones who
have done and are still doing most
Of the work-it has been fun, and
Fun spelled with q capital "F" 1t
has been their hobby and recreation,
tangible evidence of their ideals,
and it has well repaid them. It can
almost be called their gift to thou
sands who have free use Of this trail.
It offers real recreation to the many.
This kind of recreation attracts the
energetic, the seer, the helpful, the
thinker. Hence the people one meets
on the trail are from all walks of life
doctors, lawyers, scientists, business
men, newspaper men and craftsmen,
to name only few. These are max
ing stimulating contacts with other
vital people interested in the same
project. They are doing their jobs
well and yet have time for another
interests. The trail has given them
oxygen, which q great professor once
said is optimism. It has. given them
perspective on world and business
problems.
A trail enthusiast made this state
ment: That If he ever intended to
marry ne would take his girl out on
the trail; that If he wanted properly
to evaluate friend, he would do like
wise. Evidently, If this criterion is
sound, there is more to it than getting
q perspective on world affairs!
There are many stories of the ac-
complishments and trials of the pio-
neers. They met and talked with
many mountaineers One virginian.
with proud ideas, unIoaded his secret
rs to why his mountain home was of
raw wood. TOO poor to paint, too
proud to whitewash," was his remark.
There Is another story of election
time. It was suggested before the
meeting that the vice president be a
person who was Of no use in other
fields, and Immediately prominent
economist was appointed to I'LL the
post. which he has sincs held.
Evening star., 1938-03-06

OoluWpla ana IellOW OF the American
Medical Association.
THE National Medical College, from
which DR.. Mcpherson graduated
IN 1884, was started on March 80,
1925, as the Medical Department of
Columbian College. In 1847 the name
was changed to the National Medical
College. with the provision, however,
that the relation to Columbian Col
lege should continue. In 1873 Colum-
bian College became Columbian Uni
versity. In 1894 the name national
was dropped from the medical de-
partment, and when, in 1904, the uni
versity substituted the name George
Washington for Columbian, the medi-
cal branch became the Medical School
Of George Washington University.
The first meeting place Of the Medi-
cal College for the delivering Of a
course Of lectures was on the west
side of Tenth street between D and E
streets NV, but the accommodations
here being so unsatisfactory, the fac
ulty purchased lot on the northeast
corner of Tenth and E streets, where
Is now the Potomac Electric Power
Co.'S building, and here is erected, in
1926, building which stood for many
years, or until the gasoline stations
became popular, and to which it gave
way about 20 years ago.
This building, which was erected in
1926 by Drs. Thomas Sewall, James M.
Staughton, Thomas Henderson, Nich-
olas Worthington, Frederick May and
Richard Randall, had a varied exist
ence, and in addition to its being
the home Of the medical school. tts
lecture hall was frequently used foe
Evening star., 1938-03-06
EARLY MEDICAL LEADERS OF DISTRICT
Old Columbian Buildings
sin
O anO

Langdon and Rhees, ably assisted by
Messrs. z. Richards and M. H. Miller" :"
Mr.. Smith further tells US that at
the preliminary meeting Of June Q,
60 persons were in attendance in the
room occupied by the Central Acad-
emy" Of Rev. James Nourse, and that
"35 to 40 persons came forward and
enrolled as members, the number
being increased to 81 members within
q week or so thereafter"
A LSO. from Mr.. Smith. we find that
= the first IL members who signed
the constitution did so in the follow
ing order: Thomas Duncan, w. C..
Landon, John c. Whitwell. J. T. coch-
ran. A. G. Carothers, Zalmon Rich
ords. Thomas Brooks, A. H. Lawrence,
William J. RheeS, c. w. Schreiner,
A. B. johnson and William Flye.
The first regular officers, elected
July 9, were Alexander H. Lawrence,
president; William Jones Rhees, re-
cordinS secretary; William Chauncey
Langdon, corresponding secretary, and
Mitchell H. Miller, treasurer. On De-
cember IA, 1882, Zalmon Richards was
made president, DR.. James S. McKie,
DR.. Richard H. Coolidge, William B.
Waugh and William @. Force, vice
presidents, and A. L. Edwards, IL
brarian; Messrs. Rhees, Langdon and
Miller being reelected.
For a while the association met
where 1t was organized, and then, on
October Z, moved into the Fowler
Building, on the east side of Seventh
street between D and E streets.
The first occupant of the northeast
corner of Fourth and f streets, so
far as known, was John Chase, who
conducted grocery store there prior
to 1926. The old Medical Building
seems to have retained its attraction
for college purposes, for the Medical
Department Of Georgetown University
Is said to have had its quarters here
in the SOS. And within the memory
of many, William Walters furniture
store was on this corner.
In accordance with an act OF Con-
gress. passed July Is, 1874, the Ma
tional Medical College was granted
the use of the old Jail building in
Evening star., 1938-03-06
During the Civil War this building
was occupied by the United States

During the Civil War this building
was occupied by the United States
Sanitary Commission: It stood in q
historic old neighborhood and close
to the famous Chain Buildings, erected
many years ago by Count Charles j.
Denemon, who afterward became the
owner of nearly half the square In
the center one OF the three Chain
Buildings the count made his home.
Massive iron chains hung On low
stone pillars suggested the name of
the chain house" according to an
old account, but the 'Denemon Build
ings' and French Minister'S were
the more dignified names. At that
time the ground on H street was valued
at 1919 cents a foot, and the build
ings were assessed for $4,000. For q
few years Count Denemon's house was
the offcial home Of the French Lega-
ton, and it was the scene Of many
society functions. The count made
slight Improvements on other parts
Of his property aggregating in value
about $1,000. The values on the
ground in the square other than on H
street were from 4 to 10 cents per
Evening star., 1938-03-06

Judiciary Square for an infirmary and
for other purposes. This building be-
came known as the Washington In
firmary, and In 1883 was considerably
enlarged. At the outbreak of the
Civil War the U. S. Government took
possession Of the building for military
hospital purpose, and soon afterward
it was entirely destroyed by fire.
THE hospital at this time was occu-
pied by nearly a hundred sick and
wounded soldiers. many of the latter
brought to Washington from the Bull
Run battlefield. OF this connagra-
Evening star., 1938-03-06

organization is also worth repeating.
1t is this:
In April. 1852, Rev. Clement M.
Butler, rector of Trinity Episcopal
Church of this city, placed a copy of
the constitution in the hands of
William Chauncey Langdon and
Thomas Duncan. young teachers in
his Sunday school. to consider whether
such an organization might not be
effected here. These two young men
discussed the matter with their mutual
friend, William J. Rhees of the Baptist
Church, who lived in the same house
with Mr.. Duncan, and he entered into
the plan with great enthusiasm. These
three men, only about 81 years old,
Evening star., 1938-03-06

church and other purposes, and here
the Church of New Jerusalem met
during part of 1889 and 184O, when
its home was badly damaged by fire,
but was soon restored.
The building was given up by the
Medical College in 1874 and was a
Masonic hall from 1S46 to 1855, during
a part of which time James Nourse
had his Evangelical Book Store and
Bible Depository here.
ONE of the most important events to
occur here was the founding in
this city Of the local branch OF the
Young Mems Christian Association,
as the following notice from the Ma
Evening star., 1938-03-06
By Suzanne Mulletf.

A N ASTOUNDING idea, progress
n sive, appeared for the first
~ time in 1921. It was vision
4 a of huge recreational project,
the Appalachian Trail, which was to
cross 13 Qater ~ original States,
following as nearly as practicable the
crest OF the Appalachians. It was not
to be a highway, but a footpath,
wildnerness trail leading from the
highest mountain in the North, Mount
Washington, New Hampshire, to the
highest in the South, Mount Mitchell,
North Carolina. This original plan
could be made manifest only through
the labors of far-seeing people in their
spare time. The work of development
was to be free. voluntary, and the
appalachian Domain" as it was
called, was to open to all free.
Benton MacKaye, forester, author
and philosopher, was the author of
this idea. which he published in the
Journal of the American Institute of
Architects, in an article titled, THE
Appalachian Trail, a Project in Re-
gional Planning" It was to be easily
accessible to the Atlantic Seaboard.
Using an Eastern section which con-
tanned half the population of the
United States. and one-third that of
Canada, he found that there were SO
population centers Of over 400 900
within one to eight hours from the
prospective trail.
The project was inspired by re-
gional trail system already existent.
-Four Of these independent trail sys-
TENS could be tied into the through
project. These were in the White
Mountains, Appalachian Mountain
Club; the Green Mountains, Green
Mountain Club; between these the
section Of Dartmouth Outing Club,
and in the more restricted region of
the Hudson River, the Palisades Inter-
state Park. Part was destined to be
in public ownership. This was the
section south Of the Blue Ridge Noun
tains in Pennsylvania, exec. t for that
In Maryland an $50 miles in Virginia.
This last section could only be used
with the consent of the local owners,
and these were most cooperative.
Scouts went out in this section with
great hopes and some fear to ask
permission to locate and cut trail
through private property. This trail
would be always open to the public.
The story is told Of two scouts pro-
ceeding to interview an owner who
had rep,1to tion of 'heinp uncn.
operative. When approached, how
ever, he gladly assented to this use
of his land. and suggested that, as
he knew the terrain well, he would
like to 60 on the scouting trip to show
them the best route.
IN THE public reserves there existed
crest-ltne trails which could be
dtted In. Construction later In the
Evening star., 1938-03-06

and employed in the governmental
service, met in Mr. Rhees' room on F.
street, between Twelfth and Thir-
teenth, and there made arrangements
for a public call to propose a definite
organization. I.
1T seems that Mr.. Duncan had
previously been considering the idea
OF attempting such an organization
here, and credit is to be given him
for taking the first steps for the for
nation of the Washington association
He. however. left the city in October,
1852, and the details Of establishing
the association devolved upon Messrs.
Evening star., 1938-03-06

tional Intelligencer of June 8, 1852,
bears witness:
"NOTICE-The young men of the
different Protestant denominations in
this city, and all others interested in
the object proposed, are most earnestly
requested to meet at the Masonic
Hall, corner Of E and Tenth streets,
this evening, 9th instant, at 8 o'clock,
to take into consideration a plan for
organizing a Young Mems Christian
Association"
And what w. H. H. Smith has to
say of the beginning of this fine
Evening star., 1938-03-06

Southern Appalachian National For
est helped greatly. Even so, the labor
was to be of astonishing magnitude
To person with pessimistic ideas
as to the probability Of many humans
correlating their ideas and work the
venture sounds not only foolish but
impossible. It. meant that men and
women must give freely of their time
to public project, scouting to discover
the best possible trail route. working
individually and in groups cutting
trail to regulation 6-foot width, ask
ing permission for use of the land in
private ownership, making trail mark
ers. measuring distances, blazing and
painting trees or rocks and donating
unlimited amounts of secretarial
work. They must pay dues to an Or
ganization to spread, improve and
continue such a philanthropic idea.
Mr.. MacKaye organized a small
group in Washington in 1922. Some
scouting was done, but no material
part was completed and opened. In
1925 the Federated Societies on Plan
ming and Parks, through Miss Harlean
James, its executive secretary. called
the first Appalachian trail conference
in Washington. An Executive Commit
tee of Is included two representatives
appointed from each of the five new
sections or units. Miss James was
elected secretary and admirably has
served as such since that time. I'm
fortunately, because Of Its limited
scope and membership, 1t degenerated
into theory.
In 1927 the idea was revived by
Arthur Perkins in Connecticut. He
visited sections locating trail south Of
the Delaware Water Gap. An impetus
developed, and shortly thereafter
groups we're organized at several
points to. further the project and de-
velop the trail.
EIGHT persons formed the Potomac
Appalachian Trail Club in 1927.
This club between 1928 and 1882 con-
structed and marked some 260 miles
of trail from the Susquehanna River
to Rocktish Gap at the southern emo
Of the Shenandoah National Park.
This Is the record for trail construc-
ton. Most Of the credit goes to Myron
Avery, DR.. j. F. Schairer and H. c.
Anderson, one lawyer, another q
scientist and the third public ac-
countant-all leaders in their own
fields.
Since this vital group of eight met
in 1927, from their first annual meet
ing to their tenth, which is to take
place shortly, the club has grown to
400.
At the 1880 conference Mount
Oglethorpe, Ca, was officially estab-
lished as the Southern terminus of
the Appalachian Trail. Katahdin,
Me-, was to be the Northern termi-
nus-an extension Of MacKaye's orisi-
nal plGs. but ops that seemed sd-
Evening star., 1938-12-11

A sturdiIy-buiIt Bookcase, finished
in Maple or Walnut. Splendid
Value!
Evening star., 1938-03-20

ReTWeeN now and Eoster million or
more hots will be sold in the United
Stotes, rongin9 in price from $l95 to $500.
SeveroI thousond miIIiners. Jorge and snoII,
ore now eneulfed in the onnuoI lost minute
rush to stem the Eoster buying wove.
Hots which sell for ST IS must, of course,
be turned out in iiffy. But the custom
built creations which bring upwords Of $50
o hot receive the ottention Of O dozen or
more experts.
Pictures on this poee, mode in the work
rooms Of on exclusive New York designer,
show the steps through which smart
ehopeou must go. from the time it is merely
an ideo in the heed until it is worn in the
Eoster porode. eAcme.
Evening star., 1938-03-20

CROWN PRESSING.
While she steo m
presses q crown this
empfoye weors the
brim on her heod to
hove it hondy. It's q
fomiIior sight Ground
hot shops.