Evening star., 1939-01-22
Lincoln Tragedy
By John CIagen Proctor.

the writer of the good old day!
when an occasion of this kline
brought out all the horse sleighs
In Washington, and the Avenue was
crowded with some of the finest
equipments imaginable. All the elite
turned out, robed in their best furs
to show off their sleighs and theil
blue ribbon horses. But among all
we can still see Allison Nailor, jr., as
the most prominent figure, tucked ir
all sides as snug as bug in a rug
and riding alone as was usually his
custom.
He was the envy of the envious
and presented a sight never to be
forgotten. His span of horses were
not much as steppers, and they
had long since passed the time
when they were 3-year-olds, but
they were Immediately white and
groomed to perfection, like circus
horses, and were still not too old for
style.
His sleigh was the best that could
be made, and the prominence of the
driver added to the attraction OF
the turnout.
1t is probable we did not have
any more snow so years or more ago
than we do today, but this was be-
fore the automobile began to crowd
out the horses, and Dobbin was still
king of all he surveyed. 1t would
be hard for a youngster to visualize
PENNSYLVANIA avenue in days gone
by upon such an occasion, especially
il it were still showing, and the
flakes were flying thick and fast
as the speedy horses raced up and
down this noted thoroughfare as
long as conditions would permit.
Maybe the thought is all wrong,
but even with all the modern I'M
provements the Avenue seems to
old Washingtonians as having. If
ANYTHING, actually lost some Of its
former charm. Indeed, this struck
the writer rather forcibly about 10
wears ago when, following snow
storm, he saw one lone two-horse
sleigh where only few years back
the Avenue would have been crowd
ed with sleighs of all sorts, filled
with Jolly parties and merrymakers.
Indeed, to the old-timer, winter Is
rot so picturesque as formerly, since
we no longer see the old smlthy
with its cobwebbed corners and piles
of scrap iron lying scattered about,
ready to be nodded into horseshoes,
tires, and the many iron fixtures
that go toward making or repairing
the many types of vehicles that pre-
ceded the automobile.
But we can look backward ana WIS.,
ualize some cold. frosty morning IN
midwinter, during a heavy snow
storm. and once again see the peau-
tiful glowing forge. with its name
intensified by the bellows, blowing
the iron to a white heat. ana tne
thousand and more Of burning SPARKS
As they fly from the anvil while the
iron is being welded or shaped by
the sturdy smith, working with all
the power at his command TO keep
the street car horses and other
horses, and the numerous Vehlcles
in a. condition to keep trattlc IN
operation for the benefit OF the
public.
In 1880 there were over a hundred
blacksmith shops in washington
The writer remembers well John
Mangan. whose shop was at 134l
Fourteenth street NV; Frederick
Weibezahl, on Ninth street opposite
the Business High School; John F.
Preinkert, IT'S Seventh street, whose
bov George he went to school with;
John A. Wineberger, at the corner
of Georgia avenue and Rock Greek
Church road, where his son later ran
an automobile place. Indeed, these
and many more noble old fellows
could be mentioned. They made dull
days bright, and, to the fullest ex-
tent, earned their bread by the sweat
of their brow.
Indeed, it is these childhood i'm
pressions of honest toll that makes
us industrious as we grow older, and
develop ones character for good
citizenship. Some Is years ago ar
uptown store exhibited painting OF
blacksmith shop, and crowds
viewed it while it was on exhibition.
It was as perfect as an artist coulo
make it. Two things in particular
could not have been surpassed: The
light coming through an opening
high up in the shop, and the cob
webs. which excited the admiration
of all lovers of art. But to come
from the sublime to the ridiculous
how much inspiration for a grea,
=, work could an artist get out OF
garage? No doubt very little. II
any. An automobile is a necessity
a good span of horses was delight
and a great pleasure.
If anybody knew good horse II
was Allison Nailor, jr., for not only
was he for many years engaged lr
they livery stable business, but hi;
father before him and his brother:
were also thus engaged.
Allison Nailor, ST., in the day;
when PENNSYLVANIA avenue was ar
avenue in name only, operated 8
stage line for years between the
Navy Yard and Georgetown. He
also, at an early date. ran mai
coach between washington and Bal.
timore and accumulated consider.
able property. He died January 6
l879.
Allison and Washington Nailol
were best known of the sons of Alli-
son Nailor. sr. Allison Nailor, jr., was
born in Washington May 81, 1886