Evening star., 1939-01-01
Fifty Years Ago
In the Star

January l, 1883, to this sprightly ac-
Good Old count of gathering Of
A.. Washingtonians long past
'e"' the meridian of life, but still
endowed with a capacity to appreciate
the privilege of living:
Before going to the White House to
make their annual call upon the Presi-
dent, the members of the Association of
the Oldest Inhabitants Of the District
held meeting in their rooms in the
Corcoran Building. There was a good
attendance, and all the members seemed
to be in specially happy mood. They
exchanged the greetings of the season
and wished each other many returns Of
the day. In fact, the old gentlemen
were in such a social mood that it was
difficult for the president, John Marbury,
to obtain attention to his modest raps
indicating that the meeting should come
to order.
Even after the business meeting had
begun, its orderly procedure was often
interrupted by the greetings which
marked the entrance of some member
into the room. However, no one objected
to these breaches of the rules of order,
and the meeting went on very happily.
president Marbury spoke few words
of greeting and expressed the hope that
the bright, beautiful day might be an
omen of what the whole year would be
to all the members.
These good wishes from the president
were received with applause by the men,
bers. The report of the treasurer, Robert
Ball, was found to be correct by the
Auditing Committee, and then j. N.
Wineberger stated that the case ordered
to be built in the room for the better
protection of the map presented to the
association by Mrs. Stone had been COM
pleted.
"I got some paint added Mr.. Wine
berger, and painted the case myself and
did some other work for which no charge
is made One of the members jokingly
said something about 'scabs' and 'scab
work. and the president in the same
manner warned Mr.. Wineberger that he
might get into trouble by making such
admissions. He, however, thought his
economy and zeal in the interests of the
association should be commended
"I am well aware added Mr.. Wine
berger, continuing the joke, that we have
labor organizations to contend with
After the joking had subsided, Mr..
John w. Shiles stated that H. Amidon
and James Espey, members of the asso-
ciotion u,oro n,1ifo c;oL IYo hod e;& Il
them and they wished to be remembered
to their fellow members. James A. Con-
nor and AndreW Swartz were elected
members.
"Mr. Shiles, in speaking of a canvass
recently made by him for new members,
said that one man had said to him that
he was not old enough to become q
member. I was then,' continued Mr..
Shiles with perceptible sarcasm, attend
ing his golden wedding He then went
on to say that golden weddings were
becoming fashionable. He attended one
not long ago of member Of this asso-
citation and they had very pleasant
time. There was everything in abun-
dance to eat and drink, and a happy
social feeling.
"This reminded Mr.. Parker that his
golden wedding would occur a year
hence, and he hoped the members would
not forget it.
"The president said that he had at
tended the golden wedding celebration
referred to and, while he did not stay
until the festivities began, he UNDER
stood that the old boys present had be-
come quite gay and some of them got
to dancing.
'This latter circumstance seemed to
amuse the members very much, and no
expressions of disapproval were heard
of this conduct of some representatives
of the association.
william Boron offered the following
resolution, which was adopted: The
Oldest Inhabitants Association of the
District Of Columbia hail with exceeding
Joy the advent of the constitutional CEN
tennial of our country, the United States
of America, to be fostered by our chill
dren as long as time endures'
"A committee, consisting Of Messrs.
Ball, Wineberger and Pilling, was ap-
pointed to make arrangements for the
celebration Of Washinstons Birthday"