Evening star., 1939-05-07

MRS. ANNIE BADEN.
Star Staff Photo.
Her father, who was a prosperous
shipping merchant, owning many
vessels of his own, moved to WASH
ington in advance of the hostilities
between the States, because he real
lied that war was inevitable, and
feel that his family would be safer
in. the Capital.
Their first Washington home was
at the corner of Sixth and Mary
land avenue S.W., upon what was
known as THE Island" this por-
ton Of Washington, in the vicinity
of the Smithsonian Museum, then
being separated from Pennsylvania
avenue by canal.
Later, Mr. Baden moved his fam
lily to a residence at the corner of
Eighth and D streets NV.
Almost opposite our front door
across the street from this home"
Mrs. Baden reminisces, was The
Evening Star of that time. My
eight brothers and I had the great
est possible interest in seeing The
Star set up in print, and despite
my mothers objections, we man
aged to be on hand for the process
whenever we could possibly contrive
it,"
Nor" she continues, was there
house to be found beyond Flori-
da avenue in those days, only dense
woods. The site of the Rialto The
ater was practically a part of our
backyard, and up and down what
is now crowded Ninth street a
Durham cow which my father
bought from Allison MAYORS father
used to roam at will. If no one
had MIXED her she had a way of
mooing under our dining room
window at sunset to let us know
she had been neglected"
Took Dancing Lessons.
AS a girl, Mrs. Baden attended st.
Mary's Convent School at Tenth
and G streets, where Woodward &
Lothrop's is now located. Here she
was given instruction in piano and
voice.
Profs. Carusi and Martini, Wash
ington's most popular dancing mas
tiers of her era, taught her to dance,
a pleasure which she did not give
up until her 87th birthday, when
she danced a farewell" waltz with
her oldest son.
Prof. McLeod's famous school, To-
Gated upon the site of the Columbia
Theater, where she was also trained
in elocution, frequently appearing
in recitals at church entertainments
to demonstrate her training and
skill, as was the custom of the time.
Later, she completed her educa-
ton at Nine. Burr's Finishing
School for Girls" located on. New
York avenue upon the site Of the
Capitol Garage
A war bride Of the COS, she mar
ried Capt. James Baden. a graduate
of West Point and an officer in the
Regular United States Army in
1868. With previous service under
Robert E. Lee in Texas, Capt. Baden,
deeply as he loved his former COM
mander, did not follow him into
the service of the Confederacy, and
was later detailed to duty with Gen.
Grant. Mrs. Baden is the Oldest
living widow of a United States
Army officer and as such receives
an officers widows pension. Their
son, Capt Harry E. Baden, served
with the Ordinance Corps during
the World War.
Father Friend of Lincoln.
Among Mrs. Baden's most cher
ished memories are those centering
around President Lincoln's friend
ship with her father, and his tender
of Government position, which
her father did not accept, to COM
pensate him for the losses which
his business sustained because of
the depredations of both armies.
She recalls, too, that hot July
day when the 9Th United States
Army Corps debarked at the Wash
| ington steamboat wharf and be-
tween lines of solemnly silent on
lockers grimly marched through the
streets to Fort Stevens. Here Presi-
dent Lincoln, disdaining shelter and
under the rain of shot and shell,
saw them repulse the forces of Jubal
Early in their hitherto unchecked
advance upon the Nations Capital.
Widowed at Sc, Mrs. Baden, to
provide for the necessities of three
children whom she had adopted in
addition to those of her own family,
went into the Government service,
where she held a position in the
sixth auditors Office of Internal
Revenue Unit until she was retired
for age at 10. With pride she re-
counts the visits of her former chiefs
and associates in governmental serv-
ice upon the anniversaries of her
birthdays.
Recipe for Longevity.
Humorously admitting to having
been something of club woman
and joiner" in the heyday of her
activities, Mrs. Baden still retains
her membership In the D. A. R., the
Short Story Club and the nearby
Petworth Women's Club. One of
the founders of this latter organi-
zation, she is proudly looking for
ward to participation in its ap-
preaching 25th anniversary.
All of her life Mrs. Baden has