davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-09-01

Chief Justice Taft was buried, is
the successor of the First Church,
at Sixth and D streets, as well as
All Souls Church, at Fourteenth
and I, streets. The Harvard street
source of Slash Run, quite a stream
IN the early days of Washington.
This old church is well within the
memory Of many who may still be
considered as not over middle-aged,
and during its 80-year existence
underwent but slight change. 1t
was of brick, with a smooth plaster
finish exterior. and q steeple in
which was placed the first bell
erected in the city, except for the
one used at the Capitol to announce
the hour for starting and ceasing
work on the building. At the time
of the execution of John Brown at
Charles Town, Va, in 1859, it was
the only bell in the city to toll its
mournful sympathy, which, how
ever, was resented by the city
government to such an extent that
from that time on its use for official
announcements was discontinued.
The history of the Police court,
which has been meeting in its new
building in Judiciary Square since
March %, 1888, and which previ-
ously occupied the building now
being removed and before that the
Unitarian Church building, is one
of the most interesting phases of
Washington's social life.
The origin of this court dates
from the first administration of
Gen. Grant, when, in accordance
Evening star., 1940-09-01

and this was where Daniel Webster
resided. During this time a one
story addition was built to the west
side of the house, and the doorway
was placed in the center to convert it
into double house.
Short Speech.
"a night or two after the nom
ination of Gen. Scott, in 1882" ac-
cording to Mr.. Zevely, there was a
Wing ratification meeting in this
city and a large procession was
formed which called upon Gen.
Scott, who was then residing in the
Chain Building, as 1t was called. on
H street, near Fourteenth. After
congratulatory speeches had been
made, to which the general re-
sponded. the procession called upon
Mr. Webster, though the move was
commented on as being in very bad
taste. Mr.. Webster responded to the
cheers of the large crowd, and ap-
peared on the porch of this house. u
His short speech, as reported in
the National Intelligencer, follows
You, my fellow citizens, with
many others, have been engaged in
the performance of an arduous and
protracted duty at Baltimore in
making a selection of a fit person
to be the candidate for the office
of President of the United States.
1t so happened that my name was
used before that assembly. and the
convention, I dare say, did its best,
exercised its wisest and soundest
discretion, and, for my part, I have
no personal feeling in the matter.
1 remain the same in opinion, in
principle and in position that have
always been. You may be assured
that there is not one among you
who will sleeD better tonight than I
Evening star., 1940-09-01

that they themselves will be in COM
mand of their own tanks some
day, and thus it is expected that
their knowledge and efficiency Is
potentially not inferior to the men
above them.
What Is important today Is how
long will it take to train the thou
sands of near supermen to operate
the vast number of tank battalions
the United. States may some day
have to rely on to help defend its
shores?
The answer is somewhat matter
Of dispute, but Capt. Charles How
ard Of Company B, in the Fort
Meade tank unit, thinks capable
tank crews, and even sergeants, can
be turned out in a matter of months.
He reports that men were so trained
within five months this year at Fort
Benning, Ga.
Capt. Howard, however, has been
working with tanks for six years
to reach the perfection which now
characterizes his knowledge and
operation of tanks. He started when
World War tanks, of which there
are many retired at Meade, were
still in active service and grew
up with the new high-speed jugger-
nauts as they were gradually de-
veloped and put into service.
There's something about tanks
that gets you," he said. ut may
sound funny, but / know that most
tank commanders are never any
happier than when they are in their
tanks, directing the driver and gun
ners or driving themselves. You get
so the noise, heat and bumps don't
bother you a bit One OF the best
tank drivers ever knew would never
drive an automobile because he
didn't trust anything but tank"
Despite the warlike mien Of Fort
Meade, there Is probably not an
officer who won't tell you he Is q
pacifist, that he has no stomach
whatsoever for getting killed If
the danger Of such can be honorably
averted. There is also not one who
will not fight to the last ditch II
ordered to. whether he has the
weapons or not.
But these tank men of Fort
Meade, confident as they are in
their weapons, have theory Of
their own about the future. II Is
something like this:
Give us a little time, some more
tanks and men-and then it will
be sap who wants to pick . fight
with vs."
Evening star., 1940-09-01

to make way for a new building for
the recorder of deeds, cost around
$75 600. and was completed and first
occupied on June IA, 1907. The cost
of the equipment was about 5000,
which, added to the cost of the Struc-
ture, is almost as good an invest
ment as the Federal Government
made when it purchased Alaska
back in 1867, for the fines and for
FIXTURES turned over by the court
to the United States Treasury aver
age in recent years, an amount In
excess of $500, 900 annually.
When plans were being drawn for
the building. it was found necessary
to enlarge the site on the D street
side, and this was done by taking in
a part of a law Office building which
had been the residence of Daniel
Webster from 1s46 to 1852.
Erected by Lawyer.
In 1903. Douglass Zevely. in a
paper written for the Columbia His
torical Society, tells much of the
early history OF the bulldlngS on the
north side of D street between Fifth
and Sixth streets, and includes.
among others, references to the old
building on the northwest corner of
Fifth and D streets, where police
headquarters was located from 1882
to 1893.
According to this authority, john
son HELEN, lawyer. erected this
building about 1882. He is also cred
tied with having erected, about l845,
the adjoining building to SOL D
street, which was once a select
boarding house operated by Mrs.
Louisa Duncan.
The father of w. w. Birth built
for Robert Burdine a two-story- and
attic house, west of those mentioned,
Evening star., 1940-09-01

able to direct a hurried take-down
of the engine in the field if some
thing goes wrong. Moreover, he
must know at every minute just
what is happening in the big motor
behind him by observing the in
struments on the panel to his right.
Should, for example. the oil pump
suddenly slow down, the engine
would burn up in no time at all.
Against this possibility he must
keep his eyes on the oil-pressure
gauge.
He must know how to read Army
maps, particularly those which have
been made by aerial photography
In using the maps he must be fully
experienced in reconnaissance and
general battle tactics.
He must have an understanding
of radio. If he is in the command
tank, he must know how to operate
the transmitter which sends orders
through the receiving sets in the
other tanks Of the company or
platoon.
GreateSt OF Accuracy.
Also the firing and component
parts of the land battleship's'
weapons must be no mystery to the
good tank man. A light tank has
two .30-caliber machine guns, one
.50-caliber machine gun. A .37-mm
anti-aircraft gun can be mounted
just outside of the turret to replace
one of the machine guns. Each
member of the four-man crew, In
cluding the driver, has his own
.45-caliber automatic pistol.
All of these weapons the good
tank sergeant must know how to
use, and with the greatest accuracy
He must know how to direct the
firing of all Of them at once, and
he must know how to take them
apart, clean, and possibly repair
them at regular intervals. II the
tank Is disabled in action, he must
lead his men out of the armore6
vehicle and either aid them in
searching cover or direct them tc
keep up the fight with their auto
mates or with the machine guns
which can be dismounted and SET
up on tripods on the ground. A
tank is considered too good a target
for enemy artillery to allow for safe
habitation once its forward motion
Is halted.
All Of these things go into the
making of a good tank commander
of any rank. But, at Fort Meade,
at least. they are training all OF
J the crews under the assumption
Evening star., 1940-09-01

with some cuts on face, body, or
limbs.
Plus sheer muscular ability, he
must have nerves which can stand
the intense heat and the deafening
roar of the motor, and, in wartime,
the blatting conclusion from ma
chine gun and rife bullets which
splatter against the armor plate.
In the new medium tanks (30-ton
he will also have two machine
guns to fire from a button mounted
on one of the steering levers.
If the driver aspires to be a
sergeant, as he is supposed to, his
knowledge of mechanics must be
f1awless. He must be acquainted
with every bolt, gear, washer and
wire in the tanks engine and be
Evening star., 1940-09-01
By A. A. HoehHne.

If, in spite OF all efforts for peace,
the enemy should one day cross the
ocean and near our shores, the
people of Washington should de-
rive much comfort from the know
ledge that Fort George G. Meade
and its men and tanks of steel are
less than an hour from the heart
of the Nations Capital.
If, as everyone hopes, the enemy
never strikes, people here will feel
even more grateful to the men of
Fort Meade for they will know that
it is in good measure because they
and their fellow fighters through
out the country have proved their
bullet-spitting, obstacle smashing
monsters so deadly and horrible a
weapon that the enemy has decided
to keep hands off,
It is cool now at Fort Meade, and
it is hard to believe that only a
matter of days ago the sun scared
the sandy soil till it was all but toe
hot to stand on. The winds are
sweeping over the fields and through
the trees, and there is suggestion
of woodsmoke in the air which
makes one think of fall and football
games and hunting.
The Army post is attractive al
this time of year and 1t seems
peaceful and pleasant.
Work Just Beginning
But, one must not be deceived
Although fall and October with its
full aura of magic is coming again
to this portion of the Scared ole
earth, it is bringing with 1t not
football games but games Of war, g
preparation for games" in which
men, strong and sometimes as un-
emotional as steel cable, kill Others
and in turn face those who Woulc
kill them. 1t Is not bringing the
kind of hunting that most mer
know, but grim chase in which
man, not the rabbit or the squirrel
becomes the harried victim OF
bloody open season.
For this autumn, the work o.
Fort Meade and the hardy little
group of men who comprise the 70tf
Tank Battalion, G. H. @. Reserve
| is just beginning. From the fort
barracks, its scrubby woods, 1t
gravel flats and Its fields, q vas
army of tank officers, tank crews
mechanics and maintenance mer
| will grow, along with their tank
until someday there will be 20 o
26 battalions instead Of the ON
Evening star., 1940-09-01

Thornton, architect OF the Capitol;
Benjamin Stoddert, first Secretary
of the Navy; Roger C. Weightman
later mayor of Washington, and
Lund Washington, sr., also served
as justices of the peace in the early
days of the city.
First Court.
Judge Smell took his seat and
organized the Police Court on July
IL, 1870. in a room at 466 c street
NV, then known as the Kimmel
House, which occupied part of the
site on which the Havenner Baking
Co.'S building was later erected.
Judge Smell had but few appoint
ments to hand out, for the court did
not need very much help in those
days when one judge was sufficient
for the work. One of the first
appointees was James Hughes, who
was made janitor Of the building,
and for his faithful services was
in after years made superintendent
Of the building at Sixth and D
streets.
Other early appointments made
by Judge Smell included Alexander
T. Gray as clerk; william o.
Thomas and Henry Lacy, bailiffs;
Edward c. Eckloff, F. C. Ravells,
Luther G. Dawson, Benjamin F.
Leighton and Howard Price.
Quick Move.
BY 1875 the business had increased
to such an extent that 1t became
necessary to look for new quarters
and the Unitarian Church building,
then on the site of the building be-
ing raZed. was purchased for $20,-
600. At that time there were many
private residences in the vicinity of
Sixth and D streets, and some of the
older and more prominent families
nearby did not appreciate having
the court SO close to their homes,
and to prevent this. they sought an
injunction. But Janitor Hughes, act
ing under instructions from Judge
Smell, was too quick for the objec-
tors, and before the lawyers could
serve the papers, he had moved into
the building on July II, 1878, a table,
Evening star., 1940-09-01

AS one officer put it. "about the
only limit to what a tank will or
can do is the courage of the driver"
When the driver is operating these
tanks, even over smooth roads, it
looks as though he is battling for
his life. He steers 1t by two levers
ON either side of him and is con-
stantly shifting gears by means of
clutch which seems to require
herculean strength to disengage.
Not only must he work these stiff
levers and tough clutch, but at the
same time he is struggling to keep
a semblance of equilibrium as the
hurtling contrivance bashes him
about the narrow cockpit. Even
with his padded helmet he usually
emerges from even a moderate ride
Evening star., 1940-09-01

with the act of Congress approved
June IT, 1870, he signed the COM
mission appointing william b.
Smell Judge of the newly created
court on June 80 of that year.
President Grant appointed many
good men to Office, but none more
thorough and efficient than Judge
Smell. Indeed, he took Office just
at a time when a man of his caliber
was needed and required, and until
the day of his retirement from the
bench, 18 years later, he faithfully
performed every duty to the entire
satisfaction of the citizens of the
District and Federal officials.
Distinguished Justices.
Before the Police Court came into
existence, justices of the peace
appointed by the President per-
formed not only civil duties, but
handled criminal matters to a GER
tain extent as well. One of these,
Evening star., 1940-09-01

ton light tanks (Model M2A2 they
are called) at the fort, but these are
sufficient punishment for any man.
Powered with 250-horsepower radial
airplane motors, the big machines
will pound forward upwards of so
miles per hour, and at speeds posi-
bly, around Is miles per hour they
will go over the worst quilted terrain
imaginable.
Must Be Courageous.
Contrast these streamlined blitz-
krieg buggies with the old 71a ton
Renaults of the World War which
developed but go horsepower and
were doing well to hit miles per
hour. 1t is believed that their armor
could not resist a 1910 Army rifle
bullet.
Evening star., 1940-09-01
District Police Court Held Old Location Nearly so Years
Building Noav Being Razed Was on Site
Of Capitals First Unitarian Church
John Quincy Adams and John Calhoun
Were Among Noted Americans Who
Joined Congregation in Worship
BY John Ciaeen Proctor.

BY John { CiaeeH Proctor.
reformer; Carroll D. Wright, au-
thority in economies, and Lester r.
Ward, celebrated in sociology, have
been more or less active members
of All Souls
Horace Greeley.
''Ainsworth r. Spofford and
Bernard R. Green, from the Library
of Congress, and George F. Bower
man, librarian of the Public Library
of Washington, represent these two
institutions.
while in Congress, Horace
Greeley was an attendant of the
First Church. He was present when
Mr.. Conway preached his decisive
sermon on slavery, and reported it
to the New York Tribune"
The Unitarian Church at Six
teenth and Harvard streets, from
which former President and former
Evening star., 1940-12-26

Smart zippered or button front styles. All
sizes At this low price we suggest you be
here at go.
Evening star., 1940-11-17
French Unit
Will Meet

Prof. Louis Allard of Paris will
arrive in Washington over the week
end, coming here to address the
Alliance FrancaiSe tomorrow after
noon at its opening session of the
1940-4l season. The French AM
bassador, M. Gasten Henri-Haye, will
be the ranking guest tomorrow for
the start of the 38th season of the
local group, which will meet at the
Sulgrave Club. Officers of the
Washington Alliance are Mr.. Lynch
Luquer, president; Mrs. John M.
Biddle and DR.. N. H. Darton, vice
presidents; Mr.. w. T. Brantly, hon.
orary secretary, and Nine Blanche
Bimont, corresponding secretary and
treasurer. The members of the
Advisory Board are Mrs. Charles S.
Alden, Mrs. George F. Becker. Mrs.
Laurence v. Benet, Mrs. Carlos del
Mar, Mrs. James Carroll Frazer,
Mrs. w. A. Hayes, Mrs. Hennen
Jennings, Mrs. Newlands Johnston,
Miss Sarah Lee, Miss Mamie Ma
comb, Mrs. Lawrence Townsend. Mrs.
Walter r. Tuckerman, DR.. Florian
Vurpillot and Miss Harriet Winslow.
Prof. Allard will speak tomorrow
on "Contrastes du Genie Francois
dams sa Literature" He is a dis
tinguished writer of Paris and is
the author of La Coincide de
Moeurs en- France au XIXeme
Siecle-1795-1 1880" and La Comedie
ct les Moeurs du Romantisme-1830-
1850.' Other distinguished speakers
who will appear before the local
alliance are M. Georges Duthuit,
former professor at the Ecole du
Louvre in Paris; M. Andre Morize,
Count Jehan de Noue, recently ar
rived from the theater of war, and
M. Maurice Coindreau.
The Alliance Francaise was founded
in Paris in 1882 and the Federation
OF the Alliances Franchises in the
United States and Canada was or
ganized in 1902. The purpose of the
federation is to encourage and
further the cultivation of the Ian
guage, literature, art and history of
France. The French Ambassador is
honorary president of the federation.
Evening star., 1940-11-17
Miss Richards
Is HOnOred

Miss Helen RobichauX has re-
turned to New York after a visit in
Washington. during which she was
the guest artist for the Mary WASH
lngton Chapter, N S. D. A r., when
it conferred ON Miss Janet Rich
ards the title of regent emeritus.
Miss Robichaux donated her serv-
ices and added considerable to the
entertainment.
Miss Richards twice was regent of
the chapter, one of the oldest in
the organization, and is the only
living D. A. R. who knew personally
all four Of the founders of the So
ciety. She probably would have
been charter member had she not
been travelling in Europe-one of
her 19 trips abroad. However, she
joined two months after its found
ing. In her brief talk Thursday
Miss Richards referred to the letter
written by the late Mrs. Mary S.
Lockwood and published in a local
paper calling woman descendants
of those who fought in the Ameri-
can Revolution to organize for the
perpetuation of history and tradi-
tion of the founders of this Re-
public which resulted in the first
meeting.
Mrs. w. H. O. McGehee, regent
of the chapter. received the guests
with Miss Richards, and Mrs. Estelle
Douglas, who was chairman for the
party, was a graceful presiding of
flcer. Others in the receiving line
were Mrs. Howard L. Hodgkins.
honorary vice president general of
the N. S. D. A. R. and an early
member of the society; Mrs. Carroll
Haig, vice president general; Mrs.
Harry c. Oberholser, State regent.
other State officers and former re-
gents of the chapter, Miss Aline
Solomons, Mrs. Edward A. Keys.
Mrs. Gwynn Gardiner. Mrs. Thad-
deus M. Jones and Mrs. Elliott H.
Haig.
Evening star., 1940-11-17
Mrs. Jesse Burdette
Of Damascus Is
Dinner Hostess

DAMASCUS, Md, Nov. 16.--Mrs.
Jesse Burdette entertained at dinner
at her horne yesterday, her guests
being Mrs. Harry Hurley, Mrs. Gill
more Hurley, Mrs. Walter Mullinix,
Mrs. Herbert Hyatt, Mrs. Janice P.
Green, Mrs Emma Souder and Mrs.
Delma S. Harris.
Mrs. Roby F. D. Day and Mr..
Wesley Day of Inwood. Long Island,
spent the week end with friends and
relatives here.
Mrs. B. M. Woodfleld and Mrs.
Elmer Green attended a tea at the
home of DR.. and Mrs. Jacob Bird at
Sandy Spring Monday.
Mr.. Glen Grimes of Washington
is spending several weeks with his
sister, Mrs. Upton F. Gladhill.
Evening star., 1940-11-17

Mr.. and Mrs. Lew S. Mohler were
hosts at dinner followed by bridge
last evening, entertaining Capt and
Mrs. Paul O. Tucker, Mr.. and Mrs.
George Hooven and Mr.. and Mrs.
Donald Peppenger.
Miss Jane Winnings entertained at
q luncheon and theater party yes
terday in honor of the birthday an
niversary of Miss Jean Defandorf.
Mr.. and Mrs. E. F. Kelley of
Chevy Chase, Md, held an at home
Tuesday in honor of Mr.. KelleyS
father, Mr.. Thomas Kelley, who
celebrated his goth birthday ami
versary.
Mr.. and Mrs. William D. Wright
son have as their guests Mr.. and
Mrs. William Mackenzie of New
York City. Mr. and Mrs. Wright
son entertained at a supper party
Sunday, November 10, in compli-
ment to their guests.
Mr.. and Mrs. Burr Edwards have
as their guests Mr.. and Mrs.
Thomas Lunt of Rochester, N. Y,
who are en- route to their winter
home at Venice, Fla.
Mrs. E E Myers OF Huntington,
w Va, is visiting her son-in-law
and daughter, Mr.. and Mrs. Robert
L. Lefevre.
Mr.. and. Mrs Charles E. Barr
have with them for visit Mr.. and
Mrs. j. H. Russell of Hartford,
Conn.
DR.. and Mrs. William Blum have
as their guests their nephew and
niece, Mr.. and Mrs. Conrad Will
kinson of Philadelphia and Mr. and
Mrs. Conrad H. Young of Bass
River, Mass, who are en- route to
their winter home in Fort Myers,
Fla.
Mr. and Mrs Theodore Edelschein
have as their weekend guests the
formers brother and sister-ln-laW,
Mr.. and Mrs. Inhold Edelschein,
and their son, Inhold Edelschein, jr.,
OF Philadelphia.
Mrs. George G. Will is entertain
ing Miss Helen A. Fegan of Beverly,
Mass.
Mrs. ]. Allison Buchanan enter
tanned Wednesday at supper and
bridge, the company numbering l2
Mr.. and Mrs. Harold E. Doyle will
return today from Philadelphia
where they went Tuesday for a visit.
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles A Jones
had dining with them Wednesday
evening Mrs L. Bert Nye, Miss Adele
Nye and Miss Bessie Whitford.
DR.. and Mrs. George F. Goetzman
were hosts at dinner Monday eve
ming, their guests including Mrs.
Betty Meckly, Mrs Edith Miller, Mrs
George Kathan and Mr.. and Mrs
August Koehler.
Mr.. and Mrs. Maurice v Dawson
have with them over Sunday Mr..
Robert j. Cheatham of New Or
leans.
Mr.. and Mrs. Abner H. Ferguson
we're hosts to II guests at dinner
followed by bridge Tuesday eve
ming.
Mrs. Harry Watkins entertained
at luncheon and bridge Wednesday.
Evening star., 1940-11-17

child Of Rear Admiral Emory Scott
Land, chairman of the Maritime
Commission. and will bestow the
name on the ship as it goes down
the ways into the James River. The
President Garfield is the fourth Of
seven new liners designed for the
Maritime Commission tor around
the-world service.
Evening star., 1940-11-17
Visitors in Chevy Chase
HOnOred at Parties
DR.. and Mrs. Defandorf Are Hosts
AT Tea for Mr.. and Mrs. Moore,
Who Will Go to California

Mr.. Peters entertained Is last evening
cocktail party bridge.
De at from
William Nelson
leave shortly spend the winter California.
compliment
Davis Mrs Harry Archer
McNabb, Mrs Malcolm Kerln and Mrs H.
Charles
evening their daughter Miss
birthday anniversary entertaining their home
Bennett
James Morgan
John A. Reilly have guests Cyril Frost
and William party
Shoreham compliment
Evening star., 1940-11-17
Miss Eugenia Merrill
IO Christen Shin

Miss Eugenia Merrill, debutante
daughter Of Mr.. and Mrs. Keith
Merrill, will go to Newport News the
first of this week and Wednesday
will christen the S. S. President
Garfield. Miss Merrill is the god