Evening star., 1941-12-21
Bates Preserves Records
OF Old High School Days
New Federation
Delegate Recalls
Early Days
Bv BRAINBRIDGE CRIST

In the old files Of his law Office
in the Mills Building, Charles H.
Bates has preserved the record Of SIS
years work and association with the
class of 1886 of the old Washington
High School.
This Is the class that received its
diplomas from President Cleveland.
Tucked away in the various corners
of his Office are hundreds of clip
| pings, newspaper articles, old pro-
grams and menus of the annual re-
union dinners, bills and personal let
ters.
/ The years 1888 to 1886 seem pretty
distant, but Mr.. Bates has no trouble
remembering those high school days.
/ There was time, for instance, when
he marched with the cadets in 1885
at the time of the dedication Of the
Washington Monument. 1t was a
freezing cold day. he recalled, and
they had no overcoats. So the COM
manding colonel told them to pad
their bodies with newspapers.
From Hospital to Reunion.
This we did" he observed. 81
think it largely encouraged the tre-
mendous applause for our fine ap-
/ pearance as we marched up Penn
sylvania avenue"
Although Mr.. Bates said he always
had a desire for military training,
he did not join the cadets the first
year. First obstacle TO joining was
the cost Of the uniform, and then,
secondly. he had seen a lieutenant
drilling an awkward squad" pull a
man out of line, causing him to fall
on his hands and knees.
/ Il said to myself" Mr.. Bates con-
/ tinued, that settles it for me
/ Nobody could do that to me and get
away with it."
During the second year, when the
boys were organized into two groups
for special drills to music. one group
being called The Hungry Eight"
and the other the Barefoot Six
teen," Mr.. Bates used to fill in for
absent members, although not a
member of the cadets. Then In his
final year. at the persuation of the
commanding colonel and many Of
his friends who were cadet officers,
he joined
The high school has never missed
a reunion. There were times, back
in the old days, when a carriage was
hired to round up the members, and,
more than once, on cold, snowy
nights. In 1886, on the occasion Of
the 50th anniversary, when Mr..
Bates was president for the second
term, he was in the hospital at the
time. He was brought to the dinner
in an ambulance and presided as
planned.
Represents Society Of Natives.
Mr.. Bates is native Washing
tonian, the son of DR.. John E. Bates,
said to be one of the pioneer drug
gists OF the city. At one time, one
of the clerks at his fathers store,
originally located at Seventh and L
streets Sc, was Dave Herrold, who
was hanged with Mrs. Surrat on the
charge of conspiring to assassinate
President Lincoln. Both DR.. and
Mrs. Bates warned Herroid against
Booth, according to Mr.. Bates.
Following graduation from public
schools, Mr.. Bates attended Colum-
bian University, now George WASH
ington, law school, from which he
received his bachelor Of law degree
in 1888 and master Of laws in 1889.
He represented two railroads here
until 1884, when he retired from one
and then, in 1888 retired from the
service of the other
It was not until several years ago
that Mr.. Bates found himself in a
position to devote great deal Of
time to civic work. He is now vice
president of the Association Of Old
est Inhabitants of the District OF
Columbia and a member of the So
ciety of Natives, which he now
represents in the Federation Of Citi-
zens' Associations. He said he had no
particular interest in any one civic
problem.
II consider myself" he added,
sort of an extra wheel to be called
on if the occasion requires"
Also an Oldest Inhabitant. .
Mr. Bates is also chairman of the
Entertainment Committee of the
Oldest Inhabitants group. in which
he is very much interested. 1t pro-
vides an opportunity to meet others
with memories of past days not
every one you might meet would be
interested in," is the way he ex-
pressed it in an interview.
As for the city itself, which he
has seen grow by leaps and bounds,
Mr.. Bates declared that the main
thing now Is to find some way to
govern the District 20 that It's real