Evening star., 1941-01-23
Historical Society
Hears "Reminiscences
Of Newspaperman
Fred Emery Tells Of
Recording History in
Press; Clark Reelected

washington neWSpaperman whose
work has plunged him into the thick
of events and brought him in con-
tact with great men of several gen.
erations were related to the Co.
lumbia Historical Society last night
by Fred A. Emery, vice president of
the society, journalist and former
State Department official.
Discussing the subject Looking
Backward for so Years" Mr.. Emery
related many anecdotes of Presi-
dents. statesmen and politicians, and
described some of his experiences
while helping to cover" stories of
national emergencies and disasters
which have become part of United
States history.
The society, which held its annual
meeting at the Mayfower Hotel re-
elected Allen c. Clark as president,
Mr.. Emery as vice president. Victor
B. Deyber, treasurer; Newman F.
McGirr, secretary and curator of
archives and library, and John
Clagett Proctor, chronicler.
New members of the Board of
Managers for terms expiring in 1945
were James F. Duhamel, Charles c.
Glover, jr.; Mrs. James Dudley
Morgan and F. Regis Noel.
Miss Morris HonOred.
A resolution of appreciation was
read for the long and distinguished
service of the retiring secretary, Miss !
Maud Burr Morris. The resolution
was written by Mr.. Clark, who was
prevented from attending the meet
ing by illness.
In his talk, Mr.. Emery pointed
out that Historically, this is an
appropriate date for our annual |
meeting and for this look back into |
the years. For it was 149 years
ago today that President Wash
ington appointed the commissioners
to survey the newly created Federal
district that is today the worlds
greatest but voteless Capital" /
Discussing the celebrities of his
early acquaintance, Mr.. Emery re-
called That his sister, newspaper /.
and n agazine writer. once was asked .
by the widow of President Grant
to publish a suggestion that all .
persons should rise when a widow
Of President entered an assembly |
room. The suggestion was never |
published and Mr.. Emery added |
that this is the first time the Incl
dent has been mentioned outside
my own family"
The speaker quoted the anecdotes |
q Gen. Isaac R. Sherwood, Repre-
sentative from Ohio, about Presi-
dent Grant when White House ex-
penses were only $4,000 a year.
Gen. Grant had no bodyguard |
no military staff, no White House |
police. He often walked abroad |
alone He was an expert horseman,
not only at home in the saddle but |
a double team driver, the only
President from Washington down |
TO Theodore Roosevelt who knew !
how to drive pair of trotters at |
speed
Elder With Four Wives.
utah was then a Territory rep
resented by the distinguished Nor
mon Elder Cannon. His four wives,
sitting side by side in the members
gallery, without cosmetic adorn-
ment. were observed by all, as quiet |
and uncomplaining as four oysters
planted in Lynnhaven Bay. This |
was 40 years before DR.. Cook dis
covered the North Pole and As
years before the Rev. Billy Sunday |
drove the devil out of Washington. |
Gen. Sherwood was 90 years old |
when he used to tell me of his !
observations in Washington.
Mr.. Emery recalled when Uncle
Joe" Cannon once took Mr.. McKin- /
ley to task for pretending he didn't |.
mind being defeated when he was
running for a seat in the House.
Cannon tilted his cigar to its |
habitual 90-degree angle, looked |
at the future President long and |
steadily and said:
Look here, Mac, that's exactly
what told my people back in Dan
vile. I said I was we'll satisfied;
that I was glad of my defeat. But |
what In h is the use lying
about it here among ourselves?"
There were other celebrities than
politicians in Washington in those
days. Mr.. Emery recalled that Mrs.
Frances Hodgson Burnett, who
wrote Little Lord Fauntleroy.
lived IN Washington and that he
went to school with Little Lord
Famtleroy, who, was Vivian Bur-
nett, and with his brother Lionel"
Death Watch" on Blaine.
As a reporter on the Evening
News, Mr.. Emery helped cover the
fatal crash of the Ford Theater
Building, and he sat in on the
death watch" set up by reporters
outside the home of the dying
James G. Blaine, Names "Plumed
Knight" While the great man
fingered near death in his Madison
place mansion, the reporters stamped
their heels in zero weather. "One