davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1947-08-03
Early Washington Thespions

theater on Tenth street, where Pres
ident Lincoln was assassinated.
AS to the exact location of Ford's
Opera House only the approximate
site can be given, for c street,
Louisiana avenue, and even the park
and fountain in front of where the
theater stood, have long since been
obliterated and lost beneath the
northeast part of the Department
of Justice Building, which extends
from Pennsylvania avenue south to
Constitution avenue and from Ninth
to Tenth streets.
But the old theater had q notable
history. 1t was originally built as a
carriage repository by Thomas Berry,
known to most of the older residents
Of Washington as a builder and con-
tractor. It's erection took place about
the breaking out of the Civil War.
During the progress Of the war the
upper floor was converted into a
public hall in which variety shows
were given, and in 1865 1t was called
the oxford Hall of Music, with Fox,
Curran and Norris, proprietors.
Many years prior to this, Col.
Peter Force. at one time Mayor of
Washington, owned brick building
on the theater site valued at $500.
The lower part was then used as a
shoemaker shop, the upper portion
being the coach shop of a Mr.. Peck.
Even before 1t was the Oxford Hall
OF Music it was the coach factory
of Haslup & Weldon and a portion
of the ground floor was used to
manufacture horseshoe nails. Later
the upper portion became a GYM
nasium, and after Prof. Sharretts
of New York had failed to make this
business pay, Prof. Jardine, also of
New York, tried his hand with better
results. Again the first floor changed
proprietors and William Marshall
opened his carriage repository there.
First Used In 1853.
Apparently the old Ford's Opera
House site was first used for
theatrical purposes in 1853, when It
opened its doors under the name of
Varieties Concert Saloon and during
the following year the same name
was retained. 1t became the Oxford
Hall of Music in 1865, and the next
year George Lea was running the
place under the name of Canterbury
Hall. In 1857, it became Wallis
Opera House. with Berry and Wall
listed as proprietors, and they con-
tinued to run it until it was
destroyed by fire early on the
morning of December 6, 1871.
After the fire the owner Of the
|property-Thomas Berry-rebuilt the
walls of the building and the roof
and floor, and then turned it over
to John T. Ford, who leased the
property for 10 years. Mr.. Ford
finished the building as q theater,
and on February %, 1873, opened it
as Wallis New Opera House, with
Joseph Jefferson in rip Van
Winkle.n
Evening star., 1947-08-03

Lincoln experts asked leading
questions. hoping that his answers
unconsciously might give some clue
to the contents Of the manuscripts.
II think a good deal of this was
kidding" Powell says. But some
others used to come to the Library
and make quite a scene. They would
insist that the papers belonged to
the people and that they had right
to examine them. Several of them,
I am afraid, left in quite a huff"
Powell was picked for his difficult
assignment because he already was
experienced in cataloguing Lincoln
manuscripts, notably the Herndon
collection of Lincoln's former law
partner which had been given to the
Library.
The job of catologing these manu-
scripts would provide plots for de-
tective stories. There were many
problems. for example, of handwrit-
ing Identification. The script of
Edward Bates, the Civil War Attor-
ney General, was so similar to that
Of Lincoln that it was easy to con-
fuse the two. Sometimes unsigned
notes could be credited to one or
Evening star., 1947-08-03
Custodian Of Lincoln Secrets Tells His Storv

war contracts probably would have
come to nothing. The investigators
would have gotten no clues from
the White House papers. The papers
dealing with military matters show
only that Lincoln kept close eve
on them. Pertinent letters from
the various generals have already
been published. It Is interesting.
however, that during the early days
OF the war Gen. Winfield Scott, then
commander in chief of the Army,
sent q personal daily report to the
White House on his activities. And
late IN the war when Grant became
commander in chief he made an
accounting to Lincoln every few
days.
Presumably the President replied
to these communications, but his
replies could be found only in the
papers of Grant or Scott. The Pres
ident appears to have been fairly
scrupulous not to intrude ostensibly
on the functions of the Secretaries
OF War and Navy.
Some Material Removed.
How much did Robert Todd Lin
coin abstract from the papers be-
fore he turned them over to the
Library of Congress In 1919? This
is purely matter of conjecture,
Powell says, but there is internal
evidence that some material was
removed. This Is indicated by the
suspicious scarcity of letters to and
from members of the family, of per-
sonal accounts, and the like.
Evidence that other papers may
have been removed is found in the
fact that sometimes letter will
contain reference to previous let
ter by the same writer, obviously Of
considerable importance, which
cannot be found. This was notably
true in the correspondence Of Joseph
Medill. the Chicago publisher, who
sometimes became quite virulent in
his denunciation of notable figures
Of the day, especially those with .
hand in Illinois politics.
Evening star., 1947-08-03

Md, and would be glad TO hear from
any and all readers interested in the
progress Of stamp collecting-in-
cluding juniors.
The color of the l0c airmail
stamp, slated for release in Wash
ington exclusively on August 30,
will be black.
DR.. Hubert Lyman Clark, as
sociate professor of zoology at Har-
ward University for many years and
philatelist of distinction from boy
hood onward, died at Cambridge,
Mass, Thursday. He was IT.
The Collectors Club Of Washing
ton will meet at 1912 Ninth street
NV. Tuesday evening at 8.
A special cachet will be provided
for the inauguration Of airpost
service on Route ANTI at Malone,
N. Y, on or about August 10.
The Precancel Stamp Society con-
vention. to be held at the Shoreham
Hotel, August 81 to "a inclusive, will
be an affair of interest to practi-
TONERS of all branches OF the worlds
favorite hobby. Collectors planning
to attend are requested to COM
municate with George w. Halves,
4l02 North Third road, Arlington,
Va, who has volunteered to service
covers for the occasion.
Columbia University is using JOS
eph Pulitzer commemoratives on its
mail, but the initials &C. u" are
punched through the stamps not
once in each case but twice. The
vandalism thus perpetrated may
have the effect of preventing occa-
sional theft or misuse of adhesives.
Stamp Album Is a two-year old
filly currently running at New York
State race tracks.
A slogan cancellation now avail
able In Salt Lake City reads: Utah
Centenary-1847-1947."
Stamps publicizing the Tooth an
niversary Of the independence OF
Liberia are expected momentarily.
Readers Of The Star stamp
column who wish specimens Of the
Alexander Graham Bell centenary
Pitney-Bowes slogan cancellations
are invited to send self-addressed
plain standard-size 6A envelopes
with 3 cents in wrapped coins
to Mrs. B. MacMahon, Chesapeake
& Potomac Telephone Co., 725
Thirteenth street, NV, with clip
ping of this notice. The design OF
the postal meter die features a por-
trait of DR.. Bell, inventor OF the
telephone.
Evening star., 1947-08-03
Rural Delights
DOWN TO EARTH

BY Eugene S. Hahnel. (Rutgers
University Press; $1.75.)
Eugene S. Hahnel, a member of
the research staff of the Doane Ag-
ricultura1 Service of st. Louis. Mo-,
has written primer for the land
hungry city dweller who would like
to trade his smoke filled city lot for
farm in the country. From his
own experiences Mr.. Hahnel tells
of the pitfalls that may trip the
inexperienced in searching for a
country home. The book is lightly
and zestfully done and provides
much information that should be
of use to the prospective farmer.
j, B.
Evening star., 1947-08-03
Business Mans Protector

presents simply an instance in which
the commission acted in the public
interest to terminate a type Of mis-
representation fully recognized by
its own and by judicial decisions. ]
strongly feel that this quasi judicial
body should recognize that its de-
cisions and decisions of the courts
must be accepted as an indication
Of the manner in which subsequent
cases involving similar issues will
be decided"
Left Congress
Mr.. Ayres was first elected tc
Congress in 1915 after serving in
various county and State ofYices and
attending numerous conventions. AT
one time he was proposed by Kan
sas delegates for the vice presidency
His stay in Congress was uninter-
rupted save for one term when he
lost out by little over 100 votes in
the Harding landslide, but he won
Overwhelmingly in 1923 and resigned
from work as Representative only
when invited to become. a member
Of the Federal Trade Commission
He declined to contest the election
he lost.
Following his appointment last
month. the following appeared in
the Eldorado (Kansas) Times:
80 - Maybe the rest of Kansas
has fairly well forgotten Mr.. Ayres
but not that part of it-Butler
Sedgwick. Harvey, Mcpherson and
Sumner counties-which formed the
old 5th Kansas congressional dis.
trict. Mr.. Ayres had a hold on thi,
district which was remarkable
Over period Of 20 years, Mr.. Ayres
a Democrat. was defeated only once
in q race for Congress in what wa.
in every other way a Republican
stronghold. Dick Byrd turned the
trick in 1920, but thereafter Mr.
Ayres reigned with a sway that was
dominant. Many good men and
true tried to stop Ayres, but he
went right along in the even tenor
Of his way and secure In his con-
gressional post because the 5tf
district-Democrats and Republican,
alike-iked and trusted him
Evening star., 1947-08-03

~ UST when amateur theatricals
began in Washington, the writer
is unable to say, but it must
have been when the city was
quite young. However, at any
rate, one of the earliest which may
still be recalled by many was the
Thalian Club, which was formed
here about 1876, and which had its
first meeting at the home of Miss
Annie Warren Story, among others
present being Mrs. Minnie Frye,
later Mrs. Thomas L. Coleman,
John r. Gisbourne, w. G. Murdock,
Charles A. Winner and Thad K.
Sailer. Mr.. Gisbourne was treas
urer and Mr.. Sailer stage manager.
The first performance of the club
included q double bill, plot and
Passion" and farce, "The Two
Bonnycastles." Later the following
plays were put on by this organiza-
ton: The Midnight Watch"
Marriage Lottery" London As
surance," World and Stage How
She Loves Him" Ours" Secret
Service" "Sweethearts and Wives"
The Swiss Cottage" "Still Waters
Run Deep" Comedy of Errors" and
Caste" On April 10, 1877, the Irish
drama, Kathleen Mavourneen,
was put on at Ford's Opera House
at a benefit performance given Miss
Anna D. Ware, who was clerk in
the Land Office and one of the stars
of the Thalian Club. Upon this
occasion Miss Ware took the part of
Kathleen.
Notable Members.
OF course, as is customary with
amateur organizations of this char
acter, there was list of contributing
members of this club. and II was O.
very distinguished one indeed, in
cluding Gen. James A.. Garfield,
then living at the northeast corner
Of Thirteenth and I streets; Gen.
William T. Sherman, Gen. J. H.
Ketchum, Gen. H. L. Pelouze, Gen.
Green B. Raun, Senator Lot NJ
Morrill,, former Gov. Henry D.
Cooke, Postmaster General D. NJ
Key. Samuel shallenbarger, o. H.
Irish, j. M. Wilson, A. D. Hazen,
H. E. Paine, H. A. Willard, Mat
thew G Emery, last Mayor of Wash
ington: George c. Gorham, J. K.
Luttrell, Marquise de Chambrun,
r. B. Mohun, A. S. Solomons, Simon
Wolf and B. H. Warner.
In speaking of the Thalians, there
axe fer,, eI,o,,lI
be mentioned as active members of
the club, and no doubt still others
of whom the writer has no personal
knowledge. John B. Randolph, for
many years of the State Depart
ment. and Rudolph Kaufman of
The Star, both of whom were with
us until a few years ago, were
prominently connected with this
organization, as was the late
Herndon Morsell.
Other early Thalian members in
clude Edison B. Olds, Rachel Cor
della Levy, Carrie Bloss, India
Woltz, Ralph Jefferson, Howard
Nyman, Katie D. Frye, Ida Tul-
lock, Agnes Kennedy, Mrs. Jennie
Bryan True, Mrs. Kate Bruce, James
E. Gangs, A. B. Briggs, Charles
Hugher, Frank Smell, Israel Kimball,
Lottie Swallow, Clarence Story and
Hubbard Taylor Smith, or Hub"
Smith, as we used to know him.
"Hub" Smith.
This unusual entertainer de-
lighted many an audience with his
comic songs:
Hubbard T. Smith was born in
vincennes, Ind, in 1860, and was
therefore a Hoosier and not native
Washingtonian. but he came to this
city in or prior to 1876, when he
entered the Federal service as a
clerk in the War Denartrnent For
Evening star., 1947-08-03
Cupuchin to Give Novenu
At UrsuIine Convent

A Capuchin priest will give a
novena in honor of Our Lady of
Prompt Succor beginning Wednes-
day at the Ursuline Convent, 519
Fourth street NV.
Daily services consisting Of short
sermon. prayers and benediction will
be held in the chapel at 7:30 pm.
and will close August Is, the feast
of the ASSUMPTION.
Evening star., 1947-08-03
Lester S. Scott to Speak

Lester 8. Scott, public relations
director of the Merchants & Manu-
facturers Association, will address
the Washington chapter Of the
American Public Relations Associa-
ton at 1915 pm. tomorrow at the
LAFAYETTE Hotel.
Evening star., 1947-08-03

men as he was forced to rely upon.
In this respect the papers make
one major historical revelation
perhaps only one which has not
been rather adequately dealt with
by historians in the past. This is
the story of the cabinet crisis in
December, 1862, which if it had been
allowed to develop would. have
wrecked the Government and might
easily have changed the course of
history,
The two major diverse elements
in the party were represented by
the party leaders of Ohio and New
York. Salmon Chase, Secretary of
the Treasury, was the representative
of the "Ohio gang" in high Office.
He was relied upon by his fri0nds
to represent their interests, al
Evening star., 1947-08-03
By John CIugett Proctor

a while he lived in the old first
ward He early became a song
writer and was particularly popu-
lar at banquets and social functions,
where he was generally called upon
to sing his pieces. He also COM
posed several operettas including:
The Lottery Ticket" and "a New
Year Reception" both of the comic
variety.
Several of Mr.. Smiths songs were
appealing and became extremely
popular. His "Sweethearts and
Wives" was for many years, and is
probably still sung on every naval
vessel throughout the world at mess
on Christmas night. In 1898 he
wrote THE Dear Old Tombigbee, ="
and THE Song That Broke My
Heart" was also one of his contribu-
tions. The words to his "A Little
Peach In the Orchard Grew" were
adapted from Eugene Fields poem
of practically the same title, but
were modified to advantage by Mr..
Smith for the purposes of the song,
retaining, however, quite sufficient
to be easily recognized, as will be
seen by the first verse of Eugene
Fields poem, which follows:
"A little peach in the orchard
grew
A little peach of emerald hue;
Warmed by the sun and wet by
the dew,
1t grew"
Hub Smith received a university
education and graduated in medi-
cine. He wrote poetry and mani
testify was musician Of ability, and
his compositions gained for him a
national reputation. He remained
clerk in the War Department until
November, 1880, when he entered
the Census Office for a brief period,
re-entering the War Department in
1881 and remaining there until 1890
In 1892 he entered the State De-
partment as private, secretary to
Secretary Foster and was later de-
tailed for duty at Paris, and in 1896
was made deputy consul general in
that city. In 1897 he was transfer
red to Constantinople in similar
position, and in 1893 became vice
consul at Osaka and Hiogo, being
later sent to China, where for a
time it was thought he had fallen
a victim to the Boxers who demon
strated considerable of an uprising
in 1900, which had to be quelled by
the intervention of foreign powers
He died at Genoa, Italy, of cancer
OF the kidneys, on the morning of
February 10, 1908, and his loss was
mourned here among host of
friends and acquaintance, for he
was hail fellow we'll met, and is
even still frequently feelingly re-
ferred to.
He was a charter member of the
old Columbia Athletic Club and the
surviving members still recall him as
delightful companion and asso-
ciate.
Hub Smith, like Minnie Frye Ccle-
man, was a member of the Thalian
Club, and quite likely took part in
some of the theatrical performances
given at Ford's Opera House and al
other places in the city.
Ford's Opera House.
But things have changed greatly
since the days Of the Thalians, ano
so have theatricals generally. Ford's
Opera House is no longer. 1t was 8
comfortable little house in its day
and put on only the best shows. Fol-
while John T. Ford rot only con.
Quoted the National Theater, but
the Opera House at Ninth and
| streets as well. and before this the
Evening star., 1947-08-03

any action he took would merely
hasten the coming Of war, but not
prevent it.
The papers are disappointingly
poor, Powell found, in new material
on the financial or military history
OF the period. Doubtless Lincoln re-
ceived many letters dealing with
these phases Of his administration
but he did not retain copies. He
merely made notations, If he had
any comment, on the backs Of the
letters and forwarded them to the
appropriate cabinet officers They
either kept them or destroyed them.
An investigation Of graft in Civil
Evening star., 1947-08-03

though these did not necessarily In
clude anything dishonorable. The
New York man was Secretary of
State Seward. He was in about the
same position as Chase and some
what more conscious of his position.
There was constant wrangling
between the two. Each wanted to
be "top man" in the cabinet and
at least give the impression to
friends back home that he was run
ming the Government. Lincoln
struggled long and not very success
fufly In trying to adjust the squab-
bles between these two prima dom
mas, each obviously negotiating to
be the power behind the throne.
Chase Resignation.
Then Unexpectedly on December
16, 1862, Chase threw down the
glove by resigning. His letter Of
resignation Is among the papers.
It placed Lincoln in an awkward
position, because II he accepted the
resignation it would be taken as an
insult by the Ohio Republican poll
ticians and probably would ALLEVIATE
their support. He let the matter
rest for a few days while Seward
gloated over his impending victory.
When no decision was announced
Seward tried to bring the issue to
head and put Lincoln on the spot
by sending in his own resignation.
If this was accepted by Lincoln
the New York faction of the party
would have been alienated. In
either case the party strength would
have been wrecked, there was every
likelihood OF losing control Of Con-
gress, and the prospects Of winning
another election on the platform
Of fighting out the war would have
been slim.
! Lincoln rose to the occasion as
consummate politician. He knew that
neither Seward nor Chase really
wanted to resign Each was too fond
Of high position. He could have &C
cepted both designations, which
would have lost him support In both
States. Instead he wrote to each a
duplicate letter, which they might
make public II they chose. refusing
their designations on the ground
that the national situation was too
difficult to allow personal differ,
ences to have any weight.
Both Seward and Chase appar-
emily saw that their. scheme had
been defeated, thought better Of the
whole situation, and conscientiously
went back to work.
Most Momentuous Decisions.
The papers show clearly that the
President always made his major
decisions on his own responsibility.
The striking incident brought on
in the papers, although it has been
dealt with by historians before, was
the decision to reprovision Fort
Sumter in Charleston Harbor, the
act which precipitated the Civil
War. 1t was perhaps the most mo-
mentous decision Lincoln was called
upon to make at the start Of his
Administration.
First he obtained written opinions
from his cabinet. Four out Of seven
wanted to let Fort Sumter 60. They
were unwilling to face the response
bility of precipitating Civil War. Lin
coin weighed their arguments and
acted according to his own lights
But he had his own sources of in
formation. A personal secret agent
had been in Charleston for several
weeks, listening in on the conver-
sation on the streets and in public
gathering places. He was man In
whom Lincoln trusted. His report
was that rebellion was certain sooner
or later, regardless of Fort Sumter
In the light of this Lincoln felt that
Evening star., 1947-08-03

the other only through their con-
texts.
Powell is an expert in deciphering
manuscripts but he admits the writ
ing of some notables of the period
had him bafaed-and still has. Ho-
race Greeley was one. Two of the
worst were Senator Charles Sumner
of Massachusetts, and Senator Rev.
erdy johnson of Maryland. Some
times it was possible only to get
the general idea of what these men
wanted to say and catalog it as
such. The future historian inter-
ested in their letters is welcome to
the job of reading them.
Identification of the signers Of
letters and of persons mentioned in
the correspondence also afforded
difficult problems. There would be
letters from Chicago referring to
John Smith," John w. Smith, -
~. William Smith" 81. w. Smith
Did these refer to the same man,
or to four men? Perhaps only John
w. Smith" could be found in any
of the hundreds Of reference books
dealing with this period available.
It was necessary to check dates and
follow up minute clues contained in
the letters themselves to arrive at
even tentative conclusions.
Checking Dates.
Dates afforded another problem.
A letter might be dated only Fri
day, August s." without giving the
year. Powell kept on his desk at
all times perpetual calendar by
which he would check all the Fri
days that fell on August 5 during
the entire period in which the letter
would possibly have been written.
Clues also were afforded from ref
erences to current events in the
letters themselves.
Carbons had not been invented In
Civil War days. It was the practice
Of notables to have their secretaries
copy important letters in letter
books" which were kept for refer
ence. Lincoln, however, never kept
a letter book and consequently there
are>only single copies of most. of his
correspondence. Apparently few of
the cabinet members retained any
copies of their letters and the files
would have afforded slim picking
for a congressional investigating
committee or an FBI agent checking
on income tax evasions.
Had Thrill Of Discovery.
Powell, an expert on Lincoln man
uscripts, naturally got the personal
thrills which come only with dis
covery many times as he went over
these files. despite his honest efforts
to wipe his mind clear of memories
after each days work. Unavoidably
a somewhat different picture of the
living Lincoln arose from the mass
of manuscripts.
Foremost, he says, was a new con-
cept of the Presidents sense of re-
sponsibility to the people in his high
Office. He necessarily left details 10
others and sought expert advice, but
he ran the White House" From
his cabinet he allowed little inter-
ference and his decisions always
were his own, regardless Of their
opinions. Lincolns was the master
mind, overlooking and making the
final decisions on everything. This
Powell points out, has been some
what debatahle point, some his
Evening star., 1947-08-03
Ford's Opera House.

But things have changed greatly
since the days of the Thalians, and
so have theatricals generally. Ford's
Opera House is no longer. It was a
comfortable little house in its day,
and put on only the best shows. For
a while John T. Ford rot only con-
Quoted the National Theater, but
the Opera House at Ninth and c
streets as well. and before this the
Evening star., 1947-08-03

French Crawford Smith, associate
editor Of Weekly Philatelic Gossip,
has been designated regional rep
resentative Of the Society Of Phila-
tenc Americans for the washington
ares. He may be addressed at 4423
Underwood street, University Park,
Evening star., 1947-08-03

The Woodbridge Stamp Club will
meet at the Woodbridge Library. 2206
Rhode Island avenue NE, tomor-
row evening at 8.