Evening star. [volume], April 18, 1937, Page A-8, Image 8

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
DECATUR HOUSE
TO BE ON VIEW
Will Be Opened for Benefit
of Naval Historical
Foundation.
Historic Decatur House, the home
built on Lafayette Square in 1819 by
Commodore Stephen Decatur, hero
of the war against the Barbary pi
rates, will be thrown open to the
public Friday and Saturday for the
benefit of the Naval Historical
Foundation.
President and Mrs. Roosevelt have
accepted an invitation to act as spon
sors for the benefit, along with other
Government leaders and Mrs. Trux
tun Beale, owner of the house. Each
year Mrs. Beale has offered use of
the old residence for two days to a
worthy cause. Proceeds of this year’s
benefit will be used for the founda
tion’s work of collecting and preserv
ing naval literature, relics and pic
tures.
Decatur was the first dwelling con
structed after the White House on
Lafayette Square. Commodore De
catur, who built it for his bride, lived
to enjoy it only for a year, because
in 1820 he was mortally wounded in
a duel with Commodore James Bar
ron at Bladensburg, Md. He died in
the residence.
Cannon to Be Displayed.
The cannon that Decatur captured
from the Dey of Algiers during his
encounters with the Barbary pirates
of the North African Coast will be
brought from the Gun Factory and
placed on exhibition in the old house
during the benefit.
The Marine Band will play on Fri
day and the Navy Band on Saturday
afternoon from 3:30 to 6 o’clock. Ad
mission tickets will cost $1, with tea
in the garden 25 cents extra. They
are on sale at A. A. A.' headquarters
and all hotels. Doors will be open
from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Two rooms on the first floor, the
dining room and the library, and three
drawing rooms on the second floor
will be open, together with their his
torical relics, paintings, pictures, tro
phies, medals and early last century
furnishings, all directly connected
with three famous naval families, De
catur, Truxton and Beale. Mrs.
Beale is descended from the latter
two naval families.
The list of sponsors includes Speak
er and Mrs. Bankhead, Secretary of
the Navy and Mrs. Swanson, As
sistant Secretary and Mrs. Edison,
Chairman Walsh of the Senate Na
val Affairs Committee and Mrs.
Walsh, Admiral Leahy, chief of naval
operations, and Mrs. Leahy, Maj. Gen.
Holcomb, commandant of the Marine
Corps, and Mrs. Holcomb: Admiral
Andrews, chief of the Bureau of
Navigation, tnd Mrs. Andrews, Ad
miral and Mrs. Joseph Strauss, Vice
Admiral William L. Rodgers and
Mrs. Robert Giles.
Capt. Chester Wells, U. S. N„ re
tired, is in charge of general arrange
ments.
Served Under Truxtun.
Commodore Decatur saw his first
active naval service under Commo
dore Thomas Truxtun, hero of the
United States’ undeclared war with
France from 1798 to 1801. Truxtun
won undying fame when, as com
mander of the frigate Constellation,
he captured the French frigate L’ln
eurgente on February 9, 1799, In the
West Indies. A year later he won a
victory over the French frigate Ven
geance.
Truxtun lived to see his youngest
daughter, Emily, marry a Virgin
ian, George Beale, a paymaster in
the Navy, who won a medal from
Congress for gallantry in action in the
Battle of Lake Champlain, Septem
ber 11, 1814. Their son, Edward
Fitzgerald Beale, later gained fame
and fortune and in 1870 purchased
the Decatur House.
The commodore died in 1822, the
same year his grandson was born
here. Edward Beale married Mary
Edwards, daughter of Representa
tive Samuel Edwards of Chester, Pa.,
on June 27, 1849. He was appointed
a midshipman at the Philadelphia
Naval School on December 14, 1838,
by President Jackson. He was com
missioned a past midshipman in 1845,
was with Commodore Stockton in
California during the Mexican War
and served with the land forces in
capturing the State for the Union
before Gen. Kearney and his forces
could arrive. He later was a witness
for Col. John C. Fremont when the
famous Army court martial of Fre
mont took place at the instigation
of Kearney.
Brought News of Gold.
As a courier for two year* after
the Mexican War Beale brought back
the first authentic new* of the gold
discovery, carrying eastward a bag
of California gold as proof of his
message. On this trip, he crossed the
continent through Mexico at the risk
of his own life. He resigned from the
Navy as a lieutenant In 1851 after
15 years’ service and entered busines*
in California, where he made his fort
tune. He surveyed three important
wagon and railroad tracks in the West
and helped President Lincoln retain
California for the Union.
In 1878 President Grant, a friend
of Beale before the War Between
the States, appointed him Minister
to Austria.
Edward Beale’s son, Truxtun, born
March 6, 1856, in San Francisco, in*
herited Decatur House, which is now
owned by his widow.
Historic House Open to Public This Week
The dining room of the Decatur house. The Truxtun Cup, on the table, was presented ta
Commodore Thomas Truxtun by Lloyd’s Coffee House of London, for his services in the unde
clared war against France from 1798 to 1801. The two pitchers on the mantel were presented
to Lieut. Edward F. Beale, who purchased the house in 1870, by his colleagues in the Indian
Bureau. On the side table is a glass urn givenJjy Henry Clay to Truxtun Beale’s grandfather,
Samuel Edwards, member of Congress from 1819 to 1827.
WOODWARD SCHOOL’S
ANNUAL DANCE HELD
Senior English Class Msmbers
Present Play, “The Valiant,”
With Large Cast.
The annual banquet and dance of
Woodward School was held last night
in the Y. M. C. A. auditorium at 1738
G street.
James J. King, headmaster of the
school, presided, with George A. Lewis,
chairman of the Educational Commit
tee, acting as toastmaster. Page McK.
Etchison pronounced the invocation
and Dr. Allen Stockdale addressed the
students.
Members of the senior English class
gave a play, "The Valiant.” Those in
the cast were Gilbert Rauh, North
Longfleld, Charles Joyce, Martha Anne
King, Buck Middleton and Albert
Heitz. Fred L. Dawson was chairman
of the Committee on Arrangements.
Electrical Wonders to Be Shown.
A miniature electric train that obeys
the human voice, the use of light
beams for voice communication and
“visible sound” will be among the elec
trical wonders to be demonstrated be
fore the members of the National Press
Club Wednesday evening in the Press
Club Auditorium.
The (demonstration is from the Gen
eral Electric House of Magic put on at
the Dallas and Chicago expositions.
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826 Bladenaburg Rd. N.E.
1418 Wi*. Ave. N.W.
324 Third St. N.E.
3707 34th St.
(Mt. Rainier, Md.)
FISCHER
CABLE A SONS
CHICKERINS
(mri)
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$1 Weekly Pays
CHOOSE ANY NEW OR USED
GRAND, UPRIGHT OR
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Remember, after the great sale
these prices and terms are posi
tively withdrawn. Think of pur
chasing a fine brand-new Grand,
Spinette or Upright Piano for only
13 down and $1 weekly, plus carry
ing charge. You may pay more if
you wish. Your old piano, radio or
phonograph will be accepted in
trade at a liberal allowance.
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I
26 ON COMMITTEES
Boys’ Club Trustees Announce
Appointees for Year.
The Board of Trustees of the Boys’
Club, meeting at the Willard Hotel
Friday, appointed 36 members to serve
on committees for the current year.
Col. Stephen Bonsai was elected
chairman of the Georgetown branch of
the club, while Albert T. E. Horn and
William E. Russell were appointed
chairmen of the Camp and House
Committees, respectively.
New Weaving Mill.
Chile’s new spinning and weaving
mill near Santiago is one of the
most completely equipped manufac
turing establishments in the country
and most of the machinery is from
the United States.
POVERTY IS CUED
AS CRIME BREEDER
Parole Board’s Chairman
Deplores Reformatory
Lack Here.
Poverty and the Improper treatment
of youths confined to penal institu
tions were held the greatest barriers
to solution of Washington’s Juvenile
crime problem in a radio addres* yes
terday by Wilbur La Roe, Jr., chair
man of the District Parole Board, and
the Committee on Civic Affairs of the
Washington Federation of Churches.
Speaking over Station WJSV, La
Roe said that, wlth'eradlcatlon of pov
erty, two-thirds of all crime would
disappear.
“It is difficult for a boy to refrain
from stealing when economic distress
pinches too hard,’’ he said. “At least,
we who have not felt the pangs of
hunger should not be too quick to
Judge."
La Roe decried race discrimination
in regard to crime, saying that where
racial tendencies toward crime were
seemingly apparent, the cause could
usually be traced to the fact the par
ticular group was economically under
privileged.
Reformatory Lack Deplored.
“It is a disgrace to the Nation’s
Capital,” he continued, “that we have
no reformatory for boys between 17
and 21. Boys of that critical age are
sent to our penitentiary at Lorton and
there mixed with hardened criminals.
* * * We ought to issue an ‘M. C.’
(master criminal) degree to every boy
who graduates from Lorton.”
La Roe said liquor also was a prin
cipal cause of Juvenile crime, adding
that alcohol was often a measure of
escape from a poverty-ridden environ
ment.
"The whole world is looking to
Dinner Dance, Week of April 19th
DINNER AND
SUPPER SHOWS
Featuring
ICE CARNIVAL
The First Time in Washington/
let Skating Exhibition
EVELYN CHANDLER
World Famous Skater
and Bruce Mapes
with
Ballet of Girl Skaters and Ice Comedians
Dinner and \
Supper Shows
9:30 and 12
Dinner $2.00
(Sat. $2.25)
Supper Cover, $1.10
Dinner guests may
remain /or dancing 1
without additional <
cover charge.
Dinner and Supper Dancing on the
"Hollywood Ice"
kctekant
CONNECTICUT AVE. AT CALVERT
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ritit old country doctor dedicated his life
to service. * * No night was too black*
no journey too long; when the call came
he responded. He shared with his patients
their sorrows, their joys and their problems.
Our desire is to respond to your call with
the same sincere and complete understand
ing of your problems. « « Our officers are
courteous, experienced and interested .
they are at your service.
MORRIS PLAN BANK
140* H STREET, N. W.
America for leadership today," he
said, “and America is looking to Wash
ington for political, moral and spir
itual guidance.”
Five Steps Suggested.
He suggested the five following
measures as a step toward effecting
better treatment of juvenile crime
here:
"A continuous fight against poverty
in a laud of plenty.
“More boys’ clubs.
“A modem Juvenile Court system,
where boys, instead of being convicted
as criminals, will be subjected to rea
sonable processes of correction.
“A modern reformatory for boys be
tween 17 and 21, equipped with every
device known to man for improving
boys of that age.
“Relentless warfare against race dis
crimination and against every ether
unfair handicap."
Club Heart Seal Thursday.
Corporation Counsel Bwood Seal
will describe functions of departments
in the District government at a meet
ing of the Cosmopolitan Club next
Thursday in the Carlton Hotel. Arthur
W. DOfenderfer, president of the group,
will preside.
War Marker Permit Granted.
Secretary of War Woodring has
granted permission to members of the
12th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry
to erect a marker in the Port Myer.
Va., military reservation as a memorial
to the members of the regiment who.
lost their lives in the war with Spain,
the War Department announced
yesterday.
NOW . . . Is the time to plan on the hot |
Summer weather ahead. Be comfortable
this year. Enjoy living during the humid
days by having us measure and hang awn
ings for the windows In your home. Fast
colors; waterproof materials; highest quality
workmanship; lowest prices. Get our low
estimates.
COLUMBIA AWNING
AND SHADE CO.
507 H St. N.E._ATlontic 1430
rprorn
Frigidaire has ail 5
Basic Services for
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FRIGIDAIRE
OFFERS PROOF!
Only Frigidair* hat th*
Initont Cubt-Rtltate
Troyt
5 YEARS'
PROTECTION
against strvico «xpens« on tho
soaled-in mochanicol unit.
Modal
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(130.50
NO MONEY
DOWN
Take up to
3 YEARS
TO PAY
Save your regular ice
money in one of these
electric clocks to help
pay for a Frigidaire.
A Stora Naor Your Home
814-816 F St. N.W.
3107-3109 M St.
N W
2015 14th St. N.W.
1111 H St. N.E.
All ttorai open till 9 p.m.
District 1900