Evening Star Newspaper, February 9, 1930, Page 83

Fiction PART SEVEN. [ = Grand Army parade on Pennsylvania avenue at the close of the Civil War. The Suniay Star Magasine WASHINGFON, @ €., SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1950. Features 24 PAGES. — What Is the Most Historic Spot In Washington’ Reproduced from a painting made by J. E. Taylor. More Than Five Hundred Locations Have Been Listed by District Historians, but the Most LFamous Has Never Been Selected—Many Factors Must Be Considered in Determining Most Worthy—OId Institutions, Homes of Great Men, Memorials of Peace and War, All Have Their Advocates. HICH would you choose as the most historic spot in the Dis- trict of Columbia? This is the question which is being dis- cussed with some excitement by the 59 chapters of the Daughters of the Ameri- can Revolution in the District and is to be woted upcn by their representatives at the February meeting of the State historic com- miti A .on-wige canvass is being made under the d:rection of a national D. A. R. commitiee in order to locate, if possible, the most historic spot in every State in the Union, and al- though we of the District are not often al- lowed the privileges of statehood, in this in- stance we are not only allowed, but urged to put our best foot forward in this historical examination. In fact, so many feet of Dis- rict territory can claim unusual interest ihat if we choose wisely it is quite likely we may prove title also to the most historic spot in the hole United States. | INE persons out of ten, perhaps, will think first of Capitol Hill and its stately building rowded by the emblematic figure of that iberiy upon which our Union was established. » very corner stones are significant of dif- . peviods in our Nation’s history. The , laid by George Washingion himself asonic ceremonies in 1793, marks the prigin and organization of the Federal estab- shment; the second is called the “corner stone of the extensions,” a title as applicable to growth of the Nation as to that of the Capitol Building itself. This second stone was laid by Millard Fillmore on July 4, 1851, and a record desposited beneath assures any possible future ader that ‘“on this day the Union of the nited States of America stands firm; that By Jenny Girton Walker. their Constitution still exists unimpaired, and with all its original usefulness and glory.” On the rotunda portico above the first cor- ner stone almost every President since An- drew Jackson has sworn to support that Con- stitution. In the rotunda itself the bodies of many of our national heroes have lain in state, among them Abraham Lincoln, Charles Sumner, William McKin- ley and the Un- known Soldier, after the World War. In the halls of Congress famous men have spoken and famous visit- ors have listened. Statutes of mo- mentous import have become part of the living law; wars have been declared and treaties ratified. All about us are reminders in sculpture and painting of the country’s prog- ress. Can there be in the whole District a more historic spot? “Perhaps not,” some one inno- cently questions, “but doesn’t the Capitol belong to the whole United States, and not to the District?” Did I boast that for once we were to be treated as an independent State? At least we can claim that some property right for the District in the Capitol has been recognized since the War De- partment assign- ed the Capitol dome to the Dis- trict National Guard as part of its insignia. Also on ancient Dis- trict maps Capi- tol Hill itself is outlined by nice old - fashioned shading, and we are told that long before the white man's Congress assembled there it served as a ouncil site for the Indians who dwelt along the Potomac and the Eastern Branch. There are many arguments which might be advanc- ed in this compe- tition in favor of the White House. It's corner stone, also laid by George Washington, was dedicated & yea® Wi fore that of tho Capitol, and it was ready fof occupancy when the first wing of the lattes building was completed. It has known just as many famous people as the Capitol, and here our Presidents have actually lived. Here also the mothers of the Nation have had a chance 0 leave their imprint upon national affairs. The White House as well as the Capitol suffered at the hands of the invading British in 1814, and during the war between the States it knew the bitterness of martyrdom. Here the Emanipation Proclamation was signed, and who can doubt that many wakeful nights at the White House have preceded the formulation of other great policies which weréd later adopted at the Capitol? A good many votes are going to be cast in any historical contest like this for that mile-long stretch of road between th: White House and the Capitol. It undoubtedly belongs to the District; we pay taxes for keeping it well paved, and nothing else so glamorous has come into our existence. A few years ago, before there was any question of rivalry, a New York newspaper hailed Pennsylvania ave- nue as the most famous street in America, “rich with suggestions of names and events that have gone into history.” Even in the days when its present level roadway was a mud hole, the Avenu= had its same unrivaled beauty of great width and wonderful perspective, and the shabby spots still left along its borders are reminders of the famous old institutions, hotels and dwelling houses which grew up in the early days of the Federal City. It was to Pennsylvanigy avenue that the first railroad train to enter the District brought its excited travelers of 1835, landing them at an old house at the corner of Second street which had been remodeled to serve as & passenges depot, But the glory of Pennsylvania avenus hag