Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-12-04

ana one IT. ~oit'
contents. This was p obably an eXaggeratioh.
but ii serves to illustrate the popular apprecia-
ton of the prominence given To editorial mat
ter over news matter in that paper. The edi-
tors of the IateHigeRcer were held in the
highest respect by everybody. their papec
was concededy model of dignity, fairness
and writing ability. bat it was not a news
paper. Their style % conducting il was. a.
the French said about the In gli>h charge o.
the Five Hundred-magnifceut but it WAS mo-
war.
Another Change.
On the 2ith of March. 1855. W. ID Wal,arh
bought out the interest of W. II. Hope i'm THE
STAR and became its sole proprietor Mr.
Hope afterwards engaged in some newspaper
ventures. but was not successful. In April
following his departure from THE STAR he. In
conjunction with \. G.. Allen. purchased an
interest in the Baltimore Republican and Ar
gus IN connection with h. ii. Richardson sub
Sequently he entered into the business ~ type
founder in Cincinnati. and died in the west a
few years ago.
The STAR continued 10 gain circulation year
by year, and soon OutStripped all competition.
Gradually improvements We're made i'm the
paper. The outside pages originally filed
with selected tales. poetry, Sc. began to pre-
sent more newSy aspect: especially after the
acquisition of a cylinder press in SeDtamba-
lSt2. when all four Of the forms or pa yes. being
made up at the same time. il was practicable
10 put news on the outside. The paper W In
its firmer footing and established as a solid
concern, also took on something of the dignity
OF its years and position. but never enough II
Interfere with its character as the liveliest q,
news CATERERS and the keenest o. observe
10 note the Screenings oi cliqueS. and the o,,-
Equities of demagogue politicians, natiolal
and local.
w. ID. Wallach.
In the course of time il had got sufficiently
able 10 60 alone. 10 allow las energetic proprie-
tor To relieve himself somewhat of the close
unremitting care he had Given To il in its early
years. and 10 allow himself some relaxation in
the way OF agricultural pursuits. of which he
was passionately fond. He bought. i'm turn.
several farms. first on the Virginia side. near
Washington, then another on the Eastern
Shore OF Maryland, near Cambridge where
there was rOomy mansion near the sea,
affording him ample opportunity 10 era ify his
hosptable inciinatiOns in the entertainment of
his friends. He established there large fruit
fern. and TO supply an outlet for the products
% that fruit growing region he purcha sed a
steamboat to ply between there and
Baltimore. This boat proved rather an
elephant on his hands, and in order
TO make The enterprise success he
undertook To Superintend the running of it in
person. but he came to the conclusion after
awhile that one may be successful in the diff
cult business OF running newspaper and
know very little about running a steamboat.
He disposed Of his boat and subsequently his
Eastern Shore farm. but bought another ey
ienSiye and delightfully."- situated place near
Culreper Court House, Virginia, where he
farmed it with enjoyment land probably with
as little pccuniary loss as any gentleman
farmer) up to the time of his death; and where
his estimable widow still resides He died
December lSt. ISL, al the age of 80. Mr.. Wal
ZACH was a shrewd. close business man, but a
most hospitabe and kindly host and friend
He was a generous man and a free giver when
the appeal for aid did not come over the
advertising counter of the paper in an attempt
by professional philanthropsts land all that
class TO make him break the necessary bust
ness rules of the Office to giSe them space for
self-glorifica,iOn and gratuitous advertising.
The Star In Its Present Hands.
On the 3lst day of October, lS67, TIE STAR
was sold by Mr.. Wallach to MeSsrs. Crosby :.
NOyes, $. ii. Kaufman, George w. Adams. A.
Il. Shepherd and Clarence Ii. Blker. VINO
became prOprietOrs in equal proportions, and
continued the publication Of the paper under
the firm-name and style of Noyes, Baker &
Co. until the 18th of October. 1865, on which
date the proprietOrs awaited themselves of a
charter granted by a special act of Con gress.
passed on the 9th day of July previous. in
cooperating THE EVENING STAR NEWS.
PAPER COMPANY" The title of the pro-
prietorship was then changed accordingly but
this change i'm form involved no change i'm the
ownership or management OF the paper-each
of the parties receiving certificates OF stock in
the Incorporated company equal i'm amount to
his fifth interest i'm the original partneisl D.
On the Sd day of January. 1861, Mr. Baker
parted with his interest in the establishment
his shares being divided i'm equal portions be
tween the four remaining proprietors named
above. On the Sd day of June. lS74 Mr. Shep-
herd announced his determination TO dispose
of his shares of stock i'm the Company, ana
the same were at once bought outright. ut a
very considerable advance on their orign:'
cost by his three associate owners. who h: We
ever since been the sole proprietors of The
STAR. its fixtures. good will, etc. and are alone
responsible, i'm their Incorporated capacity, for
the business and editorial mana cement of the
paper.
AT the time The STAR came into the hands
OF the present proprietOrS in 1861, it was the
opinion of many that il had reached The flood
tide OF its prosperity, and that both in eircula-
ton and business il must share in the general
shrinkage of values, and of District population
following upon the close of the war. 1t was
thought that Mr.. Wallach had sold out very
shrcwdly getting high price at the oppOrtune
time. But the result has shown that the con-
hdence OF its purchasers in their ability To
make IL YET more of a success has been album
dainty justified. The circulation of THE STAR
during the ten years they have had it has in
creased more than threefOld. and the adyer-
Using has increased i'm about the same prODor
ton.
The Business Columns OF The Star.
In comparing the advertising columns of
The STAR Of the present with those of twenty
years ago, one sees the steady growth OF those
special features of short advertisements that
are the invariable characteristic of well-estae-
lished papers, OF leading circulation, and which
reach the households of the community. The
growth Of this class of advertising is slow, but
permanent when once gained, as illustrated
by the New York Herald, the Philadelphia
Ledger, the Baltimore Sun and THE STAR. IL
will be seen by overlooking the files of THE
STAR how the advertising features undar tha