Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-28
ALEXANDRIA.
THE ALEXANDRIA prcKrSa sroor.

The ALEXANDRIA nrCkIN0 STOOL.
The checking and ducking stool mentioned
in TIE STAR yesterday q public remedy for
common scolds" still existed here as late as
1slo and was kept first at the house Of Mayor
Mease on King street below Fairfax and after
ward at the mayors Office. II consisted OF
rough chair attached TO one end Of beam
which worked on . pivot in q poet OF UPRIGHT
fastened upon q low wheeled vehicle called a
tumbrel 1t Was the common law from the
time whereof the memory Of man runneth not
to the contrary" that common scold va. a
nuisance liable TO be ducked. The last victim
of this punishment was woman. the terror OF
whose tongue prevented Alexandria from being
sleepy. She was at the time of the ducking
enciente and her child when born suffered from
peculiar malady. He was liable 20 fall at any
moment into uncomfortable fits Of rage. becom-
ing dangerous mailman. Many old citizens
remember him as a quiet worker in wood OF no
little skill. who. after having passed through
several religious phantasies. would at last. when
IN rage. make no . sort of diabolical htauy.
nearly always ending with an imprecstion
against the Holy Spirit. After Of his fits
he would fall senseess, and sometimes remain
so for hours. The BOYS annoyed him very
much and he often pursued them with sticks
and stones. creating quite tumult in the neigh
borhood of Cameron and Alfred streets. When
not annoyed he worked at his trade and was q
quiet. peaceable man and sold rude chairs.
tables. DC, which he made very cheap. SO that
he had quite a custom Whether his sad life
was the consequence of his mothers ducking
no one could determine. He was never married
and has been dead many years.
THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY PAVING
AN ALEXANDRIA STREET,
Some time age. as reported at the time to
The STAR, the city council granted to the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company the right OF way
over Henry street forever. on condition thai
the railway company should within two wears
pave six squares of Henry street from Duke
street north with cobble stone to the satisfac-
ton Of the committee streets. Three squares
were paved last year under this contract Now
the work is being resumed at the intersection
tlnued north past Queen and Princess streets,
and will terminate at 0ronoko street, making
in all six squares of good paving.
NOTES
The superintendent Of the public schools has
under the common custom. directed the usual
Easter holidays. The schools will close Thurs
day evening and studies VIII not be resumed
until Tuesday morning next.
The city council will ho'l its second March
meeting tonight AMI consider again the cues
tons Of fire escapes, additional street hgh.s the
proposed police patrol wagon and other
matters.
Marley Encampment of l. o. OF held pleas.
ant meeting last night and initiated two catdi-
dates.
The Alexandria Light Infantry is keeping Ut
| its standard, and the drill last night showed
that the corps is all in trim.
The solemnities of the week preceding Easter
will be observed this week in the Catholic
Episcopal and Luther churches here, the usua
ceremonies and customs being observed.