Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-31
STARS HALF CENTURY
CONGRATULATIONS FROM GEO.
B. WALLIS,
One Of tho Old Guard Of Washing
ton Newspaper Core
spondents.
Mr.. Crosby 8. Noyes:

Mr.. Crosby 8. Noyes:
My Dear Sir and Esteemed Contempt
rary-Accept my cordial thanks for the
supplemental issue OF The Evening Star OF
the 10th Of December last; in honor of the
fftieth anniversa ry Of the paper. For sew
eral days past daughter Fannie, my secre-
tary. has given me morning hour In the
reading Of said supplemental issue and con-
versation on the subject. And, from day to
day. I have been thinking over the letter
that I should write to you, in reference to
your fifty years history OF The Evening
Star and OF the Washington newspapers
and newspaper correspondents from other
cities. and Of the wonderful upward prog
ress Of American journalism. And I have
been thinking too. of some funny anecdotes
that I could tell you Of the Washington
newspaper editors in the course Of the last
half century, and Of certain official digni-
taries of the District of Columbia and Of
the general government Of the United
States. But, today somewhat under the
weather. I am brought down to the con-
clusion OF a brief dispatch In recognition
Of your very interesting fiftieth anniversary
supplement of The Star.
Sorry that I have to deny myself the
pleasure Of giving you some little personal
stories OF Father Richie" of the Rich
mond Enquirer, Of Gales and Seaton Of the
Washington National Intelligencer. Of Blair
"
Of other journalists of our national CAPT
tai I must here, however, tell you one
little incident of a meeting with Francis P.
Blair, illustrative Of the genuine democratic
character OF the man. I think 1t was in the
last term Of General Grants administration,
and about 10 o'clock in the morning. when
on walk up Pennsylvania avenue from
the National Hotel I met the veteran Fran
els p. Blair and his venerable wife crossing
the avenue. as from the Central market. and
on their way, doubtless, to call upon John
c. Rives at the Globe office near AZ street
on the avenue. The old gentleman Blair
and his venerable wife were near the end
Of a cheerful walk from their elegant coun-
try residence and estate Of Silver Spring,
some five or six miles north Of the city.
1t was summer day, very pleasant and
they were neatly but plainly dressed for
the season. They were two, tall, slender,
straight and active old people, and held
out I'm front by the right hand OF each Of
them there was slender, white walking
stick, some six feet long. gilded brightly at
the top to the depth OF foot 1t was held
In the hand near the middle and actively
IDENTIFY enjoyed this constitutional. and there
was an honest smile upon their faces with
the meeting Of any friend on the way. That
was my last meeting with Francis ?. Blair
have some scores Of personal recollec-
tons Of historical characters. men and wo-
men. at Washington reserved for publication
some day, hereafter, but there Is one little
fact in connection with the first publication
Of The Star which has made that paper
very much like a good old friend. think
1t was after The Star had been issued for
a month or two when Douglas Wallach, the
publisher. asked me to become q co-partner
In the ownership and publication He said:
Il would like to have you. Wallis. with me
In this paper: you are an old WashingtOnian
and your handsome young wife is a WASH 1
ingtonian. as are all her relatives in the city,
and they are from old Virginia. too-and
then you are with our people here the most !
popular Of newspaper correspondents and
writer's and best Of all. you have nothing to
do with the congressional lobby" He said
much more in a complimentary way, but l
was then not only a Washington correspond
emit of the New York Herald, but the leading
editorial writer Of the paper. and so the
friendly offering Of co-partpership from
Douglas Wallach was thankfully declined.
Wishing you, Mr.. Editor, the continued
and increasing prosperity of The Star. be-
lieve me- my old friend. Yours truly,
GEORGE B. WALLIS.
1887 Lexington avenue. New York, January
8, 1903. s4