Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-30
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR

XAS xxAA NAXAAs
Half q century back the quill pen still
fiourished In the hands Of many a man of
affairs and letters. The steel
1ountaan pen was very generally in
Pans. use. however. the improved
process Of manufacture having
reduced the price and overcome one Of the
most serious objections to the innovation.
Fountain pens. however. were distinct
novelty. and in The Star OF July q. 1865.
10 to be found perhaps ono Of tho earliest
references to this device. which was the
immediate predecessor Of the typewriter In
the evolution OF writing methods:
"A Wrtnkle.-we saw, at the establish
naent OF Taylor q Murray, on Saturday.
something new in the way OF pen. which
Is just tho implement for those who desire
to avoid the loss OF time and inky fingers.
1t Is termed Princes Protean Fountain
Pen. and Is covered by patent recently
issued 1t is gold pen fixed in a handle
made of an india rubber or gutta percha
composition termed protean. which (the
handie) is hollow, and is filed with an air
tight piston of the same material. It does
not corrode. 1t is filled with ink by dipping
the point of the pen in bottle of good
huid ink and drawing up the piston, when.
a vacuum being thus created, the ink at
once fills the vacume in the handle. .
Ink requires to be drawn I'D into the holder
not more frequently than once in six or
eight hours The achievement of all these
advantages amount not only to a great in
Hs savn. Of IN Uniting eu. to
much In 1t. indeed. and who should know
better than ourself, who perhaps. does
twice as much writing In the twenty-four
hny,t -
man In the District of Columbia"
Occasionally an echo Of the debate that
was preceding the great war climax is to be
il. heard through the columns
Pillow and of the old issues In The Star
Done1son OF July Is Is printed an ac-
count. condensed from the
Nashville Union. of a lively rencontre be-
tween Andrew Jackson Donelson, who had
left the democracy to join the American
party In 1858. and was In 1855 named on
that party's ticket for Vice President
with Willard Fillmore. and Gen. Gideon J.
Pillow. who in 1852 had received twenty-five
votes for the democratic nomination for
that office. The two met at a political
gathering at Columbia. Tenn. Donelson as
one OF the speakers. Pillow as a spectator.
MAJ Donelson then got up" runs the
account. land wheezed and bowed through
He Is fiat, dull speaker. and made no
character. Just before he closed he came
down on the Nashville convention with the
sweeping statement that he had at the
time denounced the members of that body
as traitors Gen. Pillow being in the
crowd. promptly replied. You lie. you lie.
sir" For. moment Mai Donelson was
are an impertinent fool Gen. Pillow
rushed toward the stand, but was arrest
ed by the crowd. Great excitement pre-
vailed. Maj. Donelson asked for a stick,
which was handed to him. and he presently
came down from the stand in the direction
OF Gen. Pillow. but there were many per-
sons between them and voices shouting:
Let Gen: Pillow get at him
The affair proceeded in disorder, Pillow
taking the stand on the conclusion of Donel-
sons interrupted speech. and finally the lie
was again passed
''At this point Mai Donelson struck Cen
Pillow on the arm. and Gen. Pillow gave
him blow on the head. Then they were
separated. After great excitement Gen.
Pillow again took the stand and finished
his remarks"
rences in various parts of the country. the
political passions mounting ever higher as
the country drew near to the crisis
The Ben Franklin Target Company was
the capital years ago, and its
Target social affairs were always
cor,on greatly enjoyed by the
friends of members. The
Star of July % noted that the "F'ranklins'
were planning excursion to Arlington
Springs, "a spot dear to the heart of every
Wasningtonian." Follows this note:
"A new feature will be added to this ex-
cursion We understand prize is set
apart for the ladies. each of whom may
choose gay champion to shoot for her.
Success to the lucky one. A prize will also
be. up for the military and civilians"
The seasons offerings were not uniformly
satisfactory. For instance. The Star noted
the fact that corn grown on the farm of
Mr. Samuel Crawford. near Bladensburg.
stood sixteen to seventeen feet high on the
average, while it walled thus about the
market peaches:
Peaches in the Center market this morn
Ing were sold for dollar peck. Some of
them were not larger than musket balls,
and perhaps would answer as substitutes
for those articles.
But the next day. July 81. The Star took
OCCASION to throw a bouquet to the boni-
faces of Washington for the excellence OF
their table during the long recess of Con-
gress. 1t said:
"The season is bringing to our markets a
profusion of meats, vegetables and fruits.
almost unprecedented in quality, and the
last really unprecedented in the price. That
is, vegetables sell at probably lower prices
in the Washington markets at this time
than ever before. There is much, however,
in the art of preparing them. and all other
eatables, really accomplished cook will
serve even poor food SO that it seems nutri-
tous as well as rich and palatable, while a
poor one will spoil for the appetite OF civil
lized humanity even such vegetables. meats
and fruits as now load down the Washing
ton markets"
Gallantry and the muse colloborated in
the production of the following reportorial
achievement, which. despite its unpleasant
theme. is worthy of perpetuation:
"a laboring man. named Thomas McGann,
who's been spreeing for half of his life.
went home last night in bacchanalian
plight and fought with his wife. He
picked up a stick and gave her lick. with
all of his strength. on the head and she
lay on the floor wide open the door, while
the news 'mong her neighbors was spread.
They came in a crowd. and their talking
was loud, for shame of the inhuman elf.
who, although he was full meantime took
a pull from the bottle that darkened the
shelf Soon the woman revived, when the
doctor arrived, her blood flowing most in
a torrent; and the husband was shaken by