Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-09
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

The June Wedding is by no means
modern development. 1t was a popular lie
s.itution At least hall cen
juno fury ago. Ii The Star Of
w.Sa,n July 2. 1855. occurs this para
graph. with verse attached.
showing that Cupid was locally very busy
during the first summer month of that
year:
During the month of June seventy-three
marriagL licenses were issued from the
clerks Office. City Hall.
What love Is. II .hop wouldst be taught.
The heart must teach alone.
Two souls with but a single thought
Two hearts that beat ene-'
During the month OF June. 1905. tho
clerks ONCE issued 40e licenses.
The Star noted with evident satisfaction
that Washingtonians were fortunate In hav-
ing the choice Of an exceptional number OF
watering places within easy reach. men,
tioning Old Point Comfort. Piney Point.
Blackistene's Island and DIR. Banks cele-
brated Chesapeake Hall. at Hampton" The
Star remarked
mo other portion of the coast of the
United States Is this season 50 capitclly
supplied with agreeable watering places as
the region of the Chesapeake. tor each Of
these four establishments is unsurpassed
in Its peculiar Style
In noting that there would be no issue of
the paper on Independence day, The Star
said. in the edition of July 3:
Patriotic I'VE trust that the morrow
r.a will not pass with its lesson
unheeded by any capable of
reflection. The history of the seven years
events with which the occasion is indis-
solubly connected. and Of the glorious re-
suits of those events, tells what may be
accomplished by brethren of different ma
lions and creeds content to join hands for
the esta blishment and maintenance Of true
civil and religious liberty and equality.
These results-the American Union. its Con-
stitution. and the national prosperity, viz
tue and enlightenment, which came out of
them-were won by Episcopal Virginia,
Puritan Massachusetts,, Catholic Maryland
Baptist Rhode Island, Quaker Pennsylvania.
by the native-born Washington. Adams,
jefferson, Hancock and the rest Of the ma
tive-born patriots, warriors and statesmen,
whose pens and arms were interlOcked to
that END. with those of Morris, Lafayette,
De Kalb Montgomery, Pulaski, Kosciusko.
the never to be forgotten Irish brigade of
Pennsylvania. and others, who fed from the
disabilities of absolutiSm in the old world
to win their rights as men, with their
swords. and at the cost of life. If need be,
on this continent.
July 5 The Star noted its third anniver-
sary under it's then management
which it celebrated by DOMINIC complete
new dress of type. In its editorial COM
ment on the occasion it said:
I'VE shall continue to endeavor to make
The Star necessary to all who desire to be
posted with reference to everything of in
terest transpiring in this city. from the ap-
pointment of foreign minister or the ne
gotiation of new treaty by the govern
ment down to a squabble at the pump be-
fryn ooo1c
eral metropolis. Our new arrangements are
made with the view of giving additional ad-
yantageS to advertisers, all of whom VINO
really desire to bring their business or any
other of their affairs, to the notice Of the
public will, on inquiry or reflection, find
that the insertion of few lines in The Star
is empha ticaly the surest and most eco
nonical way of accomplishing the object.
X
The Independence day program included
military parade. noon salute. fired by 2
detachment of the United
Postponed States Flying Artillery" sent
specially to Washington from
IAie"oi No. Fort McIenry for that serv-
ice. and an grafton at the Capitol, deliv-
cred by ]. NJ. Carlisle. A heavy rain storm
drove great crowd into the building, and
necessita.ed the use of the House of Rep
resentatives. This storm also appeared to
prevent the execution of an elaborate pro-
gram of fireworks south of the White
House The Star of the next day printed
a description of the crowd that assembled
on the White Lot. only to be disappointed
There was evidently too much moisture
for the pyrotechnics, but not so much as
to prevent the Marine Band from rendering
a concert on the grounds of the mansion
near the fountain
Four small boys. ranging from five to
OD-
tanned cartridge. supposed to be from one
of the magazines OF the artillery corps.
They tried to use it for Fourth of July
salute. Result: Three badly burned and one
dead. The Independence day slaughter Is
not a latter-day evolution.
In the issue OF July occurs paragraph
descriptive of peculiar happening. A
widow while visiting the grave Of her hus-
band in the Congressional cemetery. was
bitten on the knee by snake-at least her
symptoms all pointed to such a cause, al
though the reptile was not seen. She was
carried to the almshouse and there received
medical attention. The Star advised its
readers to carry a doctor along whenever
they ventured into the rank grass and
weeds of the Congressional burial ground.
Washington's streets boosted of no pave
mentS In 1855, and consequently they were
likely to become a serious
MUG hindrance rather than help
Puddles to travel. In the issue of July
The Star called attention to
a bad mud puddle at the entrance to the
Center market near the engine house."
and also noted the bad and mushy condi-
ton Of the sidewalk between 9Th and 9th
streets. skirting Market Square" It fur
Their in another paragraph declared that
the cutters on D street from 18th to 14th
streets were in disgraceful condition, and
also those on 10th street south of Penn
sylyania avenue. Taken altogether. life
in the capital seems TO have been attended