Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-23
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

N.
among Westinghouse in the early part of
April, 1855. apparently left the community
in dazed condition, which enabled him
to make good his escape On the 10th of
April The Star remarked:
we hear Of no efforts to cause the ar
rest of Lewis Littlepage Taylor. the abb
seconded forEer. The officers of the govern
ment have no authority under the law to
spend money for any such purpose, and no
others seem disposed to make the expendi-
ture necessary to that end. We have no
doubt that he could be easily traced UP and
secured If any shrewd police officer would
undertake the business. In the meantime
an impression Is prevailing in Washington
that he had at least one accomplish who
was privy to all his forgeries. This fact
should be promptly inquired into by our
police officers. 1t is surely possible to trace
up more concerning this affair than either
the public or the police are at this time ac-
quainted with"
Tuesday, April II. The Star
Aoo printed letter 1t had re-
Residents. ceived from a correspondent
whom 1t characterized as "a
grabbed old fellow, a citizen of Washington,
with little of the milk of human kindness
in his composition" who had just returned
from northern trip. He complained of the
ing:
The resi- ,nts of city or village at
tend every morning or about lunch hour,
at the reading rooms of the hotels. and
appropriate to themselves the files of the
city papers to the exclusion of the guests
of the house. 1t is also becoming fashion
able for young squads, also residents. to
obtrude into the parlorS of hotels to talk to
each other about themselves to the annoy
ance of guests. Residents should subscribe
for the local papers they wish to read, and
not elbow visiting strangers from the files.
We are pleased to notice that the practice
of residents drinking a the bar at lunch
time is nearly out of fashion. Eating Is
the chief indulgence, and economy as we'll
as temperance is promoted by this prac-
tice as lunch by itself costs nothing.
The popular books in those days. accort-
ing to the advertisements. were The
Memories of the Countess of Blessington,"
The Slave of the Lamp Growth in Holt
ness" Wanderings in Corsica and Grace
Did 1 Love False Flora?" by a local COM
poser.
kindly reciprocity pre-
fr1ed vailed in the business com
OYSTERS. munity those mid-century
times. Thus:
'Dubant & Benter, Washington Hall,
corner of 9Th street and Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. south side, having received a lot of
very fine oysters, fried number OF the
choice bon.sless fish andIremembered the
acknowledge tne reception of the present, to
say nothing of the qualification to the
palate by this means afforded by those
popular caterers to the public appetite"
Lovers of the drama had been promised
a treat in the form OF visit to these SHORES
by Rachel. the great French tragedienne
but according to personal" this project
had to be abandoned owing to the objection
of the minister of state, who was unwilling
that Paris should lose one of its bright
est theatrical ornaments" and had invoked
his legal power to retain her there. There
is no present difficulty in securing the ad-
vent Of the foreign artist on an American
dollar hunt
In recording, at some length. the formal
seasons opening of the White House
Pavilion" a famous resort on the Virginia
shore, about twenty miles below Washing
ton. The Star printed an enthusiastic de-
scription of a planked shad dinner and
noted the toasts proposed thereat, one of
which is thus mentioned:
Mr.. Randolph Coyle proposed the health
of the gentleman (as he is a modest man
we omit his name) who on a former occa-
sion ate several planked shad without ris-
ing from the table, and deserved to have
his name inscribed in letters of gold upon
the imperishable tablet of fame. The toast
was drank with unbounded enthusiasm
The volunteer fire depart
L aiSe ment was summoned to duty
Alarm. by the ringing OF alarm bells
In towers. and then, as now,
there were useless runs. Thus says The
Star of such an occasion:
1.-THE alarm of fire last evening was false;
the ringing of an engine bell for the call
of a meeting having been mistaken for an
invitation to haul out the machine TO sup
press a conflagrauOn.
Compared with the work conducted in
these days the governments experiments in
seed growing were exceedingly slight. The
Star of April 20 says:
1.-The gentleman at the head of the agri-
cultural branch Of the United States patent
office is making arrangements with authori-
ties of different foreign governments to
obtain from them well-preserVed seeds TO
be experimental with in this country"
The Star of Saturday, April
usili'e 81, gives prominence to an
Slave account OF the recapture of
slave boy by a grown
negro. There was great excitement at the
corner of 9th and E streets:
1.-The boy positively refused to accompany
the man. Accordingly he dragged
him along the pavement The boys panta-
looms coming in contact with projecting
brick were split in the rear, and by the
severe handling he received his undergar-
ment was removed from its appropriate
place and hung loosely on the outside, after
the arrangement of Little HILL the Indian
warrior, who once, in this city, addressed
the commissioner of indian affairs upon
pending treaty stipulations. There
were standing near by half dozen hum
BILE but sympathizing women, and they
seemed inclined to interfere and effect a
rescue. However, white lad volunteered to
assist the black man. He seized the boy
by the legs, while the man held his prisoner
by the arms. and thus they carried the
fugitive along the street, the living weight
screaming meantime, and several big dogs,
in the universal excitement,
barking loudly.
Perhaps the item about the fried oysters
was responsible for a gift of a freezer of
ice cream and supply of cakes. which The
Star received from Mr.. Miller, the confec-
toner. on the avenue between 10th and
18th streets and acknowledged thus grace
fully:
1.-The elegant present not only affords in
evidence of his skill In the
of confectionery. but an evil
dence of his generosity, which we shall
bear in grateful remembrance. 1t was de-
cidedly pleasant 10 turn aside from the af-
fairs of the world and to partake of the
choice collation. which our worthy and
estimable fellow-citizen so beautifully pro-
yided. Not only. were we thus favored,
but Mr.. z. M. p. King sent us a lot or
choice confectionery. 1t was very nice.