Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-03
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

In LIE OlAN
Half century ago there was no national
museum in which curious objects and &C.
centricities of nature were
Freak OF preserved for public exhibit
Nature ton. In the patent Office,
however, were the beginnings
of such collection. which were constantly
being added to by public-spirited citizens
from various parts Of the country. In The
Star of November %. 1856, is a paragraph
indicating how the little museum of curl
osities was being increased:
mfr. William B. Collins OF Portsmouth.
Va, having recently arrived in Washing
ton. brought with him some natural Curl
osities. of which he kindly furnished US
with view, previous to placing them In
the national gallery of the patent Office.
The first Is from Murfreesborough. N. C.,
sweet potato, which may be conveniently
covered by any adults two hands. 1t Is q
fair representation Of snake, coiled. with
it's head resting on the thick part of the
form. We have never before seen an In
animate production approach SO nearly to
living subject. As to biting, however
that would be done by the party who might
cook the vegetable snake. The same gem
tleman has likewise procured and preserved
in spirits a number of the plague-fies which
were so thick In the late fever-infected dis
tricts of Virginia that persons could
scarcely see for them; and in order to avoid
annoyance had to cover their faces with
wells. They somewhat resemble the mos
quito with long wings and long yellow
bodies"
Here we have what may have been a hint
of the mosquito theory so long afterward
to be developed.
Washingtons sanitary arrangements in
the middle of the last century were not al
together satisfactory and eff
SANITARY forts were made from time
Reform. to time to improve them. In
The Star of November 81
1855. appears the following paragraph de-
scriptive of one of these attempts:
"a bill was introduced in the board Of
aldermen last evening by Mr. Miller. alder
man of the second ward, providing for the
establishment of board Of health, the ap-
pointment of commissioner of health at
p salary OF 81. 500 year, defining his duties
and for the abatement and removal of null
sances. bill with some of the features
of this was introduced by the same gentle
man some weeks ago, but was voted down
without examining it's merits. The present
bill Is designed a substitute for the pres
ent impracticable and imperfect expensive
system, and If passed and it's provisions
enforced will more effectually produce the
than any system yet devised. 1t has long
been deSideratum with US to have one
person to enforce our health regulations
person paid to do this and with power
to act. However active and DESTROYS the
present board Of health may be to clean
the city and remove sources Of disease, they
have failed for the want of proper practical
law and full power to enforce their regula-
lions. On the former occasion 1t was al
legged as an objection to this bill that 1t
created new Office with a salary This is
only in part true; the officer under another
name existed. 1t is here only proposed to
give him compensation to enable him to
devote all his time to the subject"
II
washington now boasts of quick railroad
service into and out of the city and is dis
posed to regard the forty
Rapid five-minute trains nlvtne he
Transit tween here and Baltimore as
high types of modern ad-
vancement. But half century back trains
were occasionally run between these two
cities at not much slower pace. In The
Star of November %, 1856, is the following
paragraph:
THE extra train of cars chartered by Mr..
H. c. Barrett to convey the theatrical ex-
cursionists and their friends from Baltimore
to this city last evening made the trip in
fifty-fve minutes, including short delay
at Scaggs Station. The train was under the
uHeCtiou OF capt ftdWilnS, one OF the most
skillful conductors on the road He de-
serves great credit for the admirable ar
engagements made to insure the safety of
the party while travelling at this frightful
speed The fastest Jehu between the depot
and the theater proved to be Mr.. William
A. Wilson, who made the trip in one and
one-half minutes, to whom a silver-mounted
whip will be presented today"
Speaking of theatricals, 1t is interesting to
note that in the same issue appears the fol-
lowing item relative to artists who are not
yet forgotten by younger Washington1ans:
Mr. and Mrs. Florence.-These really ad-
m1rable theatrical artists appear tonight at
the Varieties. They are together almost with
out equals In this country in the persona
ton of their line of pieces. While Mr. Flor
ence is a finished and critically correct
comedian, his lady is charming vocalist
beautiful dancer and one of the most
versatile actresses who has ever played on
the American stage. The lady or gentle
man of Washington who patronizes theatri-
Gals and yet falls to see them will miss
what we know to be really one of the great
est treats in that way that has ever been
within ones reach in this city,
The United States steam frigate Min
nesota, built at the navy yard in this city,
was launched on Saturday
Warsh1p December 1, 1855. and The
Launch. Star thus described the local
interest in the event:
THE Launch of the Mnnesota.-The an
nouncement that this war steamer would
be launched today between II and l O'Clock
intensely excited our population, some of
whom had never enjoyed a spectacle SINH
lar to that which was promised. At noon
thousands of persons of all classes and
conditions We're on the ground, and their
number was constantly increased by fresh
arrivals. Hacks, omnibuses and wagons of
every description thiekly ratified on to the
grand point of attraction-an immense con-
grega ton indeed OF interested witnesses
The day beautiful, but rather cool, espe-
clally near the waters edge; but this dis
comfort was considerably ameliorated by
the anticipated launch and all the accom-
panying circumstances. Four or five steam
ers loaded down to their utmost capacity
with spectators were in the river near the
point of attraction. All the wharyes sur
rounding hills and house tops were covered