Evening star., 1905-05-14
FIFTY YEARS Ago (
IN THE STAR

washingtonians have always claimed
THAT their police force has been one of the
best in the country as re-
CARDS personnel, while urg-
police ing that 1t was not large
enough. Apparently t hi 8
same idea prevailed half century ago. as
the following paragraph, printed May .,
1885, attests:
I'VE received this morning, at the office OF
the fifth district police, the list OF arrests
made by Officer Wise OF that district last
week. It is long list. and presents vari-
ETY. Of cases under the criminal as well as
the corporation laws. Larceny, riot, pro-
family, vagrancy, assault and battery. etc.,
are all set down in their proper places. we
have as efficient police officers in Washing
ton as can be found in this country. They
are not numerous. but they manage tneir
business properly"
It is reassuring to read. In the same is-
sue, that yesterday was not only a CAIN
and beautiful day, but, as the Sabbath, was
quietly and becomingly observed through.
out the city and in a manner that caused
every lover Of good order TO re3oice. a.,
Dancing academies ffOurished tEe.i, as
now, but perhaps under different auspices
than at present. In this issue of The Star
Is letter to the editor, signed Terpsicnore,
noting the May balls given by Prof. Munder
the ''Minuet de la Occur and Gavot De
vestrys," favorite of the court OF Louis
XVI. and introduced into washington oy
M. Cocheu. OF other dances "Terpischore
mentions the cachucha and Bohemian
polka. and gives special praise to the
nymphs' garland dance:
''It was executed by SIX misses, one OF
whom represented the rogush boy Cupio,
who, with bow and arrow. watched Ior
an opportunity to pierce the hearts OF the
lovely nymphs. It was perfect ale
gorical representation and made one fancy
himself in fairy lands. or living in the times
of Virgil and Ovid and that he actually
beheld the tabled divinities Of old
The Star of May devoted a column and
a half Of editorial space to description OF
p.r,d the great Improvements TINT
had been made In the trans
Transit tortation facilities in the
east during few years.
The Washington branch of the Baltimore
and Ohio had been then In operation twen-
ty-One years, serving as the only rail route
to the west. Prior to 1851 travellers bound
for Wheeling and Pittsburg were forced to
use the stage lines on the old National road,
consuming five days in getting from Wash
ington to Wheeling. It was possible to go
by canal from Philadelphia to Pittsburg in
five days. The railroad had been grad
ually extended from Washington, reaching
Frederick in 1881, Point Of Rocks in 1892
Harper's Ferry In 1884, Hancock in 1841 and
Cumberland In 1912 Progress beyond Cum
berland was halted for ten years by litiga-
ton and legislative interference fostered by
the stagecoach interests, but the locomo-
tive could not be held back and it reached
Wneehng In 1853, and in May, 1855, a new
schedule was proudly announced promis-
ing passengers run from Washington to
that point in 1712 hours. The same run is
now made in less than twelve hours.
Inc mlddle OF the nineteenth century was
not unmarked by ambitions on the mart of
humanity to fly. The balIoonists were ac-
lively at work seeking means of circum-
venting nature. A news brief printed May
8 says:
Mons. GODDARD, the great aeronaut left
New Orleans on Sunday last in a baiIoon
and having travelled 80 miles in six hours.
landed his passengers at Port Gibson. Miss
he then resumed his voyage. His pas
sengers were six in number
There Is no later mention of the conclu-
sion of Mons. Godard's voyage. He NAV
be going yet.
The civil service system was not In vogue
in 1850. consequently government clerks
were dropped unceremonious-
oHenslVe ly from the rolls in those
Partisanship days without cause when
ever it suited the convenience
of the higher officials. The Star of May
II contained card from a welI-known
citizen protesting against his summary SEN
aration from the Treasury Department
without reason. He had held Office for ten
years as democrat, and was astounded
when democratic administration dis
missed him. He wrote:
During my official connection with the
general government I have invariably op-
posed the indiscriminate removal of com
petent and faithful clerks on account OF
mere partisan opinions. I cannot see how
nnQ n linn onrioo
reside here, in the midst of national dis
cussions, without becoming interested in
public affairs, and I have therefore, al
ways respected the convictions of candid
adversary, while l exercised the constitu-
tional right of promulgating my own"
1t appears that the writer was accused
of being know Nothing" but he indig-
nantly denied the charge.
Residents of the Northern Liberties"
were being much annoyed at night by gangs
of rude and noisy boys" congregating
chiefly at the corner of 9th and H streets.
One of their favorite pranks was to put
out the street gas lamps on dark nights
and to light them clear nights thus
reversing the proper order of affairs"
X X
This reference to the Northern Liber-
ties" seems to have aroused a reader of
uNor+barr The Star to offer a bit of
information upon the some
Liberties. what misunderstood subject
of the origin and meaning of
the term, letter from him appearing in
the issue of May 13. He quotes as follows
from the Washington Directory for 1853,
which reference was incorrect, as examina-
ton of the directories shows that the note
was printed in the issue for 1S43:
Northern Liberties. somewhere, perhaps
anywhere, north of F or G or II streets
north; its eastern or western expanse not
comprehended even within the probabilities
of a surmise. This appellation initiates so
much against appropriateness and conse-
quently good taste that it seems only
worthy of a record upon the tablets of
slang; but, like all things that are not con-
trolled by laws of precision, identity or To-
cation, 1t is seemingly understood by every
one, because it is easier to rest satisfied
under doubts that have no immediate effect
than undergo the labor of investigation to
arrive at facts. The only perceptible adap-
tation of this name to its locality is that
1t Is north of somewhere; hence NORTH and
unbounded in it's extent. hence liberties
or, 1t may be. the mimic representation of
a portion of the city or county of Philadel-
phia; If this be so, it is difficult to tell
what could be the medium of association
by which it established its synonyms in
Washington"