Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-05
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR.

It is to be doubted whether the spectacle
of man chasing his hat, the toy OF the
autumn winds. would now
The GOOD elicit much attention from
Old DAVIS the newspaper press Of the
city. But 1t il a testimony
to the more leisurely state OF being half a
century ago that such an episode called for
the better part Of the space in The Star of
Monday. October o. 1855. devoted to local
happenings. The Star said:
ut is we'll known to everybody who was
in town yesterday that the weather was
extremely windy and therefore disagree
able to pedestrians. for apart from the at
tention which 1t was necessary to pay to
wearing apparel. repeatedly cloud OF
double-refned dust was blown In the face.
In fact. the venturers abroad had con-
tinuous contest with the stin blast. which
whistled and swept with violence all minor
fragments within the range of its influence
1t may be here proper to remark that para
sols-those articles which are as often car
ried for mere ornament as they are for
comfort-were dispensed with. The per-
sistence in sporting them at such time
would probably have subjected their own
ers to the modification OF seeing them car
ried upward, balloon fashion"
OF an elderly gentleman who covered con-
siderable space near the corner OF It'll
street and Massachusetts, avenue In pur-
suit of an elusive tile. while he was thus
employed q child OF six or seven years Of
age whose cap had been whisked on just
about the same time as his seniors. was
chasing his revolutionary property, crying
with grief and full bent on the recovery OF
his hat. After a spirited and exhausting
race the old man and the child attained
their object: and pufflng and blowing them
selves. their breathing apparatus having
been severely taxed. they retraced their
head to prevent a recurrence OF the scene
In which they had been involuntary actors"
-
In The Star Of Wednesday. October 81.
1855. Is to be found an account Of An anus
ing mistake made by
Wrong Kind gentleman from Virginia,
Of Minister. who had enlisted in the
cause OF Cupid to assist In
Old Dominion. 1t was his function to obtain
the services Of a minister:
Accordingly he hurried of for that pur-
pose and, making inquiry on the way, he
was directed to stately residence and was
met at the door by more than ordinarily
we'll dressed male servant. Is the minister
within?' hurriedly asked the groomsman.
He Is replied the servant. Then / must
see him instantly" continued the fnterroga-
tor. Your name, sir Never mind that;
must the minister without delay; my
business is of such character that 1 have
no time to- wait for ceremony SO the gen.
tleman was invited into the parlOr. when
the minister entered, making a profound
bow to his visitor. Are you minister?
he inquired. I am, sir Then 1 wish to
engage your services. l want you to go
with me to the American Hotel: you under
stand-a couple from Virginia are there and
waiting. and your presence is required to
make their happiness complete You want
me to be present as a witness? No. sir. l
have called upon you to tie the knot-to
marry them-to pronounce them man and
wife I never did such thing in my
life: am the minister from -; not
minister of the gospel
THE groomsman ap0logized as well as
he could under the circumstances-saiG
something about wrong Information and
stumbling over a chair evacuated the prem
fses in double-quck time the foreign min
lister with bewidered look staring at his
extraordinary pedestrian performance. A
minister of the gospel however, was soon
afterward procured and the happy couple
were united in the silken tie that binds
two willing hearts They have left 70,
their home in the sacred shade of which
we trust they will realize all their fond
anticipatons.
From prudential reasons as The Star later
explains, it refrained from calling attention
in advance to the fact that
Halloween the night of October 81 was
r.., All Halloween, in order to
lessen the intensely disagree
able demonstrations of some of the younger
generation who fifty years ago, took high
license with tradition and engaged in some
extremely discomfting performances. But
despite The Stars precaution Washington
was made lively on that night in 1855. for
the little rascalS were as we'll posted as
ourselves and accordingly celebrated All
Halloween according to the ancient meth
DDS. But the sport of some of them was
not all on their own part. party having
almost pulled away bell handle by their
desperate ringing. and then ran off to enjoy
hearty laugh. returned to repeat that in
teresting performance. In the interval a
young lady FASTENED to an upper window
provided with a pitcher of water and SO
soon as leading spirit took hold OF the
bell knob to give it another strong jerk he
was disagreeably surprised by shower
bath. Halloween in old times especially
afforded an occasion for lovers to try their
sweathearts, but in these latter days we are
informed the Germans in Pennsylvania then
cut their cabbage for saurkraut. There may
be tender-hearted readers who think that
the mention of those two subjects in one
paragraph is gross association of ideas. ;,
sidelight on the social customs of the
old days is afforded by the following para
graph in The Star of Novem-
Ball Der 2: The young men of
Summers. Washington are vastly be-
hind the age in the matter,
of suppers they cause to be provided at
their balls, given by military ana fire COM
panes, clubs, etc. Nothing is to be had
to eat at such entertainments for love or
money, until precisely midnight when all
who design taking supper are fed at the
same time, usually by caterer. who, being
charged for the privilege OF serving the
supper at a low rate per head must maxi
1t meager one of course, even for the low
price charged The New York plan is in
fintely better. Some .Weil-known caterer
who can be relied on to do his best and to
charge no more than fair restaurant prices
is engaged, paying nothing for his privi-
lege. Round tables are spread in the sup
per room. to which the guests repair as
their fancy or appetites suggest, and calling
for what they wish by the card are all well
served and sup at their leisure. In that
way the person who feels disposed to spend
a five-dolar gold piece In boned turkey and
champagne do so: while the person who
desires but plate of oysters may procure
them at a cost of from one to two shillngs
or even less. 1t is to be hoped that our
young friends who contemplate giving such
balls this winter will take the fmproye-