Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-16
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR

! The late departure Of Congress from
| Washington caused a general postpone
ment Of the usual vacation
a Qu1et movement. and consequently
CITY, there was more of an exo-
dus and less of return
movement at this time half century ago
than usual. In The Star Of September 8.
| 1855, appears this comment on the aspect
| Of the capital:
THE city is remarkably quiet, free from
| intense excitement. and as healthy, II not
| more so. than during any previous au-
tumnal season. The matter of news is
scarce. but little occurs in that line to par
! ticularly interest the general reader. Our
citizens seem to be contented and happy
the ladies just as beautiful and fond of
shopping as ever: while the merchants.
not one of them. SO far as we have learnt.
complain Of the prevailing taste and ambi-
| ton for the adjoining. of the female form in
the rich and fashionable goods. So the
new styles are now temptingly exhibited
and gazetted. and contribute much to the
delight of those whose pecuniary circum-
stances admit of a personal qualification.
The stocks, however, are not yet complete.
but soon will be. as all ladies interested
are particularly informed. The male sex
are not unmindful of the fashions, much
| dS tHey CIlliCiSe the UettcT psiIl VI CiSdIioh
| in this very important respect. They would
have enough to do to attend to their own
affairs!'
+
| Miss Laura Keene was at the height Of
| her career an actress half century ago,
| and her appearance in Wash
Laura ington was always enthusiast
Keene t.cally welcomed. She ap-
peared at the National The
| alter on the night of September 8, 1856 in
Camille and The Star the next day. at
| ter noting that the house was packed dense
| ly. had this to say of the performances:
| eff the charming Laura was not gratified
! by such a reception she must be hard to
| please. that's all! 'Camille'went Off salts
| factoriiy the whole, though from the
| fact that most Of the company reached the
| city only yesterday there were some FEW
| bitches in the performance, unavoidable
upon first representation in a strange the
| ater. Miss Keene was most heartily well
coined upon first making her appearance
| at the footlights in the first act OF Camille.
! as was Mr.. George Jordan. an old favorite
here. AS Camille. Miss K. had the difficult
| task OF representing character that has
| no precise counterpart elsewhere than In
France, and which it Is not easy to place
| Understandings before an American au-
| dience. That she succeeded in gaining the
plaudits of her intelligent and critical au-
dience of last night is the most conclusive
evidence of her remarkable powers Of ex-
preston and delineation.
I'VE should be glad had we space, to
notice this troupe in extenso, but 1t is suf-
ffcient to say that in most respects it Is the
most satisfactory company that ever oc-
cupied the National boards"
x
Recollections Of Charles Dickens COM
ments upon one of the distinguishing Amer
lean habits are aroused by a
Official reading Of an article in The
Cuspidors. Star Of September 10. 1856,
descriptive Of the work Of
housecleaning in progress at the Capitol
from which the following is extracted:
I'm public establishments well as In
private houses, it seems that there is a time
for moving the furniture. for cleaning up
as it is classically termed for overhauling.
for renovation. A peep into the Han OF
Representatives veriffes this important fact.
See that miniature mountain Of spittoons-
painted tin-fOr moderate chewers Of the
Indian weed, and the heavy stone founda-
ton of potters ware for similar use,
adapted to the veteran consumers of fine
cut or pig tail, who are not overpartfcular
in emptying their chops of the dfscolored
saliva.
The mechanics and their assistants are
going to restore the hall to its winter trim
and costume. The carpets are to be spread
and tackled; the heavy red curtains again
looped with artistic taste; the stuffed arm
chairs brought again from the lumber room
and properly set up; and the spittoons. OF
course, will be again conveniently distrib-
uted, for we have no idea the anti-tobacco
pledge will very shortly be taken by the
chewing members. And here We may say
that a spit box is emblem of our ma
ttonality. One of the small figures for the
establishment OF the Capitol-an Indian
girls holding something of the kind on
her Bonded knee: and there is spit box on
each side of the outer doors of the Execu-
tive Mansion. So much for utility and
taste"
Notwithstanding the architectural short
comings Of its two great occupants. Judi
ciary Square is considered to-
Judiciary day a handsome park. Half
Square, century ago it was far from
that. The city Jail stood In
the northern end and the reservation it
self was broken waste of ground. The
following paragraph in The Star of Septem-
Der 10, 1885, suggests its aspect at that
time:
During the past session Of Congress APP
preparation was made for the construction
of culvert in Judiciary Square. running
through the rav1ne which has for so many
years served the purpose Of drain. and the
exposure of which to the solar rays has had
somewhat a deleterious effect upon the
health of the neighborhood. The work has
not only been commenced, but almost com
pleted and the connection of the culvert
nearly formed with that under E street
north. But this is not the only improve
ment in that vicinity; the square is being
filled up and leveled with the superfuous
earth so plentiful in that neighborhood. We
fondly anticipate the day when the Jail
shall be removed from its present location,
which is anything but an ornament and as
for use, has more than once been condemn
ed by grand juries as unsafe and badly
ventilated. The judiciary Square, on both
sides OF E street, should be handsomely
inclosed with iron ratings and the grounds
planted with shrubbery and trees. This Is
alike due to the citys establishment and
to the public health"
THE INDEPENDENCE LEAGUE