Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-09
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN Thu STAR

Congress assembled in 1855 on the first
day Of December, and in The Star OF that
date appears the following
Congress note Of the opening and es-
Opens. innate OF the work to be
done:
1.-The opening of Congress today Of course
has brought hither not only the members
with few exceptions). but considerable
number of persons interested in their legis-
latfon. The current session of the Court of
Claims, too, favors US with the presence Of
quite number Of strangers. many of whom
have been IN public life, and are therefore
quite conspicuous gentlemen anywhere. So
Washington already wears its seasonal air.
This is destined to be one Of the most bril-
liant and exciting winters known to the
history OF the federal metropolis: as we are
not only to have here q considerable Access
sion to the large number Of persons of
wealth. taste and leisure who visit Wash
angton at such a season-as they visit the
watering places In their season-to partake
OF Its gayeties. to see and know its notables
and its n0tabtlities, but also larger num-
Der OF politicians interested in the formation
OF the incoming administration than were
ever here before on such an occasion. as
well as the usual number of persons inter-
ested in the legislation of Congress.
Indeed, two subjects alone, which some
expect to be disposed of ere the 4th of
March, bid fair to bring an avalanche of
patriotic individuals to the federal city.
We refer to the tariff and Pacific railroad
question. We have no idea that the last
mentioned question can possibly be settled
this winter, however strenuous the efforts
greatly mistaken. the surveys have not
demonstrated the practicability OF the con-
structton of the proposed railroad over
either route examined. under an almost fab
ulous costa cost of hundreds OF millions
Of dollars. Under cost a tenth of which
could not be betrayed by the donation of
alternate sections Of the public lands at
their present value, or at that which they
can possibly bear in the lifetime Of the
present generation
X
There seems to have been little demand
for public schools in the county Of Wash
ington half century ago,
County at least under certain con-
Schools. ditions imposed by act of
Congress. In The Star Of
December 1, 1856, appears the following
news item bearing upon this matter:
1.-The Washington county schools. at least
upon the footing offered in the act Of Con-
gressr of the 18th of August last, do not
from three of the election districts have
been received by the clerk of the levy
court of the following character: District
No. voted for school and 10 for mo
school," district No. 2 voted for and -
against, and district No. 5 likewise gave 1
vote for and IL against a school. The very
decided sentiment expressed In these votes
indicates the necessity of revising the act
the popular wish. 1t seems that the grand
objection to the system proposed IN the act
is that the control does not lie In the people
themselves, but in the levy court"
"a
A duel that was all arranged but did not
take place afforded text for the following
news paragraph in The Star
Bloodless of December 3. 1855:
Duel. "Preliminaries were yes
terday arranged in this city
for a duel between Charles Irving esq.,, of
the Lynchburg Republican, and DR.. Bagby
Of Lynchburg, the occasion being the publ
cation of an article in the December num-
Der of Harper's Magazine, entitled The
Virginia Editor, by a Virginian, of which
DR.. Bagby was the author, and to which
Mr.. Irving objected, as rejecting personally
upon himself. Six o'clock this morning was
fixed upon as the hour for the meeting, at
which time the parties appeared on the
ground selected Bladensburg) with their
friends-Messrs. Roger A. Pryor of the
Richmond Enquirer, Bocock of Virginia and
Keitt of South Carolina, on the part of Mr..
Irving, and Messrs. Carrie of South Caro-
lima, Latham OF Lynchburg and Blanchard
Of California, on that of DR.. Bagby. After
taking places for the word the difficulty
was settled in a manner satisfactory to
both parties, and they returned to this CITY,"
In The Star of December 5, 1856, is print
ed a brief announcement ito the citizens of
the District Of Columbia"
Historic which is of historic interest
Notice. in the relation it bears to
the story of one Of the most
important and valuable of local institutions.
1t Is as follows:
Understanding that there are in the Dis
trict from twenty-five to forty deaf, dumb
and blind persons of teachable age, many
of them paupers, the undersigned have as
ISOLATED for the purpose of organizing an
institution for their instruction under suit
able regulations. When the necessary ar
rangements shall e completed, of which
notice will be given. our fellow-ctizens
win be waited on for such aid as they
may be Inclined to bestow upon so meri-
tortous an object.
The announcement was signed by Amos
Kendall. D. A. Hall. Bryon Sunderland
and J. c. Mcclure of Washington and w.
H. Edes and Judson Mitchell of George
town.
This was the beginning of kendall
Green" officially known as the Columbia
Institution Tor the Dear and Dumb. Its
story Is dramatic. but too long to be re-
told in this connection. Mr.. Kendall and
his associates had been interested in the
welfare of the pauper deaf and dumb by
a man who pretended to conduct school
but who was later discovered to be an
arrant fraud and brutal master of the
wretched children he had secured for his
own purposes. When they found that the
man was a monster of cruelty they took
over the care Of his pitiable charges and
later, securing an act of Congress- organized
the institution which now has worldwide
reputation for its efficiency and thorough
ness of instruction and for the benefits
1t bestOws upon an unfortunate class
ECHOES OF The MESSAGE.
From the Newark Advertiser.
But 1t wasn't altogether the simplified
spelling In the message that stirred 'em
up down in Washington.
From the Chicago Record Herald
The Presidents critics will no doubt be
surprised when they read the message, to
Hnd that he 10 still wiling to acknowl-
edge that his authority does not transcend
the Constitution.