Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-25
FIFTY YEARS Ago
In THE STAR

| Such a scene as that described in The
| Star of November II. 1885, as follows.
would nowadays create an
! Fire and immense sensation and would
| Riot. doubtless precipitatea search
ing investigation and lead to
! reformation. AS the incident was not
| uncommon In Washington half q century
ago. 1t may be assumed that nothing was
done about It:
"A fire. doubtless the work OF an in
| cendiary. was discovered in the brick
stable corner of Pennsylvania avenue and
2lst street Saturday night Two valuable
horses were smothered and horses and
carriages injured. the loss being in the
| neighborhood Of $1,000. The occasion was
seized upon by rowdy spirits for another
| OF those diseraceful riots which our citi-
zens, from sad experience. now naturally
expect upon an alarm Of fire.
Although the alarm was given loud and
long. no apparatus appeared and not a
| spoonful of water was thrown. But all
| this time there was busy work not far
on Guns and pistols were firing in rapid
! succession along Pennsylvania avenue, and
rocks and stones few fast and fierce. This
was kept UP for the better part of an
HOuF. w Hist the IRE was DtdZlilS, d iTdu
| came up and walked conspicuously be-
| tween the fire and the crowd. carrying a
| revolver aloft and daring any one to con-
| test his SURPRISING prowess. He marched
| forward and back without interference, and
| left with the remark. Gentlemen, We have
| got your reel. come and take it, We I'M
derstand that the reel Of the Union Fire
| Company was wrested from some men,
| bers who were taking 1t to- the fire and
carried of in another direction. to be
soused into the canal. but some of the
auxiliary guard recaptured and restored
it to its proper guardians.
There Is reason to fear that these oc-
currences will be followed by yet more
riotous and probably bloody consequences.
The temporary triumph of one party only
goads the opposite to increased prepara-
tion and exertion. and from the exaspera-
ton excited terrible events may be ex-
pected."
Homeless men will often do extraordinary
| things for the sake Of relieving their wants,
but rarely does man con-
False fess to a crime he has not
Confession. committed in order to Sc
cure food and lodging.
Such. however. was the case with one who
was picked up on the streets Of Washing
ton fifty years ago. as thus narrated In
The Star of November IS. 1856:
Last night OHlCeTS stewart ana 6OQ-
dard took a drunken man from the street
to the guard house. where he was placed
for safe keeping. He told the officers that
he had killed man In Baltimore and
had thrown his body In the dock; that he
had escaped and had been lying In the
woods for five days and that he came to
this city for the purpose of ending his
existence In the canal. but had changed
his mind and determined to give himself
up. This morning he was recognized as
Robert House. we'll known to the police,
and it appears that his confession was an
ingenious device to get himself accommo-
dated for the night. He was lectured and
sent home to his work"
In explaining that 1t would issue no paper
on Thanksgiving day. The Star the day
before-Noyember 10. 1856
Thanks took occasion thus to re-
giving. mark upon the manner Of
public observance Of the
day set apart by custom and executive
order:
Gradually this Thanksgiving day is
wedding out from among us of the District
of Columbia the legitimate Christian holi-
day (Christmas): for, we remember well
when 1t was the occasion. of all occasions
observed among US as day of universal
thanksgiving should be-as 1t Is not obs
served now, we regret to write.
Tomorrow. while a portion Of this COM
munity are setting a good example by at
tending divine worship-giving thanks in
| the different churches OF Washington-a
much larger proportion will be throwing
away their time and means in various
ways. An astonishing quantity Of execra-
BILE liquor will be guzzled here, perhaps
ten times as much as on any other day in
this year 1855. A multitude of horses will
be over-ridden and over-drfven. While
we realize how easily those who will at
tend the churches tomorrow (and we should
a
child in Washington would do SOY might
participate in the observance Of the day in
that way. we are also very sure that to
thousands around US 1t will be little more
than an occasion for indulgence In dssipa-
ton at the cost of character. health and
| slehderly provided purses"
Il
Edwin Booth was q favorite stage Wis
| itor to Washington back in the late fifties,
his performances here being
Edwin always highly enjoyed by
Booth. large audiences. He played
his first week in this city at
| this time in 1856, his repertoire including
| Richard ILL.," ''Richelieu." Hamlet"
| Merchant Of Venice" 1.-THE Apostate, ;"
.aThe Iron Chest" and Tanning Of the
Shrew." while his bills embraced two
| farces. "A Conjugal Lesson" and Little
ToddIekins." The Star said OF his initial
performance THAT the people OF washington
were convinced that the mantle of the
father had fallen upon the son. $50 young"
| II added. land Of such brilliant promise.
we look forward to the day when he will
reach the most elevated point of his pro-
fession," q prophecy which was fully
verified.
On Saturday night Mr. Booths benefit oc-
CURED. that being the custom of the time,
and the bill consisted Of 1.-The Iron Chest"
founded upon Godwin's novel Of Caleb
| Williams" with Mr. Booth In the role Of
Sir Edward Mortimer, followed by the side
! splitting farce of Little Toddlekins," in
which the actor who later appeared in
none but heavy roles presented John
Jobson Brcwnworth." 1t was announced
| that ION Monday night we have the i'm
mortal Joe Jefferson and the 'Naiad Queen,
with new and magnificent scenery, elab-
crate and intricate machinery. and those
| sixteen lovely girls in beautiful armor."