Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR


Much OF the matter printed In The papers
hAh century ago wns In the form Of per-
sonal "cards- publlshed by
oufi1ngames participants In public af-
Reiuinder. fairs. The Brc0kn-eumner
and the Brooks Buriin-
game episodes gave rise to considerable
printing Of fhis character. In The Star Of
July "a 1855. was published = column and
half card from Mr. BuritngAms. whom
Representative Brooks OF South CHrosina
challenged to q duel which aid not taae
place. In this Mr.. BurIingame Get forth his
version OF the controversy and INDUCED in
the following language concerning his OPP
ponenf:
'-Of the conduct Of Mr. Brooks In this AZ
fair can scarcely trust myself TO write. !
owe e to truth to say that from what had
on Mr. Sumner / had formed high opfn-
ton OF him. and that act. which l have
property characterized. 3id think must
have been abhorrent to his better nature.
In remembrance Of my opinions of him. and
feeling that through his misconduct / could
still detect traces Of a gallantry which
some day might cause him to condemn as
heartily as others do his assault on Mr..
Sumner. / had larger charity for him
have been blamed for intfmatfng the opin-
ion that. IN spite of that act, he was yet a
brave man. Even az late al in my CONVEX
sation with Gen. Lane. when he stated that
glow Of admiration for him AZ a gallant
foeman, but was wrong. The expressions
of kindness for him. in which. following q
proclivity OF my heart. had INDUCED, were
entirely misplaced. Out OF regard for his
feelings,' inasmuch as he is SO tender Of
mind. will abstain from any further ex-
preston OF my opinion. but leave men Of
honor to determine his position in view Of
his own conduct"
The anniversary of the organization of
the Washington public schools was cele-
brated on the morning Of
Anniversary July IS. 1856. in an appro-
of Schools. pirate manner. The occa-
sion was described in The
Star of that date as follows:
This morning the scholars and teachers
connected with the public schools assembled
at the places designated and after forming
moved In procession to the West Capitol
grounds. where temporary seats had been
arranged for the children and teachers and
a stand erected for the reverend clergy,
speakers and others engaged in the exer-
cises. The addresses were very handsome
and appropriate-not too long, and to be
appreciated by the children as well as by
the older persons. The exercises conclud-
ed with the distribution OF medals, pre-.
miums and diplomas to the pupils by the
President OF the United States, aided by
the mayor OF the city. The latter part OF
the proceedings was particularly interest
ing. 80 soon as the President approached
the front OF the stand ladies, gentlemen and
children commenced to crowd forward to
hear what was said by him. His remarks
to the children who received their rewards
from him were so kindly expressed that the
Ill L., liz 49, u
ones resumed their places almost as much
gratified by his kind words and smile as by
the medals they received. No accident OF
moment occurred to disturb the meeting"
y
The turbulent conditions in California
continued to be a matter OF national con-
Germ, especially in view of
Californian the difficulty OF communica-
Disorders. ton with that disturbed part
of the country. In comment
ing upon the situation The Star in Its issue
of July 30. 1885, summarized the cfrcum-
stances giving rise to the organization of
the vigilance committee:
Twelve hundred homtcides had taken place
in San Francisco within two years. and but
two of the murderers had suffered the pen
atty of the law, both of them being per-
sons too poor to fee counsel or to command
the description of friends who have con-
| tTolfeu the results OF Trials De1Ore the courts
there so greatly to the injury of all the true
interests of society. Ruffians, thieves, black
legs and Swindlers, by means of ballot-box
stuffing. had notoriously filed many of the
offices-state and municipal-with function
aries high and low, owing their election to
the Infamous frauds and violence of such
parties bound together only by common
desire to plumber and riot at the expense of
the honest. peaceable and Industrious por-
ton of the community No.man's life was
safe from the knife or revolver of the
assassin, nor was any mans property safe
from the effects OF the perjuries of the
assassin's comrades-the false swearers In
the witness stand and the packed juries
who invariably turned a deaf ear to the
woes and wrongs of the society outraged
In every possible way in which such men as
the Ned McGowans, Dan Aldricks. Wooley
Kearneys James P. Caseys, Charles Coras
and Yankee Sullivans of the state. with en-
tirely unchecked license, might please to In
f1ict upon It,
X
If the consumption of ice in this city weee
as it was fifty years ago and the supply
were as great as now there
The Use would be no difficulty whatever
of Ice. in meeting the demand and
keeping the price down. 1t has
most recently been estimated that the Dis
trict of Columbia uses an average in sum-
mer of 1900 tons of ice daily, which, IL
maintained through the year, would mean
a total annual consumption of AIS, 900 tons
Making deduction for the difference be-
tween the winter and summer use, ii is prob
able that this community melts for various
purposes close upon 100000 tons of ice each
year. AS against these estimates the Stats
tics contained in the following paragraph
printed in The Star of July 81, 1856 are
suggestive.
'.As Middleton's immense ice wagons go
numbering along our streets. leaving a
Streak of atmospheric GOODNESS in their
wake, who is there of our semi-melied citi-
zens who does not envy the lucky fellow
who had the dispensing of the translucent
luxury at the tail end of the vehicle? Ice
has grown up to be an Indispensable article
of use. and blessed is the man (Tudor, we
beiievel who first invented 1t, or rather
adapted it to everyday use. We see it esti-
mated that the domestic consumption of ice
In the chief cities of the United States
amounts annually: New York. 100000: Phil
adelphia. 100000: Boston. 600e0; Baltimore,
As. 900: New Orleans 10000: St Louis, As
900; Cincinnati. 25o90. Washington, 10000.
Mobile. 1900: Charleston. 1900
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