Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07
FIFTY YEARS Ago
IN THE STAR

AAy u IA - ~ n AAAU
The President Of the United States
travelled about the country less in the mid
die Of the past century
PRESIDENTIAL than he does now. and with
"Guards" fewer precautions against
annoyance and possible
harm. When he left Washington the occa-
sion was marked. as a rule. by unusual In
cidents. In The Star Of September %. 1885,
is the following paragraph. which sug-
gests that the people Of this country were
somewhat sensitive to the suggestion that
the White House was putting on a military
aspect:
a Geographic dispatch in the Baltimore
papers says: The President will leave
here (Washington) on Tuesday morning for
New Hampshire. His mounted guard will
escort him from the White House. etc.
This Is the first time we have heard
that the President has mounted guard!
Fortunately. such period In our history
has not arrived. and we trust will never
come. The error in the announcement
arises from the fact that there Is q dragon
corps christened by themselves The Presi-
dents Mounted Guard. and they have de-
clined to change the name. although Col.
Hickey. the commander Of the regiment
gested to them the propriety of SO doing.
The President has no more to do with these
Mounted Guards than he has with the
German Yeagers, or any other volunteer
dents Mounted Guard is merely COM
plimentary to the executive office.
The only guard created for the protec-
ton Of President is the Auxiliary Guard
Tyler (who was insulted by a gang Of in
considerate persons for his political con-
duct. Senator Crittenden. as the debates
will show, opposed the organization, look
ing upon 1t as the germ of a praetorian
band, to be strengthened in time to come
and threatening the overthrow OF our liber-
ties! But the business Of the guard Is
waite property. and. relatively, to arrest dis
orderly persons and take them to the watch
~
Washington boosted Of musician half
century ago who was not only skilled as a
devotee Of Orpheus. but was
Musical noted for his physical cour-
Hercules. age and prowess. as the fol-
lowing paragraph in The
Star Of October 1 amply shows:
LAS Mr.. w. Henry Palmer, the eminent
pianist, was quietly returning from his
business late last evening, crossing F and
10th streets, two cowardly scoundrels set a
large, HeTCe UOS upon MN. AS the DedSt
flew at him. Mr.. Palmer, with great dex-
terity and presence Of mind, caught the dog
by the mouth, one hand in the upper and
the other in the lower jaw. and in mo-
ment literally tore the lower jaw out of it's
socket. Then turning upon the scoundrels,
who were preparing to attack him. Mr..
Palmer struck the nearest a left-hander
in the face. and a valuable diamond ring
catching in the 1esh. cut the fellows cheek
open from his eye to his chin. The other
ruffian had seen enough and bolted, but
Mr. Palmer was the swifter runner, and
in less time than it takes to write it he
was caught and received as sound thrash
Ing as he could well get. We are glad to
learn that Mr.. Palmer was not injured"
The magnitude Of the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition today is growth Of many years.
In 1856 it was but a small
Smithsonian establishment as the fol-
Institution. lowing statement in the
news columns Of The Star
of October l. that year, indicates:
ut appears from the tenth annual re-
port (of the secretary that commodious
room has been fitted up with the necessary
appliances for original researches. A young
chemist who has spent three years in Ger
many has now the use of the laboratory
which may be required. For the facilities
afforded him he is to keep the apparatus
In working order and to make such exam
nations of specimens as may not require
much labor.
Though the statement may excite sur
prise. vet the secretary, on the authority
of Professor Baird. corroborated by the
opinion of others well qualified to Judge,
states that no collection of animals in the
United States nor indeed in the world, can
even now pretend to rival the richness Of
the museum Of the Smithsonian In speci-
mems which tend to illustrate the natural
history of the continent Of North America"
In these days of swift land Transporter
ton and the general decadence of canals
as means Of good con-
G. and O.. = .veyance over sections suit
Canal. able for railroading. the
following paragraph in
The Star of October 4, 1855. is suggestive
Of the immense development of the country
in recent years:
1.-THE Chesapeake and Ohio canal-as Is
but too well known to the stockholders
has for many years yielded little. If any
thing, over and above the sum necessary to
keep 1t in repair. Notwithstanding the adj
vantages available to make 1t q profitable
source Of revenue. To say nothing Of the
coal mines: agriculture. by means of that
ways find good and ready market, while
1t serves to connect the west with the
shipping on the Atlantic. The improve
Ineut OF UHe fOtOmdc river suggested by
General Washington was designed to effect
q transit now more effectually furnished
by the canal Energy, tact and economy,
however. are necessary to place 1t in such
a condition as to fully answer the great
purposes designed; and hence we are graft
fled to learn that 1t is the purpose Of the
board to put every part and point of the
work into first rate order for the opening
Of navigation in the spring"
NEW YORK POLITICS.