Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-28
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR

Americans were a bit more sensitive to
criticism by Englshmen half q century ago
than they have been OF late
1'nBiasn years. Charles Dickens and
Critic. other British tourists gave
serious offense to the people
Of this country by their descriptions OF
western manners. OF this class of critics
was the unnamed writer Of the following
extract from an article in a new periodi-
cal called "Colburn's." entitled "A Glimpse
at Uncle Sam Managing Affairs"
'The Americans seem to have an uncon-
0uerable propensity to kick up their heels
not behind. but before. I have gone into
the reading room. Of the Young Mems
Christian Association on the avenue and
found. Of four men reading. three with
their feet on the table and the fourth
baking his in the oven OF the stove. On
more than one occasion. while sitting in
the galleries Of Congress. have received
poke at the back of my head. and turn
ing round have discovered In close rasx-
unity. not anybody's elbow or hat. but q
pair of boots with feet In them. resting on
the back Of my seat on an elevation with
the chair OF the owner. But more dis
agreeable thing than that il the chewing
the galleries are saturated and the stair
case walls filthy discolored with tobacco
Juice In the streets. when the snow was
on the ground. it looked as II people had
been walking all over the city with leaky
cans Of molasses."
In reply to this The Star Of October 20.
1855. said:
"Of course. our Cockney tourist was
tobacco chewers. We are no defenders Of
the filthy habit Of tobacco chewing and
splitting. but If there be anything more
disgusting manner of using the weed than
of smoking 1t in dirty. black pipes, we have
no disposition to behold it. What sort Of
additional unpleasantness they would con-
tinue to make to its use were not tobacco.
upon it, we can exercise the Yankee privi-
lege Of guessing"
Georgetown had boom fifty years ago
which the older inhabitants fondly remem-
Der. There was a good
Boom In deal doing west of Rock
GEORGETOWN. creek and some of the
jewellers dreamed dreams
of metropolitan development there rival
ing that of Washington, then separate
city. In The Star of October 20. 1856, is
the following bit of Georgetown CORE
spondence" descriptive Of the lively times
over there:
can unusual amount Of life and activity
Is everywhere visible along our wharves
and Water street at this time. We have
rarely, If ever. seen such large quantities
Of merchandise coming in any previous
fall as there Is this. Everywhere, from
the aqueduct to the eastern terminus of the
wharves. all is life and activity. Coal
companies. millers, merchants of every
class. both flour. groceries, lumber and
wood, the coopers. carts and drays all ap-
pear busy. Such thing as an Idle in
dividual among either Of the above classes
or vehicle Of any kind is hard to find. 1t is
gratifying, too. to see that business houses
Of almost every description in this local
ity have considerably increased during the
last few years. and the cry Is still they
come. In few days more we are to have
opened by two of our enterprising young
citizens another wholesale grocery and COM
mission house on a pretty extensive scale
These are certainly encouraging signs OF
returning prosperity. Yet, we lack one
thing, not only to increase. but to enable
us to hold on to what we have. The con-
struction of our railroad and the deepen
ing Of our channel are actually indispen-
sable. and the sooner we as a community
resolve to make vigorous and determined
effort to secure the benefits which would
certainly result from these improvements
the better 1t will be for u.s.
X
The barbecue has almost passed as an
American political institution. Few Wash
ingtonians have participated
OId-T1me in the delights of extremely
Politics. rare beef served smoking hot
to the accompaniment of ar
guments to persuade them to vote for this
candidate or to spurn the other. The fol-
lowing news paragraph embodying pro-
gram of a great democratic rally to be
held at Laurel, Md, printed in The Star
of October %, 1856. will perhaps revive
some recollections Of the strenuous cam
paign Of that significant year:
There was regular old-fashioned Jack
Sonan meeting at democratic headquar-
tiers last night, called for the purpose of
perfecting the arrangements, on the part
Of the democracy of the District and vi
entity, for attending the grand mass meet
ing and barbecue to be held at Laurel Fac
tory, Md. on Thursday next. The finest
spirit prevailed. and the true democratic
fire blazed out as of yorei A special train
of cars to accommodate 1000 persons has
been chartered for the occasion and will
leave the depot at $50 o'clock on the morn
ing, returning about in the evening.
Withers' celebrated brass band has been
engaged. and a renowned baby-waker' will
accompany the party, to mingle Its thun.
dering voice with the exultant shouts of
the democracy The unterrided will as
semble at democratic headquarters on the
morning Of Thursday and proceed, with
music and banners, to the railroad depot.
Every arrangement has been made to in
sure one of the most imposing demonstra-
lions ever made on the honored soil of Old
Maryland; and as the members Of the Jack
son Democratic Association have entered
into the matter with proper zeal. no such
words as fail or .hzzle can be written
down about it,
SIR THOMAS.