Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

historical bred Scott case was argued be-
fore the Supreme Court of
bred Scott the United States Upon the
cara decision In that case hung
weighty issue. 1t has been
declared by historians that
tho bred Scott decision by the Supreme
Court was one OF the vital turning points
In the American national development In
The Star of February IL. 1856, appears the
following paragraph relative to the opening
of the arguments In this proceeding:
1.-THE public of Washington do not seem
to be aware that one of the most important
cases ever brought up for adjudication by
the Supreme Court is now being tried be-
fore that august tribuna1-No 6I, Drea
OredD Scott. plaintiff in error. VS.. John A.
Sanford: Mr. Montgomery Blair for the
plaintiff in error, and the Hon. Messrs
Geyer and Reverdy Johnson for the de-
PENDANT In error, The points particular in
issue are: First, the right of citizens of
slave-owning states to carry their slaves
into nom slave-hoiding states for temporary
sojourn there, without the loss of their
right of property in such slaves: and next
the constitutionality of the Missouri com
promise as involved in the question of the
right of Congress to legislate with refer
ence to slavery in the United States ter
rltories. Messrs. Geyer and Johnson are
expected to argue the case today Their
respective efforts cannot fail to prove rich
intellectual treats.
The weather in this vicinity was particu-
larly bad at this time fifty years ago, 81
bad as to evoke the following
Indignant heartfelt burst of protest from
pro+as+ The Star on the Nth of Feb
ruary, 1856:
ITO the Clerk of the Weather
Sir: You're nuisance! Week after week
We have endured toerable patiently the
evil resulting from your notorious malad-
mlnistration in the hopes that you We're on
a temporary spree and that all would be
right in a day two. But things get
worse and worse. Your assortment OF
Weathers must be terribly mixed up We are
getting the bundles that ought to go t.
Nova Zembia, or the Lord knows where
You are sending iceberss to Florida, snow
storms to Georgia and balmy skies to Lab
razor You are constant to nothing-the
studied malignity of the coolest, sleetiest
and rawest of days is followed by treach-
erous lull-the sun shines warmly and the
south wind blows, until We have fairly
thrown aside overcoats and wrappingS, and
then, presto change! We have a blow and
a storm of snow, with cebergs on the side
walk, and treacherous well-hoes in the
cutters. and what sort of dispense ton there
Is to be served out next there Is no calcu-
iaGng an hour in advance. You are clearly
and our city authorities ought to haul you
up instanter for NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS."
This protest evidently voiced the popular
feeling in regard to the treatment of Wash
ington by the elements half
4ce-bouno century ago. The following
Streets. paragraph in The Star-of
February Is, 1885, described
the effects on the streets of the capital of
the successive SHOWS, freezes and thaws
then experienced;
1.-The streets are in as bad a condition as
possible. With the single exception of the
sunny side of Pennsylvania avenue, we do
not know of single sidewalk in passable
condition, and if any evidence were want
ing of this it Is to be found In the fact
that the middle of the street is used in
preference by all sorts and conditions of
pedestrians. Sad enough is the condition of
carts, carriages and horses, and hard is the
swearing of those who drive them. In all
parts Of the city the cutters are uncut and
are buried in mounds of Ice and snow. Those
portions of the sidewalks free from ice and
snow are devoted by the boys to skating
and sliding, watch. of course, does not at
all lessen the danger of walking TO those
who have occasion to use the sidewalks for
that purpose. In many places the roadway
is some yards above the level of the pave
ment. and when general thaw does come
the latter Will De QeiuSeu. 10 dQQ TO tIlS
there will be the drip and thaw from the
roofs of buildings now encountered with Ice
and snow. We presume that greater efforts
would have been made on the part of citf-
Zens to clear pavements, cutters and roofs,
but for the discouraging changeableness
of the weather which, by its fickleness I'M
does the labor of days. In Boston the city
authorities, Immediately after the late snow,
expended $4,000 in blowing the streets so
as to break up the ice and snow and equal
tze the surface for travelling purposes
In The Star of February 16, 1886, the fol-
lowing account is given of an historic relic
now jealousy preserved in
Washington's this city in memory of the
Iavel first President:
I'VE have just seen a most
interesting article. being nothing less than
the Masonic gavel used by General George
Washington in laying the corner stone of the
United States Capitol. This was originally.
a plain marble gavel, but a gold cap has
lately been fitted to it by Mr.. S. Lewis.
Those who understand the technical difficult
ties attending such a job will appreciate
the Workmanlike and artistic manner in
which it Is executed and also the beauty
of the lettering of the inscription, which
was engraved by Mr.. d. o. Hare, and is as