Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

Ah0ao UcAu8 HO ISSUE VI 1HC otd1 Soiy
the news account of how that day was
| spent did not appear until
Quiet the Monday following. July
r,,,4h 6, In which Is found this
statement Of the case:
ut being currently rumored and expected
that much Of disorder and drunkenness and
consequent violations of law would be seen
In the city on the night Of the Sd and on
the 4th, the marshal. captain OF the auxil-
larry guard and chief of police made ar
rangements to enforce the laws, and paruc-
ular attention was given to those VINO.
without taking part directly, are supposed
to be encOuragers of riot and disorder. me
little ones were allowed to fire their tin
cannons, flrecrackerS and devil chaSefs,
without being disturbed, except to prevent
frightening horses or doing damage. Sew
eral who were discharging large and more
dangerous implements were arrested and
the weapons taken away from them. On
the n ght of the Sd false alarm Of fire
was created and some the firemen were
out but the interference Of the guards In
duced them to return to their engine houses
without any trouble other than display
of a disposition to have a little rumpus.
Early on the morning of the 4th another
alarm was created by brilliant light in the
northern part of the city. which was caused
by bonfire. During the night a large
crowd of persons assembled in the vicinity
of the city Jail and their disposition ap-
peared to be riotous: but when they found
that the number Of guards had been In
creased and properly prepared the crowd
dispersed and went to their homes. The
keepers of taverns and restaurants gener-
ally closed their bars at an cary hour on
the morning OF the 4th and did not again
open during the day. There was probably
less of riot and disorder on the 4th than
has occurred in Washington for years past"
Half century ago the sectional feeling
that rapidly approaching the climax
of civil war produced some
Mail issues that, viewed now in
the light of events, were
absurdly triding. At the
time however, they were regarded as of
great Importance. One Of these related to
the letting Of the California overland mall
contract, for which Congress had made ap-
preparation. A controversy arose to the
proper starting point and the best route.
Many northerners insisted that the route
should follow a line running approximately
due west from st. Louis The administra-
ton. however. chose Memphis as the east
ern terminal, and the route was laid down
about ) degrees of latitude to the south OF
that favored by northern critics Of the
government. In The Star of July 10. 1887.
is discussion of the case, written from the
administration point of view and setting
forth the advantages OF the southern over
the northern route. The Star says:
Congress directed the government to
open an overland route to the Pacific. The
choice was necessarily between two OF
nearly equal length. one passing over the
mountains of 1900 feet greater elevation
than the other and impossible for three
months Of the year on account OF the rlgor
of it's climate; the other being located
from end to end in region with genial
a climate as Is to be found on the CONT
nent In all other respects-as to wood.
water, grass etc.-they offered nearly equal
o6t 70 nj
from all parts of the country at large, and
to make this last contingency certain pro-
vision has been made for the divergence
of the route at Little Rock to st. Louis.
for the accommodation of those Of the
north who may more conveniently go
through Missouri than Tennessee
The public schools were kept open later in
1857 than nowadays In The Star of July
10, 1857, is the following COM
Schools mant on the local SCHOOLS:
1,. The current examinations
of these institutions reflect
great credit on all concerned in them anu
show that they bid fair to do much for
the future Of our community. The system
has improved as fast and satisfactorily
in the federal metropolis of late years as
in any other city of the United States. AS
now conducted. our public schools afford as
many primary advantages of education as
are to be found in any others of the Union.
Gradually they are becoming to be. as they
should. the pride Of Washington's popu-
lation and to enlist in bahalf of their i'm
provement the minds Of AL endowed with
commemorate public spirit. public high
school for the education of those scholars
who most distinguish themselves in the pri-
mary schools is greatly needed Washing
ton is able to sustain one for both sexes
as handsomely as any other city OF its
population in the world, and it is a just
reproach that we have remained without
one up to this time.
1t was nineteen years later, however.
when the first high school was established.
mar School for Girls" In 1877 a similar
school for boys was started. The two
were merged in $780, and in 1882 occupied
the o street building now known as the
Central High School. There are at present
seven high schools in the District.
In The Star Of July 10. 1857. is the fol-
lowing letter from correspondent signing
himself Jonathan" which
Yankee may possibly cause some
Mall. readers to wonder whether
the present version Of yam
kee Doodle is absolutely correct:
Yankee Doodle is a great institution.
1t belongs to the universal Yankee ma
ton 1t has been whistled by schoolboys,
sung by milkmaids and played upon fife
and drum every training day and Fourth
of July time immemorial. By long usage
it has become stereotyped In the memories
and hearts of the American people. Woe
to the ruthless hand that would alter a
single note! Alter Yankee Doodle? Talk
of altering the Declaration Of Independ-
ence or the Fourth of July. but let that
good old tune remain.
Having heard the Marine Band on sew
eral occas ons attempt to play Yankee Doc
die. and invariably play several notes Of
the last strain wrong, the writer thought
he would respectfully suggest to the tai
ented professor who conducts the perform
ances of the band the propriety Of giving
the public in future good unsophisticated
old-fashioned Yankee Doodle. Do, Prof
Scala, give the genuine article!"
MAR Talk