Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-10
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

LIN luz OlAU
Half century ago residents of japan
were objects of curiosity to Americans.
and all Corners from the
Interesting mikado's realm were atten-
lively studied. In The Star
S'A"nse1' of November 2, 1857, Is an
article which, in the light Of recent
events. is highly significant of the changes
wrought by the years:
Senator Gwin brought with him from
California, on his last journey hither, the
japanese youth. Heeo. who has for some
years past attracted no little of the at
tention of persons of education ana en-
larged sympathtes in that quarter. Inc
truth Is there dn California; the growing
of our commercial intercourse
with Japan is more generally compre-
hended than on the Atlantic side. whence
nearly all intercourse with that quarter
of the world must be through our "a,
ctfic coast settlements and commercial
establishments The fact that young Heco,
being remarkably we'll educated tor ms
age in studies such as are taught youth
in his own land, rapidly became very
proficient in reading. writing and con-
versing in the English language. and In
deed thoroughly Americanixed. INDUCED the
general belief among those knowing him
III GStIl TdITSiSCo thdt bC may ~ eA'A.o
prove of great value to this government
future in connection with Japan. Hence
the evident public interest in him here.
Heco had romantic history. In 1901
he, with sixteen other japanese, was
picked up at sea by the bark Auckland
and taken to San Francisco. The Japa-
nese had gone out in junk and suffering
shipwreck had driftsd over a thousand
miles. Heco was then about twelve years
old. He was taken by the collector of the
81 ha Ina
United States was opening negotiations
with Japan he came to Washington,
where he remained for some months, be-
ing introduced to President Pierce and
other ofic.als. Senator Gwin engaged
him in 1857 as his private secretary.
i 4
The demand for faster mail service was
widespread in 1857 business men In all
sections conceiving that
Faster they were not getting the
full benefit Of improve
"As' ments in transportation.
In The Star Of November 4, 1857 is an
editorial on this point:
THE so-long-sought Encouragement OF
the schedule Of connections and running
time for the transportation OF the great
southern and southwestern mails from this
city went into operation today. For nve
years past the Post Office Department is
said to have been endeavoring to effect
this object by which sixteen hours are
gained between Washington and Memphis.
fourteen hours between Washington ana
Nashville, twelve hours between Charles
ton and Nashville and a proportionate saw
ing on the direct route between Washing
ton and New Orleans. The difficulty has
been for the most part in harmonizing the
running Of eleven railroad companies
whose respective roads are necessarily en-
ployed. Now all has at length been mar
moniously settled and the public are to
reap the advantages of the five years
anxious efforts Of the department. In
these days time Is emphatically money In
all business transactions. and In thus saw
ing the travelling and corresponding pub
lie interested SO much time as is econo-
mixed by the new schedule the Postmaster
General has conferred very substantial
benefit indeed on the country at large.
May his many pending efforts OF the same
sort for other regions result as happily.
The money furry had by no means en-
tirely subsided half g. century ago. there
still being an embarrass-
Financial ing shortage Of currency.
Indeed, the conditions
were In some respects not
unlike those now prevailing. Says The
Star Of November 5. 1857:
1.-The New York Herald of a late date
shows that the banks of that city In
creased their amount of specie on hand.
throughout the month of October, about
eight and a half millions of dollars. In
GLIDING certificates Of deposit received by
the Persia to the amount of over a million.
which are as good as specie in all business
transactions and more convenient In form.
The total amount Of specie sent out of the
country in the course Of the month In not
more than two or three hundred thousand
dollars. At the very lowest calculation we
may safely set down the net increase In
specie in the New York city banks in the
month at VI 10000 The amount Of pro-
duce that found It's way to that city
must also have Increased the available
resources Of the banks by more than a
million. BY the LIST of December we pre-
sumo that the New York banks will have
at least SIS, 600 900 than on the LIST of
October.
ment among them looking to the re-
sumption Of specie payments. Banks
are afflicted with a chronic dsinclina-
ton to do that thing in such times. The
existing Legal provisions In that state Sc
cure New York bank noteholders in real
izing par, past peradventure. The ex-
perience Of current times will doubtless
have the effect Of inducing such a move
ment on the part Of the people at large
as will end in legal provisions making
every bank stookholder liable for all the
transactions of the bank That's the an
tidote for the disease, and that only"
Washington was suffering from an out
break of iawlessness at this time fifty
years ago. the peace officers
Pistol being either Indifferent to
or helpless before the reign
Tfaceace. of crime. In The Star of
November 6, 1857 is a news paragraph
typical of the trend OF affairs:
yesterday evening several hack drivers
and runners, both white and colored, were
assembled on the steamboat wharf when
they got skylarking and all began to move
up toward Thomas Hotel in body, run
ming after each other. A colored driver
named Charles Bruce called out to a white
man named John Crook, who had drawn
a revolver and was swapping 1t at some of
the crowd, to shoot, and accordingly Crook
fired, discharging two shots, at random
apparently. One Of tho balls. however.
slightly wounded q man named Samuel H.
Donaldson standing on the hotel porch,
striking him in the groin. Donaldson ex-
claimed to Crook to be more careful how
peated might cost him dear. Crook made
reply that he cared nothing what it cost
and would shoot again when he chose to.
and putting up his pistol walked of un-
molested."