Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

The outdoor church services which
have been held this summer in Wash
ington are by no means
Outdoor the first of that class Of
s.--x;,.. religious exercises In
The Star of September
20. 1853 is a news item telling as fol-
lows of such an enterprise:
The much -talkcd-o outdoor meet
ings were commenced yesterday under
the direction of the Young Mems Chris
ton Association in various parts of the
city. The object, as explained bv an
officer of the association, is to induce
those who seldom, hear the gospel
preached in the churches to place them
selves under gospel influence by attend
ing religious meetings at the various
churches. The meetings were held at
the following points:
"B street, Capitol Hill-Minister. Rev.
Mr.. Greer Baptist Church. We have
not heard from this meeting.
Seventh ward, near the southern ex-
tremity of eth street-Ministcr, Rev.
John r. Nichols, Methodist Protestant
Church. The attendance at this point
was quite numerous the audience con-
sisting principally of the Industrious
workingmen residing in that distant
section of the city.
Northern section. rear of Northern
Liberties engine house. A very large
audience, good order and the indica-
tons very favorable. Rev. DR.. r. Swent-
Eel of the Methodist Protestant Church,
9th street. preached at this meeting.
First ward. near Morgans wharf
Minister Rev. DR.. Teasdale, Baptist
Church, 18th street.
The reports from the eastern and
western meetings had not been received
by the president of the association
when this paper went to press, but our
sections and the popularity of Rev.
Messrs. Greer and Teasdale justify the
assumption that the meetings in those
sections were as favorable s those in
the other sections"
Edwin Booth was succeeded at the
Washington theater by Mr.. and Mrs.
w. ]. Florence. then
Mr.. and mrs. among the most popular
r,.~.,.. comedians of the Ameri-
can stage. They played
here for week. appearing in all the
items Of their extensive repertoire. In
The Star of September 81, 1858, is the
following notice of their initial per-
Torrance:
MT. and Mrs. Florence were greeted
last night by full audience. the lower
portion of the auditorium being quite
crowded and the dress circle occupied
by brilliant array of fashion and in
telligence. The two young favorites
received fiattering welcomes, that aC-
corded to Mrs. Florence being espe-
cially warm and long continued. Both
Mr.. and Mrs. Florence evidenced in
their agreeable presentations marked
improvement since their last visit to
our city three years ago. The former
rendered the effective character of Tim
O'Brien in John Brougham's excellent
play, Temptation with much effect.
and an admirable blending of pathos
and humor; and in the afterpiecc, "A
Lesson for Husbands Mrs. Florence as
Sumed five or six characters of as many
Municipalities, interspersed with a num-
Der of songs and dances. with protea n
celebrity and an ease and abandon of
style which evoked storms of applause.
Tonight this gifted couple appear in
two pieces. entitled Brian O'Lynn' and
'Mischievous Annie"
Some Of the social clubs of Washington
half century ago gave themselves odd
names. The advertising
Broken columns of The Star were
we'll filed with announce
ments of their entertain
ments. For instance. In the issue of Sep
TENDER %, 1853, are announcements by
the Awkward Club and also the Broken
hearted Club. OF the latter organization
the following explanation appears in the
news columns of the same issue:
The ladies of the Navy Yard engage
tonight in most philanthropic work A
number of estimable gentlemen have
fallen victims to the bright eyes whose
chances have for a long time made East
man to venture in without his wife The
victims have increased rapidly, and as
they refuse to bury their sorrow or tn en-
selves beneath the llmpid Anacostia. but
band together after the old saw that
misery loves company the ladies have
determined to try and effect a cure upon
the homeopathic principle that like cures
like. The broken hearted will be taken
in charge at Odd Fellows Hall, Navy
Yard. and Schroeders music will assist
the benevolent ladies. Amid dance and
merriment the physicians will apply the
healing art. If quadrlle does not cure,
an application of maZourka will ertainly
effect restoration. The polka is a spe-
while others yield rapidly to the seductive
influence of the schottische. On the most
inveterate a new French remedy, Les
Lanciers," will be tried. The GONZALES
cen. onIH WIN pe aioMed 10 participate
in the Virginia reel The ladies are de-
termined to make sure work and II any
remain over uncured the physicians Will
take the affected heart and give another
in exchange. Patients will be received
from any portion of the city or George
town
The unfortunate negroes who were
taken with the Echo into the mort of
Charleston, S. c., were ac-
Returning tually deported to Africa.
S,,r.s In The Star of September
"a, 1858. is paragraph
telling of the departure of the Africans.
The Navy Department received today
dispatches from Capt. John S. Chauncey
of the L. S. steam frigate Niagara, which
vessel is employed to carry back the slave