Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-26
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN The STAR

community. OCCASIONALLY,
however, he was the victim OF others. In
The Star of July 10, 1858, is the following
paragraph:
Yesterday Officers Norwood and Han
dy arrested VIM Bruder. who was charg-
ed with the larceny of a necktie and cigar
case, the property of Beau Hickman. and
S from Mr.. Brandner. He was taken to
the guardhouse and sent to jan by justice
Dom. Beau doubtless detests this
manner of ringing In. especially
when practiced upon himself. He
has been able to work along very well by
his wits ringing in only where the opera
ton is agreeable. But this was forci-
BILE entry upon his wardrobe. which was
not intended to give currency to any one
but himself. This act was sufficient to
| arouse Beau's ire, hence the offender may
expect mo quarter from him.
| In The Star of July 10, 1858. was
printed a paragraph that must at the
time have given consid-
| River cradle anxiety to the
Mvsterv parents of the small boys
of Washington who were
| addicted to the habit Of swimming in
| the river. 1t read:
Yesterday an old gentleman named
Joy found suit Of boys clothing on
| the Sycamore beach Of the Potomac.
| exciting the suspicion that some lac
had gone in to battle the night be
fore and was drowned. as the time OF
the discovery was o'clock am. 1t is
such a suit as would answer for lad OF
twelve or fourteen years of age Ihe
articles may be seen by inquiring at the
residence of Officer BeitZell 18th street
| near Maryland avenue"
In The Star of July % appears para
graph which doubtless set at rest the
| apprehensions of parents whose children
were then missing:
I'VE mentioned day or two since
the discovery Of a suit of clothing on
| the Sycamore beach, which led to the
apprehension that some lad had been
| drowned. Yesterday. we are happy te
| learn, young man called upon officer
Bethel and Informed him that his lit
tie brother had gone there to battle. but
a man drove him off without his clothes
Some boys made him up suit to GO
home in. The officer wishes it understood
| that the man who drove the lad ava!
had no authority for doing So"
1t has been a good many years since
medals were distributed among the
public>school children of
school Washington. In 1858
Medals however. the annual dis
| tribution Of medals and
| other premiums was an event of great
| local Importance. In The Star of July
| 20 is this paragraph:
During the present week the chief
subject Of interest to large portion of
our citizens will be the distribution to
the children of the public schools of the
medals. premiums, etc, awarded them.
This distribution commences today at
the Smithsonian Institution. with the
scholars in the fourth district. The
medals are given to only one scholar in
each school who is supposed to excel all
the others. They are of silver gotten up
! In really recherche style and are in
deed handsome presents. They are from
the silverware. manufactory of Mr..
Samuel Lewis. and each medal Is en-
graved by Mr. Phipps with an inscrip-
ton denoting wherefor and to whom 1t
is awarded. The premiums consist of
valuable books, regulated in size and
cost by the age and merits Of the re-
| cfpients, many of them are very costly
| While some of the children Of Washing
ton are thus earning medals and premiums
| for their good behavior at
DAD school. others were in sad
Rows need of moral training
Star is a paragraph which tells of some
bad little boys who probably never quail
| flied for school honors:
I'VE have frequently called attention ia
gangs of little fellows of ages varying
from eight to fourteen years who lofter
about the stores and markets of the city
seeking opportunities to pilfer any small
articles which they can conveniently con-
ceal. 1t is painful to see these little fellows
training for the gallows or the states pris
on Some of them have parents, but their
| appearance indicates anything but parent.
al care The filthy appearance of their
clothing their blOated faces and their dirty
profanity when assembled in public places
| rather prove that they live in the sewers
and feed on rum cherries. Sometimes lit
| tie squads of them are caught In unlawful
acts and sent to the prisons. But impris-
onment has no tendency to their reforma-
ton. 1t has rather contrary effect.
Cannot some means be invented to reclaim
those little sinners and reverse their train
ing?''
A practical effort was being made fifty
years ago to reorganize the District citizen
NJ, soldiery on practical
C1t1zen basis. In The Star of the
Soldierv. 2lst of July. 1853. is a
news item indicating that
little progress was being effected:
The meeting at the assembly rooms
last night was thinly attended and utter
ly failed to produce an impression favor
| able to reorganization of the District
militia. The Light Infantry and National
GUARDS were we'll represented and various
proposals were made as to WAYS and
means. which were not received with
much warmth by the audience. Addresses
were made by Capts. TAFT and Davis,
Lieut.. Lloyd and others. 1t was proposed
that such of the audience present as felt
disposed should come forward and enroll
themselves as members off new reei
ment. but there was no response II was
then proposed to endeavor to get I'm a suf
hcient number of signers to form two
companies of the infantry and two of the
guards, to uniform alike and parade as a
battalion. thus forming a nucleus around
which to bring about an organization
worthy of the metropolis of the country.
rms project 1alied to produce a favorable
sensation and left but one impression on
the minds. Of those who had the ma tier
most deeply at heart-that of utter fail
ure on the part of the citizens to second
any movement for the Improvement Of
the military organization of the District
When our regiment parades the citizens
dertde and utter harsh words about the
apparent lack Of military ardor among the
people. When these same individuals are
this state of military apathy they haven't
time to play soldier?' When they are
asked to put their hands in their pockets
for the support of a military they COM
plain OF the beggariy spirit that pervades
the military