Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-08
FIFTY YEARS Ago
In THE STAR

the well-rounded sentiment, the graceful
compliment were in daily
Chivalric evidence in the intercourse
Of men and women. It was
Oee1"n' the day Of chivalry in
speech. and it is refreshing nov to read
in The Star Of March 2, 1858, the follow
ing account. in part, Of ball given by
the Postmaster General contributed by
one who was plainly devoted admirer
OF the fair sex:
What can be said in detail of SO genial
and so magnificent an array of fair WON
en- and brave men? 1t may well be said
that Washington, in her bright array,
contributed her beauty and her chivalry;
and the pen Of writer needs to have
been dipped In the orient hues of light
and hfs heart bathed in the crimson of
sunset to portray the light and blory of
this happy scene. There was the fail
Entertainer herself. graceful as an Anda-
lusian princess and as polished as
queen, arrayed in snowy whiteness, daz-
zling with diamonds. There she stood.
the cynosure Of all eyes. receiving the
hosts Of friends with an ease that won to
her all hearts and made them all her
own.
Among the guests were representa-
tives Of every distinguished body and
profession. My Lord Napier of the diplo-
matte corps, with the beautiful and in
telligent Miss King Of this city, sauntered
with becoming dignity among their ad-
nirers. The brave Harvey, with tina
charming friend from all the fioridas;
with his lily-like companion of the Lone
Star state. The gallant McMaster Of the
fine arts. with the magnolia maiden OF
the Empire state Of the south. attred
with the tase which ever characerizes
the accomplished Miss Conner; and thus
I could go on, in endless praises Of rep
resentatives in all the professions and
honorable conditions in life. But woman
is the shrine at which We worship. and
there let me lay my Offering"
The Stars correspondent then pro-
ceeds to pay high tribute In glowing
terms and with an amazing ease of ex-
preston in describing costumes. Few
were the adjectives in the language I'm
drafted for service.
Not only were the men of fifty years
ago facile in paying compliments, but
they were amazingly vol
Congressional uble in public speech. In
the same issue Of The
o"'ee Star is the following edi-
torial comment:
IAN observing friend has called our at
tention to the marked difference in. the
popular influence at this time of the
speeches delivered in the House and
Senate-his opinion being that the coun-
try looks to the Senate with absorbing
interest. We agree with him and at
tribute it to the fact that the Senate
legitimately debate the great questions
that agitate the country. while the House
content themselves with the delivery of
abstract essays (under the name Of hour
speeches) upon questions not even nomi
/ l1xvL 1f~
from the published debates of the body,
it is evident that the Senate was never
composed Of ADLER statesmen and more
sagacious men than at present.
THE distant public should not under
stand US as intimating that there is any
lack OF ability on the part Of the present
House to acouit themselves worthily in
actual debate. The fault lies, on the
contrary. In their rules. which permit the
members to discourse during the time
nominally assigned to debate. when in
committee OF the whole. upon any sub
ject but the one officially before them.
The race between them lis apparently as
to who can make most personal capital
in his district. AS 1t is rare to find tho
interests and pre1udices or affections of
any two congressional districts alike, the
consequence Is that most OF the speeches,
however able. delivered in the House In
committee of the whole fall unheeded on
the mind of vast majority Of the peo-
pie, being intended only to affect that of
very small fraction.
1.-THE glazing difference between thu
popular influence of the current discus
sions in the two chambers must In the
end. 1t strikes us. have due weight In
bringing the House to comprehend tn
folly Of continuing in operation their
rule under which a member may discourse
In committee Of the whole upon every
topic. however foreign to that one tina !.
may be formally before that body"
According to the following paragraph
printed in The Star of March 3, 1858, the
public had freer access to
Presidents the White House than at
r,.z present:
ION Saturday afternoon,
from 1 o'clock to 3, the greenhouse at
tached to the executive mansion is open
to the public, privilege which is made
much OF. The visitors having paid their
respects to Miss Lane, at her afternoon
reception. file to the west and to the
greenhouse as Inevitably as on levee
nights (Tuesday) they head easterly.
Then imagine. dear reader, the long
lanes OF flower-spangied verdure in this
magnificent conservatory, chinked in to
the fullest with the beauty Of the me-
tropolis. the nation. the world. draped IN
ty fairly bubbling over with musical ca
nary-bird-like twitter and chatter, nat
urally elected by the surroundings. and
every way in keeping with them-imagine
all this and say II the White House
conservatory is not Well worth seeing
when thus in double blossom on q sunny
Saturday! Very much to your credit, Mr..
John Watt Is this admirably arranged
greenhouse. Miss Lanes acknowledged
good taste has. We may presume, had
something to do with the graceful and
charming ensemble, and Mr.. Blake has,
we know, been indefatigable in making
the house and its collection a creditable
appendage to the executive mansion.
be excused for envying Mr.. Watt his
vocation amid all these beautiful plants
and flowers. and yet we imagine that the
ceaseless vigilance and labor required In
his business would discourage most peo-
pie undertaking 1t. Should the temporal
ture fall suddenly in the night Mr.. Watt
must spring from his bed and hasten to
look after his plants. In many other
occupations what Is not done one day
can be done the next; but not 80 with
him, for q failure to attend to their
wants for a single day would be death to
the flowers and perhaps to the parent
stems. So when others seek rest or pleas
ure we may count upon seeing Mr.. w.
at his post, and. judging by his sunny
countenance and cheerful air. his love for
to follow it, with all it's exactions"
OUR LEAST DESIRABLE CITIZENS.