Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

XXv I'LL M XXAN
Political excitement ran high in Wash
ington at this time fifty years ago,
the rival parties conduct
Election ing a fierce campaign for
the mayoralty. In The
onace' Star Of May II, 1858. is
the following appeal to the public for
fair play at the elections:
I'VE need hardly remind The Stars
readers of the necessity Of the services of
a proper special police at the approach
ing municipal election. The existence
of organized clubs or bands of fighting
men among us-persons who assume to
control election by the divine right of
boot-heels and brickbats-is as we'll
known to the police as to hundreds of
our fellow citizens. At each succeed
ing election for four years past expert
ence has demonstrated the crying neces-
sity for other provisions to preserve the
peace and protect all alike in their rights
of citizenship than have been brought
on such occasions into play. The judges
of the election have been admirably Sc
lected-every man of them a well known
citizen. each having substantial stake in
society and enjoying the confidence OF
the community. While we are very sure
that they will all perform their severa!
duties to the satisfaction of all good and
patriotic citizens. We are also very sure
that they all realize the import ance OF
surrounding all the polls with display
of police force sufficient to deter the
viciously inclined from interfering with
the rights of any citizen. In this extra
force. it strikes us. there should be en-
braced a large array of citizens of ma
ture age. who have fairly earned the re-
spect and esteem of this community
none being too high in position to serve
on such an occasion as that Of rescuing
the reputation of our city from the re-
suits of the inefficiency of its police at
election times for some years past
Washington has not always prided it
self upon its spick and span neatness.
Half century ago it was
dogs at dirty enough to have
rar-. earned a reputation quite
of a contrary sort. Not
only were its streets in many places mere
mud holes, but they were thoroughfares
for beasts as we'll as men. Notwfth
standing a rigid law occasionally given
stiff enforcement. cows and pigs made
free of the thoroughfares in manner
to attract the attention of visitors from
abroad But even Neutrality-suspicious. were
occasionally upset by the presence of
these creatures in the streets. the
following paragraph in The Star of May
20, 1853, shows:
Last night as a group of gentlemen
were conversing at the corner of 9TH
street and Judiciary Square a large dog
started herd Of swine that were wal
lowing near. 1t was too dark to see the
animals. but it was evident they were
approaching the group rapidly. The gen.
,yht hn1 civ he. hn0
a clear track, and started to run. but
unfortunately took the wrong direction
and one Of them, a corpulent person, COM
ing in contact with a large hog. took
he fell and by rapid evolution reached
a place of safety. After recovering from
their surprise and CONSERVATION they had
a hearty laugh and separated with hope
that such an Enclosure would be placed
around the square as would keep the
swine out.
The hotel equipment of Washington
half a century ago was not much to boast
about, as compared with
Hotel that of the present time,
but it served its purpose
IqoAPAAen@ sufficiently as the follow
ing editorial printed in The Star of May
q, 1855 indicates:
1T is clear to us that among the most
arrant humbugs of the times is the story
Of the probable construction Of an i'm
mense new family hotel in this city. We
think so because in these times 1t would
be next to impossible to raise the quarter
of million necessary to inaugurate the
enterprise: while it is exceedingly prob
lematical whether 1t can be made to pay
/ per centum. The truth is. Washington
is much better supplied with large and
good hotels than any other city In the
world of its siZe-much better 1t Is
fashionable TO rail at the hotels of Wash
ington. because when crowds of strang-
ers, numbering thousands, more than con-
gregate in any other city of 10000 popu-
laton. rush hither suddenly accommoda-
tiOns in all respects as good as might be
obtained in New York are not to be had
for them. Nevertheless, we question
riously whether. take them all In all.
four more agreeable hotels are to be found
anywhere than Wizards, the National.
Browns and kirkWoods. each of which
has distinctive points Of excellence that
please the taste of particular guests,
though neither of them is as elaborate
ly conducted as hotels always sure of
entertaining guests by the thousand. We
really know no houses elsewhere designed
to entertain the number of guests they
are prepared. respectively, to receive.
that. take them all In all, are equal of
them"
The discussion over the proper emplace-
ment of the Grant monument is not the
first debate of the sort
Washington that has occurred in
Washington by any
means. Conflicting opin-
ions as to the merits OF statue sites have
been entertained ever since the process
of embellishing the National capital of
the effigieS of the great was started. In
The Star of May 20, 1858, is the following
relative to a discussion of this sort then
in progress:
I'VE hear that Mr.. Clark Mills has
temporarily suspended the work on the
equestrian statue of Washington ordered
Of him by the government. The cause OF
this suspension is said to be the uncer-
talnty about its eventual location. There
are points connected with it that cannot
be finally determined on until after il
shall be definitely known precisely where
and how II is to be placed We hear
further that earnest competition concern
ing its location Is going on. principally
among parties interested in real estate
near where they seek to have ii placed.
Thus the circle on Pennsylvania avenue.
near Georgetown. has it's advocates. So
also has Franklin square and the Armory
square on the Island. Some of the resi-
dents and property holders in the neigh
borhood of Greenoughs bathing tub
statue of Washington, in the east Capito!
do l.1 to-, Al.