Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-06
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

If manager of public meeting of any
character whatever were to fail nowadays
to make adequate provision
Reporters for the representatives Of
the press he would be rated
AoJeS'eo' as incompetent for a prop
err discharge of his duties. Fifty years
ago. however. it was uncommon for the
newspaper reporters to be considered in
planning such gatherings. In The Star
of August 30 1853 is an extract from an
unnamed Philadelphia paper setting forth
a grievance on this score which The Star
echoed heartily:
"It is matter to be greatly regretted
that so many of those concerned in get
ting up public meetings should have SO
little idea of what they owe to reporters
such meetings read the reports with
eagerness, and if there is the slightest
omission down they come to the office to
have the defect supplied. But they do
not supply chairs and tables. At one
half of all the public assemblages in
Philadelphia, whether political or philan-
thropic. secular or religious, reporters are
obliged to take notes on their knees or hat
tops, perhaps standing, and certainly IN
commoded in a manner which few persons
realize Those who wish to do so may
form some idea of it by undertaking to
write several pages standing up. with a
friend employed to alternately knock up
either elbow. This want Of provision for
the convenience of reporters is just so
much subtracted from the knowledge of
all who read the papers. Any proceedings
supposed to aid the world in any way or
be connected with any deserving aims,
ought to be known to everybody
x X
The country was very greatly Interested
during the summer of 1858 in the fate Of
cargo of slaves captured
CAPTURED by the U. s. brig Dolphin
and landed at Charleston s.
9ia'ei' c. In its issue of August
81, 1858, The Star said regarding this
matter:
1--WE have since learned that the United
States marshal at Charleston, into whose
custody the slaves and the officers and
the crew of the SLAYER except the cap
tain) were delivered, was telegraphed to
remove the slaves from the vessel to
| Fort Sumpter. where they will be al
| lowed to remain for the present. What
| will ultimately be done with these cap
| tives is being the subject of great deal
| of conjecture. Under the law OF 1917
| the President is authorized IN such
cases 10 llDeTdlc TIC Hc6loCS, oPpoiiiN
| agents on the coast of Africa for their
| reception, and remove them thither. The
same law entities the captors of the
| SLAYER to the proceeds of the vessel and
| prize money besides, at the rate of SIS
per head for each negro on board and
provides that the officers and crew of
| the SLAYER shall be delivered to the Gus
| tody of the United States district court
| to be tried according to the law. The
| laws against the expectation of slaves
| from Africa we believe make 1t an ofenSe
| punishable with death and the officers
| and crew of the slave vessel are alike
amenable. The captain of the SLAYER Is
reported to have been detained on board
| the Dolphin, which first ran into Key
West, but subsequently sailed thence to
Boston,"
Although the Atlantic cable had not
been opened to the public, the rejoic-
ings throughout the country
Cable were enthusiastic. BY COM
mon consent the list of Sep
JuplAee' TENDER was set aside on both
sides of the Atlantic to be devoted to
celebrating what The Star described
as "the greatest feat ever yet performed
by mortal man. In the issue OF Sep
| TENDER 9 1858, The Star said, regarding
| the celebration here, WHICH was of a
rather mild character:
business went on as usual; not even
| a popgun was fired in or about the
streets in honor of the triumph OF
| science and art over space. But II the
| citizens generally failed to engage In any
| suitable display upon the occasion, when
| every city, village and hamlet throughout
| the country were engaged In congratu-
| latory festivities, there were not want
ing those among them who partook in
great degree of the public spirit which
so gratifying national triumph shouio
| excite in every breast"
Some of the business houses of Wash
ington did decorate on the occasion, the
| National Hotel displaying the flags OF
all nations across the street, while its
windows were lighted by candles. At the
streets, was an allegorical figure of a
| lion couchant with British flag in his
| claws while opposite was an American
eagle grasping the Stars and Stripes. with
| a dark cord festooned along the field OF
blue between Them representing the ocean
! telegraph. At the clothing store of Wall
& Stephens were not only decorations
but during the evening fireworks were set
| off from the roof. Esputa's band rem
dered music and a glee club sang patri-
otto songs
Southwest Washington, generally known
as 1.-The Island" has for years been
regarded as unfortunately
| Noxious situated with reference to
public improvements Until
ooo1s' very lately the island was
the victim of iAe grade crossing nuisance
| In The Star of September 4, 1853. is a
news article calling attention to what is
characterized as an unparalleled out
rage consisting of the insanitary dis
posal of refuse in the southeastern part
| of the seventh ward, in such a manner
| as to impregnate the atmosphere OF
South Washington with malevolent odors
Our city authorities surely do not
hold the opinion that those who dwell
on the island are of SO little Importance
| as to make their aggrievances and COM
plants unworthy of attention. If so, they
should remember that this aggrievance
already extends it's influence over nearly
one-half of the city, and should an cpl
demic occur not one can pretend to fix
the limits to which it might attain AL
though by the time the polluted air
reaches Pennsylvania avenue the dissent
nation of the obnoxious gases has made
| their presence less perceptible. their In
| fictitious qualities are hardly so reduced
but that they tend to injure the health
to a very considerable degree, even at
that remote distance. But the citizens of