Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-06
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

treat half century ago in the visit of
the Strakosch operatic
Musical singers, who, at Philhar-
r. monic Hall, gave two
brilliant musical festi-
walls In anticipation of this event The
Star on November %. 1853. said:
splendid program is announced by
NJ Strakosch for the opening concert of
the Grand italian Opera Company which
comes off on Thursday night at Philhar-
monte Hall. Such combination of first
class musical talent as will be presented
on That occasion it is seldom the good
fortune of Washington to entertain, but
the success with which really good per-
formers are invariably received in the
federal metropolis has determined the
management to meet the patrons of music
here in an unusually liberal spirit and
give them the worth Of their money and
something handsome over on each night
Just think. of Nine. Wilhorst. Mile.
Parodi. Nine. Colson and Nine. Stra-
kosch appearing in their best pieces on
the same evening! Besides these. to
there are Messrs. Amodio, the great
Count De Luna of verdrs "rrovatore'
Brignoli. the favorite tenor. and Barilf
and Labocetti. who not long since ac-
Quilted themselves in most artistic
manner before a critical audience at the
theater in Lucia di LammermoOr"
The tickets to this feast of music were
only 81 each, with 80 cents extra for re-
served seats.
:: ..
Half century ago the county" Of
Washington was sparsely settled and
generally neglected by
County the authorities. In The
r. Star of December I, 1853.
is printed q plea for a
ponce station in that part OF the District.
In view of the rapid increase of the
depredatlons Of thieves. rowdies and out
laws OF various descriptions, in the coun-
ty of Washington. outside of the city
hints and in order to put stop to the
prevalence and increase of crime, COM
mitted mostly by scapegraces from the
city. who, to avoid the close watch kept
upon them by our municipal authorities
. oe.ake themselves to the unprotected
territory. where they are a constant ter
ror to the peaceful inhabitants not con-
ming themselves to thefts and robberies
upon FARMS but often carrying their ras-
caifties to the extent of burglary, and.
not infrequently, to assaults upon the
persons of those who endeavor to pro-
tect their homes and f1resides from de-
spoi1ation by these graceiess individuals-
II has become matter for serious con-
temptation for the country folks whether
regulations, must depend upon their own
resources for defense. or continue to be
the victims of these despoilers. without
redress or satisfaction. We see no way
TO remedy this crying evil unless the
matter be taken i'm hand by the authority
which supervises the affairs of the coun-
ty. the levy court. This body at present
has no power over the police affairs of
the county but this power might be
readily obtained by application to Con
gress. Surprising Congress were to con-
fer upon the levy court power to draft
a penal code for the county, to appoint
police magistrate and two police Off
GERS, said officers having the same pow
erS TO make arrests for county offenSes
as those of the city, and said police mag
istrate having power to dispose of all
cases brought before him except high
crimes against the United States? Such
nothing of the extent to which a great
evil might thus be eradicated."
In The Stars report of the proceedings
of the common council, printed in the is
sue of December ., 1858,
Sunday is an interesting reference
Co., 10 the debate on a bill to
prevent the carrying OF
arms on the Sabbath day by imposing a
penalty of so for each offense. Council
man Powell looked upon the bill as an
attempt to abridge the rights OF the
people. being unable to see what author
1ty the council had to pass q law pro-
through the streets on the Sabbath In
reply to Mr. Powell MIR. Wallace said that
the bill was not designed to abridge
any rights. but to protect citizens. He
i to the fact that persons take
their guns on the Sabbath day and go
INTO the surrounding country and commit
Expectations on peoples farms; and in
one instance they had even gone so far
as to shoot gentleman for trying to
drive them from his farm, for which the
offenders were now suffering the penalty
of the law. 1t was Mr.. Wallaces opin-
ION that II the proposed law had been IN
existence that affair might have been
prevented. Councilman Mulloy testified
with guns strapped to their backs pass
ing through the streets of the city on
their way to the country, "often In no
amiable condition. Mr.. Lloyd objected
that by this law traveller entering the
city on Sabbath with gun as part
of his baggage would be liable gentle
man wishing to take his gun and start
to the country on Sabbath might be
seized by an officer and made to pay a
fine. person might take his gun to
this law he would be liable to fine OF
$50. He therefore moved to amend by
rendering the law inapplicable ito per-
sons carrying arms when prompted there
to by necessity" This motion was lost.
There was some filibustering but eventu
ally the bill was passed substantially in
its original form.
There was no regularly appointed
chaplain Of the House of Representatives,
fifty years ago, 1t being
Prayers for the custom then for the
1 Speaker of the House to
ooAsAo so designate local ciergymen
to open the sessions of that body with
prayer on certain days In The Star of
December 4. 1888. Is a list of the clergy
men thus selected from the opening OF
Congress on December & up to the 18th
of January. There being no adjournment
for Christmas holidays, save over the
25th of December. this period evidently
exhausted the supply. The clergymen
were assigned alphabetically. Among the
clergymen thus drafted by the United
States were Rev. b. r. Bittinger and
Rev. j. G.. Butler. both of whom are now
living. OF those who have passed away
Rev. p. D. Gurley was assigned to De-
cember % and Rev. c. c. Meador to
January g. Rev. Dr. Byron Sunderland
was assigned to open the session of Janu-
airy II.
THE AGREEMENT With JAPAN.