Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-22
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

An embarrassing situation existed at
| the District courts half a century ago
owing to the failure of
Official Congress promptly to
confirm President Blu
chanan's nominee for the
marshalship. In the issue of March II,
1858. The Star said:
ut seems that Kansas engrosses the
attention Of Congress to the exclusion of
all other concerns of a public nature. In
| this District the administration of justice
Is virtually stopped for want of legal Off
GERS. There is no United States officer
who can serve process or execute justice
in any way. The courts of the District
of Columbia and the grand jury have ad-
tourned over from time to time in the
nope and belief that marshal would be
appointed and confirmed. For ourself we
nave nothing to say but praise concerning
the fitness and qualifications of Marshal
Hoover. or of the character and conduct
of any gentleman who was lately an ap-
plicant to succeed him; but after full
and searching inquiry into the claims Of
the various applicants it was the pleasure
OF the president to nominate for that
once his old and steady friend, Col. Sell
den. whose appointment receives the gem
eral appreciation of our fellow-citizens. we
feel assured. that of either of his op-
ponents would have done; and as we are
quite sure. from our personal knowledge
or the colonel. that nothing can be justly
said against him. we respectfully submit
10 the Senate the prOpriety of acting
upon his nomination without delay. The
laws delay is a grievance here just
now"
ization.' fifty years ago, bat efforts to
bring order out of the
Charity chaos Of indscriminate CIV
Ah,,s ing were in evidence. In
The Star of March II, 1858,
is an account of a lecture given at the
Smithsonian the evening be fore by Ed
ward Everett of Boston on "Charity'' in
aid Of the poor of Washington. Mr. Ev-
erett preached the doctrine Of organiza-
ton and system, The Stars report say
ing:
Mr.. Everett then proceeded to urge the
necessity of organized action, especially
In large cities, for the relief of the DOOR
he related several anecdotes illustrative
OF the rascaltty which is often perpetrated
under the cloak of mendacity, One of
these occurred in Philadelphia. where a
Ilttle girl related to a benevolent hearted
lady piteous story of want and woe.
Her father. she said. was sick and the
entlre FAMILY were most mise rably desti-
tute. So we'll did the child play her part
that the lady bestowed a munifcent
largess OF money and victuals and babe
her come again. The invitation was &C
cepted and the child called again. Finally
the Jeremiade of the little mendicant was
changed. The father, she said, had died
and there were no means to bury him.
The purse of the lady again poured out its
contents for relief, but she asked the child
where she lived and promised to call and
assist the Wretched family still more She
did call. and found all VS. as the child
had said but on leaving the house she
accidentally left her purse, and what was
her surprise on returning for it to find
the dead man sitting up in his coffin
counting over the pieces it contained"
Official guests from the orient were
sufficiently rare fifty years ago to attract
general attention in Wash
TURKISH ington. This was the case
Visitor of Mohammed Pacha, who
called here in the course of
business trip to the United States. The
Star Of March II, 1858. has the following
paragraph concerning him:
THE Grand Turk, vino has been an
| nounced as coming has come; arrived last
night, took rooms at the Willard and is
today with his guide taking a look at the
lions of the metropolis. He has a hun
dred and fifty wives at home and his title
Is the Rear Admiral Mohammed Pacha
We suppose our readers know that his
mission to this country is to buy a Yam
kee made frigate for the sultan's navy.
This accounts. we suppose for the fact
that he has a string of New York council
| men hanging to his oriental coat-taiIs
wherever he goes. His suite consists of
Said SULLIVAN Effendi, Capt. Hassan Bey.
Lieut.. Sadi Effendi, c. Oscanyan. inter-
prefer, and J. Hosford Smith, ex-Ottoman
consul. They are accompanied by Alder
man Boole of New York and Councilmen
Cross, Van Tyne and Greene. The visit
ors propose staying from ten to fifteen
days The Turkish flag is flying at Will
lards in honor to the party. At half-past
10 today Mohammed Pacha and his suite
in full oriental dress, paid a visit to
Hon. Lewis Cass, Secretary of State, and
after pleasant interview proceeded to
the Navy Department and from thence to
| the navy yard on a visit of inspection"
In the same column appears this brief
paragraph, indicative of a disposition to
extend the glad hand to the pacha some
what too insinuatingly:>
IAN attempt was made to rob Moham-
med Pacha at Wizards Hotel last night
While the pacha and suit were at dinner
a servant detected thief in the act OF
breaking open large double trunk con-
tanning the jeweled decorations of honor
of the pacha and 5000 in gold The
thief. who it is supposed had followed the
party from New York. effected his escape
but minus the booty
X X
Washington had ample occasion to re-
greet the ease with which certain members
of the neighboring commu-
Baltimore nifty of Baltimore were able
po,7d;.s to reach this city half a
century ago. In The Star
of March 20. 1853, is this news item:
THE Baltimore rowdes who some time
since sWarmed from the parent hive in
Baltimore and have since infested Wash
ington seem to have notion that the
city belongs to them. They take posses s.
sion OF our streets and perform their acts
of rowdyism with a cool self-possession
entirely beyond the cheek of our native
hard cases. On Tuesday a constable from
Baltimore named Ford came to this city
in search of a fugitive from justice named
III. Byrne, charged with rioting Some of
his old acquaintances with whom in his
capacity of law officer he had doubtless