Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

XXv L ILL NX xXxN
There was no such establishment as
an official weather bureau half a CEN
fury ago but forerunner
Weather of the daily weather map
Map. sn,ith.orlan n,hera mo.
teorology was studied along with other
scientific subjects. In The Star Of March
IA, 1859. is a paragraph describing 1t:
I'VE notice at the Smithsonian Institu-
ton a meteorological map of the United
States. got up under direction Of Prof
Henry. which is changed every morning
1T 10 o'clock. on receipt of the Geographic
reports Of the weather from different Sec
tons of the country. by pasting colored
scraps OF paper. representing the state
heard from. By looking at this map q
.elson can see at q glance the state Of
The weather in the different parts OF the
country. The professor has In his private
office another large may OF the United
States. upon Which he posts. as 1t were.
the daily observations Of the weather. so
as to enable him to study the movements
of the storms of the continent and FORM
if practicable, somewhat Of a permanent
meteorological calendar for the country.
In The Star Of March 49,. 1850. is a
paragraph calling attention to a curious
phenomenon which had
Spider attracted general notice
VII. on the part of those trav-
cling by road north from
the city. It was in part as follows:
ION Sunday last the fields in the vicin-
R1aHan0hrlY0 nYnChntG0 a
appearance. glancing in the setting sun
like seas Of silver in restless, perpetual
movement. The phenomenon extended
everywhere. all objects, trees. fences. even
ploughed ground, being completely woven
over with exceedingly delicate spider web.
The earth has often been visited by hos
tile swarms Of insects. but Is not this the
first instance Of the occurrence on e large
more mosquitoes? Is the stock of the
new cylinder fly machine to fall beyond
redemption? Let the entomologists ex-
anime the spider in question and tell us
first whether he will bite. and secondly II
he'll grow any bigger.
'Since writing the above we have been
informed by Prof 8. Of Washington
that the phenomenon is common at Buen-
os Aires under the name OF gossamer.
The spider, lying on its back. kicks out
clouds OF this gossamer. which floats
through the air, covering everything with
it's silver sheen
The theatrical season usually languished
In Washington In the old days as soon
as Congress adjourned,
Matilda but the management OF
IT, the Washington Theater
A0n' undertook in the spring
Of 1859 to demonstrate that the permanent
population could support q playhouse. An
engagement by Matilda Heron. then rated
as one Of the greatest tragic actresses
in the world, was opened with the play
Camille" OF this performance The Star
Of March Is. 1859, said:
One Of the most effective performances
of the year took place at the theater
last evening. Matilda Heron's version of
Camille. while 1t possesses all the modesty
and delicacy Of other versions. is the
only natural and satisfactory one extant.
While witnessing her performance the
audience forget that they are in a theater
and find themselves intensely sympathiz-
ing In the apparently real scene before
Richard ILL., Matilda Heron is in
Camille;' 1t is her piece. and nobody
else has any business to undertake to per-
form it,
y
SoAS1SSS having ADJOURNED without
passing the post Office appropriation bill,
that department was left
Extra without funds. and the
s..,,.~ President was confronted
with the possible necessity
of calling back the houses in extra ses-
sion. The Star Of March Is. 1859, contains
the following item on the subject:
THE extra session question kept the
cabinet together, 1t Is understood, from
am. until pm. yesterday. 1t 10 fur
Their understood that no definite conclu-
sion resulted from the days discussion Of
the question. If the proposed extra Sos
sion is to be ordered, the fact must be
made pubic by proclamation as early a.
Sunday morning next. as if delayed beyond
that period. it will he impossible to get
the intelligence Of the fact to the Pacific
side in time to have the California and
Oregon congressional elections take place
soon enough to make 1t certain that those
to be chosen In them may reach here by
the fourth Monday In August the period
at which Congress will proba,oly convene
II meeting before the first Monday In De-
cember next.
Our impression Is that the upshot Of
the current investigation of all the facts
bearing on the necessity for an extra ses-
sion OF Congress by the principal officers
OF the government has so far not incl ned
the President to abandon his opinion Of
the necessity for such a measure The
fact that it is a matter Of very great I'M
portance in various ways is evidently why
the final determination Of the question IS
being put Off until the last moment in
which the announcement may be made L..
time to go out by the next mail to the Pa
cifc side. We believe the President has
determined to call the extra session."
The street crossings Of this city were
far from convenient and clean half a
century ago. The citi-
Muddy zens Of Washington. how
n ever, were beginning to
SioesAeo demand better conditions,
as witness the following paragraph from
The Star Of March 10, 1850:
"A victim writes to US inquiring why
the street crossings, more especially those
on 7th street north, are constructed be-
low the grade of the street. After pass
ing the. crossing at F street north, he
says. there is scarcely q crossing from
the patent Office to N street which Is not
from three inches to one foot below the
surrounding mud: and whenever 1t rains
steadily for couple OF hours the sof.
mud collects on those crossings to the
Il