Evening star., 1909-05-16
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR

Genuine stump discussion. or political
"joint debating" has gone out Of fashion
In this country, and It Is
Stump refreshment Of the
memory Of customs that
'o' have passed to encounter
such items as the following in The Star
Of May 10. 1850:
"On the day after tomorrow. commenc-
for Congress in the seventh district Of
dria in the courthouse in that city. The
near nightfall. On the succeeding day
(Friday) Mr.. Goggin. the opposition candi-
date for governor. Is also expected to
speak there. and Is to be replied to by
Mr.. Montague, the democratic candidate
for lieutenant governor. In the absence
Of Mr.. John Letcher, now too i'll to par
ticipate in the canvass. Both these gen.
tiemen are regarded as among the Rblest
political orators In the state, while the
three congressional candidates are hard
to beat In that line. There are thousands
OF intelligent persons here who never
heard Virginia stump discussion. than
which no other peculiar American insti-
tuition Is more Interesting to one not IA
miliar with it,
u
Tho Assembly Rooms" says The Star
OF May II. 1850, were thronged last
night with bright and
May happy concourse Of the
Ball. fair and the gallant. the
young and tho light
hearted. The ceremonies Of the evening
were conducted in q style that reminded
many parent present Of the May balls
OF the olden time, when every Washing
tonian was wont to anticipate with glee
the annual advent Of Carusi's festival.
About $50 the grand march of the pupils
pegan, headed by two young marshals in
highland costume. After series of
may evolutions that might have bewil-
dered pupils less skillfully trained. the
Queen Of May. Miss Ella Murray Har-
ris, daughter OF the Hon. w. A. Harris
OF Missouri. a bright-eyed girl. who
shone conspicuously amid the galaxy of
ioveliness around her, gracefully as
cended the throne and took her seat.
ney. a little girl Of five years old, then
approached the queen with measured
tread and the ceremony of coronation was
performed by Miss Susan Braughner. the
principal maid Of honor. who addressed
her youthful majesty as follows:
Behold. dear maid. your subjects bring
"A wreath OF flowers most rare,
Ett tribute of tho early spring
To one 30 young and fair.
!" We culled them in youths Joyous houru
When all was bright and gay,
And nd bring them fresh from natures bowers
10 crown the Queen Of May
When the white wreath had been
placed over her raven tresses the queen
said:
:" 'Dearer to me these simple flowers
Than any tribute wealth can bringi
Happier far these joyous hours
Than e'er were known to royal kingi
Ger such fair subjects / am proud to reign
In love and Kindness a. your May-day Queen
THE fancy dances were then begun,
during which the throne was radiant with
clusters OF bright faces and gay dresses,
while the queen, who throughout the
evening wore the floral diadem with a
staid dignity. surprising In one of her
years. formed the worthy center of the
charming tableau- At the conclusion of
the fancy DANCES the floor was thrown
open to the company, and sets Of the
Quadrille and les lanciers were formed
with q spirit which nobody knows as well
how to infuse among his guests as Ca
rusi."