Evening star., 1909-01-24
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

| IN THE STAR
! AS an example of the caution with
which official news was published half
century ago. the fol-
reported lowing paragraph print
| ch,,.. ed in The Star OF Janu-
airy II. 1859, may be
| mentioned. it being borne in mind that
there was no established system of Civ
ing out such items to the press at that
time:
1t is rumored that A. ]. OBannan,
esq. chief clerk of the fourth auditor 8
office, has been nominated to the Senate
for the position of fourth auditor, made
vacant by the decease OF o. A. Dayton.
esq. Another rumor says that 1t Is
Mr. Welsh. the chief clerk of the Navy
Department, who has been nominated to
the vacant authorship. and Is to take
Mr. Heap with him as his chief clerk.
from the Navy Department. while Mr..
O Bannan is to be transferred to the
chief clerkship of the Navy Department.
rumor stated above, though we cannot
vouch for its correctness.
There being. no telephone and no cleo
trio car lines. not even horse car lines,
in Washington at the time the above
paragraph was published, it was with
difficulty that the news gatherers work.
ing in this city We're enabled to get their
gleanings to the offices of publication.
A rumor might circulate around the
White House for several hours before
confirmation of 1t could be secured from
the Capitol.
President Buchanan's recommendation
| looking to the acquisition of Cuba was
the cause Of serious
acquiring debate In Congress and
cuho in The Star of January
II. 1859, is the follow
| ing paragraph on the subject. which in
| dicates the interest with which the mat
ter was being contemplated and the
| caution with which the Senate was pro-
ceeding in the premises:
Ion Saturday the democratic members
| of the: Senate assembled in caucus for
consideration Of the Presidents recon-
mendation concerning the acquisition Of
| Cuba. The sitting was of three or four
| hours duration. and the debate involved
apparently every phase of the question.
The majority expressed themselves ia
vorable to the measure, but there was
| a great deal of difference of opinion as
| to whether move In that direction at
| this time would not. be premature and
| Illustrate the very object sought to be
attained. 1t Is said that Mr.. Douglas
| thought there was no danger that the
| President would act precipitately. He
| was in favor of acquiring Cuba. but pre-
| ferred to wait the occurrence of an event
| similar to the Black Warrior affair and
then seize the island by way of reclama-
| tion This suggestion was not concurred
| in by most of the other senators, and 1t
| ELECTED a very animated debate. The re-
| suit of the consultation was a determine
ton to favor the recommendation of the
President in general terms, but several
| any precise method of action. preferring
| to be left at liberty to examine the sub
| ject more fully"
There seems to have been a disposition
on the part of some members of the
local community fifty
Iheater years ago to criticise
| pra;eed the theater as demor-
| aiizing institution, and
The Star was moved to print the following
commentator of it In the issue of Jan
uary II, 1859:
That the drama, with its studied and
| tested dction, It's elegant costumes, its
artistic scenery, It's thrilling plots. Its
real representations, may be made and Is
! the most impressive mode of conveying
a moral or intoxicating a beautiful senti-
ment no man Of intelligence and candoT
can deny. How many beautiful senti-
ments have been carried home to the
hearts by the impressive eloquence of the
drama! How many brilliant passages
have sparkled9 up from the stage and
lodged forever. In the minds and hearts OF
| the audience! How many dropping
| heart has been aroused to new life and
| courage by the 1nhgnetic influence of dra-
/ l.
poetic quotations that adorn our litera-
! ture and daily conversation, giving re-
| finement to society and Zest to life itself
spring from the stage! We would not
advise youths or adults to get into any
| nveterate habit of attending the theater
every night to the neglect Of the library
and the social circle. but when a truly
moral and instructive performance Is
presented with all the talent, study. prep
aration and paraphernalia of the stand
ard drama, we think that in the way OF
mental improvement and social enjoyment
| time and money can hardly be spent to
better advantage than in witnessing it at
| least for the first time. In fact, much
| time and money is spent even by our very
best people in worse manner than by
patronZng the instructive, amusing
| drama"
In 1850 railroad traffic between the
north and the south was interrupted at
| the Potomac river. in
Trans-Potomac asmuch as the bridge
rr.m, between Washington
| and Virginia carried nc
tracks. Efforts were being made to cor
rect this deficiency and in The Star of
January % of that year is found the
following paragraph:
"A conference was held in this city yes
terday by John w. Garrett, president OF
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad; VIII
| liam Prescott Smith, master of transpor-
tation OF the same great line; John S.
Barbour, president and number of the
directors and Mr. Daingerfield of the
| Orange and Alexandria railroad: John
Fl. Tegmyer and Mr. Coyle. civil engi-
neers, as we'll as other influential gentle
men, including Mayor Berret and Rich
| ard Wallach, esq. Of this city. The OBJ
ject of the meeting was to consult on the
expediency of a direct and permanent
connection of the northern and southern
sections of our country at all seasons by
a union of the two tracks with the best
possible route to meet all the interests OF
| the District of Columbia. Four great
| thoroughfares were under consideration
| The first to obtain permission from