Evening star., 1909-08-22
FIFTY YEARS Ago
IN The STAR

ago, though possibly there
| Geor1etown Is no particular improve
ment in this respect In
NaasaAce' that length Of time, save
perhaps In the matter especially men
Etioned in the following paragraph OF The
Star Of August 16, 1850:
I'VE have several times observed boys
and others engaged in species OF sport
about our market during market hours
which Is certainly very wrong, II not dan
| gerous. We mean the daily practice OF
throwing pieces OF meat. watermelon rind,
rotten fruit, ETC.. at certain classes OF
passersby We know from experience as
we'll as observation that It Is not very
beneficial to clean clothing or decent
hat. nor agreeable to ones feelings. to be
clouted alongside Of the head or on the
back with one of these articles. Some of
, the ladies who visit the market are conf
laining loudly Of the offense. We hope.
therefore, that those who have been guilty
of 1t heretofore will have better manners
the dangerous offense again. Moreover. It
Is in violation OF the law, the penalty OF
| which is q fine of $5.''
| The Maryland Agricultural College was
a new institution fifty years ago. and
there was great interest
Agricultural in it. In The Star of Au-
r.,, gust II. 1859. is news
item outlining the pro-
posed course Of education there:
This institution is located nine miles
from this city. near the railroad to Balti-
more. We learn that accommodations
have been provided for 200 students. The
farm in its general management is to be
made an example of the best modes or
culture in the several departments or ag-
riculture. 1t will be stocked with tn the
| best breeds OF cattle, sheep. hogs. etc.
and the most approved tools. A portion
of the faculty have. already been ap-
| pointed, and the vacant professorsnips
will be filled by the trustees at their
meeting In September. The INSTITUTION
will be opened for he reception OF stu
dents on the first Wednesday OF October,
when it will be formally dedicated. After
| this year the collegiate year will De dl-
ing on the first Wednesday of September
| and ending the first "Wednesday OF
| March, and the second commencing on
| the first Wednesday of March ana ending
on the last Friday Of July. prepara-
| tory department being attached to the
| college. all students above the age OF
| twelve years will be admitted on produc-
| ing evidence of good moral character and
| upon complying with other requirements.
| The entire charge per annum to each
| pupil for board, tuition, lodging, washing,
| fuel and lights will be $25000."
| &x
| Half a century ago SO many different
kinds of laws were in force In the Dis
trict of Columbia and SO
Local many interpretations were put
| upon them that 1t was not at
Laws. all easy for residents to know
when they were complying with the re-
quirements and when they were In viola
| ton In The Star of August 1S. 1889, is
| a news paragraph as follows:
There appears to be a vast difference
| in the construction put on various munic-
| ipal laws by different persons ana an er-
| roneous impression frequently results IN
heavy costs to individuals who are unin-
| territorial offenders. The amending, re-
pealing and re-enacting OF laws since the
| publication Of Sheahan's Digest have mys-
titled the laws to such an extent that even
our legislators find difficulty IN placing
their hands upon the operative acts. An
instance occurred in the present -councii
when the police committee reported an act
repeating part of an act relating to geese
running at large. After the resolution
was adoptgd they discovered they had re-
| pealed q law not In existence and had to
reconsider their action In order to reach
| the existing law. The laws relating 70
nonresident colored persons are not fair-
| ly understood, nor are those relating 10
such as make this place their permanent
residence Indeed. there seems to be
general feeling that the city laws require
| q thorough digest, with view to their
| publication in such shape that the public
NAV really know what they are.
Tho streets of washington were in pref
ty bad shape half a century ago, even
the best Of them being
Ninth far removed from 'ne
present scale of the poor
Street. er streets. Ninth street
the point Of being graded and put into
passable condition. as a paragraph in
The Star of August 1S, 1889. discloses:
1.-The ong-talked-of Improvement of 9th
| street from Pennsylvania avenue to F
street was commenced this morning La
borers were at work taking up the gut
ters and preparing for excavation. In Or
der to make the grade. the cutting at the
highest points will be over five feet,
which will create a. necessity for consid-
erable alteration Of the 9th street front
of property on the line of the work
4
Yesterday man named Crown" says
The Star of August 20, 1859, ''in a mo-
ment of mental derange-
Lofty ment rang the large bell
at the Capitol extension,
Perch. ,,.,,.,, c,,saa :, ,,or,, .ua.
den suspension of work by the hands,
who supposed It done TO call in their as
sstance I'm some matter requiring their
aid He was iectured and released. but
the lecture was OF no effect Last night
by some means he got into the building
and went to the top Of the Senate dome.
over which he crawled to the large der
rick, and. climbing to the beam. walked to
the extreme end and there took his seat.
icarelessly poised at that Dizzy height, over
| lCO feet from tine ground. He was no
| ticed about | O'Clock this morning sit
| ting at the end OF the beam. whistling
tune unconcernediy. quite unmindful that
| a sudden flaw Of wind might dash him
| to pieces OH the stones below. He was
taken from his bad eminence' and proper
| ly secured, to be restored to his friends"
PlNCH0T- -BALLINCER ROW.
From the Indianapolis Star.