Evening star., 1909-05-09
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

The Marine Band concerts in the White
House grounds have become institutional.
Half q century ago they fur
Public nished great entertainment
ooncert to the people. as the follow
ing paragraph in Tho Star OF
May s. 1859. indicates:
1.-THE seasons free concerts in the pub
lie grounds Of the federal metropolis
commenced yesterday afternoon (Wednes-
day. in those south OF the Presidents
mansion-a charming resort for all we'll
behaved people who desire to inhale for
an hour or two the odor Of blooming
grass. shrubs. flowers and foliage. The
President OF the United States graced the
scene by his presence and conversed free
ly with members present Of both sexes
The crowd attending was at least as
large as ever before. The Marine Band
played fine selections of their choicest
pieces. and all were delighted with their
execution. When they played waltxes
or other dances hundreds OF happy chill
dren instantly went to capering, some
OF them forming regular sets, upon the
rich green turf, while the multitude of
colored nurses OF all ages catching the
inspiration. danced as enthusiastically as
their young charges. These scenes
formed very interesting features In the
constantly varying picture"
the Smithsonian was by no means SO
large an institution half century ago
as 1t is. today. regard
smithsonian less Of the National Mu-
Institution scum. which has mean
while been established in
connection with It., but 1t was neverthe-
less a center Of great scientific interest.
In The Star of May 5. 1852 is this item
regarding 1t:
Under the judicious management OF
Prof: Henry and his coadjutor, Prof.
Baird. the Smithsonian is growing more
many interesting additions have been
made to the collections in the museum
and galleries. now SO inviting to the Wis
ltors and to the students resident In the
District. We noticed this morning that
the work Of arranging cases of very
beautiful specimens Of fossils collected in
Nebraska Is going on. The cases now
preparing are but the beginning Of the
arrangement OF the extensive collections
OF Evans and DR.. d. D. Owen. The de-
partment Of the museum in which Prof.
Henry has employed Mr.. C. Drexler. the
sktllful taxidermist, is also gaining at
tractive specimens. Among those recent
ly prepared and now ready for arrange
grizzly bear. from the vicinity Of Fort
Laramie. Tho professors are interested
In the procurement OF the most perfect
collection possible Of American birds, and
to their preparation. Pairs Of wild and
tame turkeys. pair Of snowy owls. q
specimen OF the golden eagle, q pair Of
paid eagles and number OF hawks from
the western territories have been pre-
pared by him within a short time"
+
ton In 1889 Know Nothingism was still
factor and the elements
n1otous opposed were determined
Meetinp to gain the upper hand
in the local elections. In
The Star of May 6, 1852 is long ac-
count of a meeting Of fourth ward demo-
Gratis called to name municipal candi-
dates. After much confusion tellers were
appointed and the balloting began. The
pressure upon them became SO great that
they were almost forced or their feet,
and one of them exclaimed in protest.
The Stars account continues:
Immediately upon this "a cry was
raised: There's Doc Donohoo stuffing
the ballot box! Mr.. Donohoo. who was
standing In the vicinity of the box (aat)
and Immediately In the rear Of the tellers.
denied I the charge. Mr. Kane. secretary
saw you do 1t!
Mr.. Phillips "a teller) announced that
he, too. had seen the hand of some per-
son passing tickets surreptitiously Into
the box. Yells Of Turn him out! Turn
him out! A rush was made for the
point where the tellers were stationed.
In the shaking OF lambs tail Mr..
Donohoo was off the table and the table
was OF its legs. A general scrimmage
tending parties kicked. scratched, bit
and pummeled each other with vicious
enough intent, but not much execution,
owing to the limited space at command
police We're seen struggling their way
through the belligerents to get at the
leaders, the tall form and long arms OF
Capt. Goddard being conspicuous in the
melee. Very soon a movement toward
the door Indicated that q capture had
been made. and the chief Of police was
seen escorting Mr.. Benjamin Beveridee
from the room, from whence he was
taken to the guardhouse and detained for
a season."
X y
The national political pot was bubblins
briskly. heated by the steadily rising
flames Of sectional bitter
Nat1onaI ness. The south was keenly
;po1i+;cs watching the course Of
events in the north. where
there was queer mixture OF sentiment
ranging from straight-out abolitionisrn to
pro-slavery symp athy for the states be-
low the Mason and Dixon line. Seward
was the most prominent and promising
republican aspirant for the presidency,
but there were forces of antagonis4n to
him which menaced his success In con-
vention. In The Star OF May Z, 1859. is
an editorial touching thus upon the situa-
ton:
1T IL worthy OF note that the weight
OF the New York Tribune Is about to be
thrown into the scale against Senator
Stewards aspirations for the republican
party nomination. This is evident from
the admission into it's columns Of In
genious arguments from the pens OF cor
respondents against the policy OF nomi-
mating that gentleman. Nevertheless, we
do not entertain the slightest idea that
he ts to be thus overslaughed. He can
control the action of the republican party
In national convention and is determined
to be a candidate. His real friends are
we'll aware that the idea of concealing
their principles by the nomination OF
some southern gentleman willing to act
for them in administering the govern
ment on those principles Is futile, and
are satisfied that Mr.. Seward can carry
more electoral votes than any candidate
thus to be used as a blind can possibly
carry. So they will risk nothing what
ever to propitiate the Silver Greys of