Evening star., 1919-05-04
FIFTY YEARS AGO IN THE STAR

Some progress was being made in the
improvement Of the public buildings
and grounds in
Improving the Washington fifty
Public Grounds. ra'S year, ago, snnronr,s Uus % j.
tions available the process was slow
In The Star Of April 2e. 1s---. " an item
telling Of an Improvement under way
south Of the White House. which it was
said would when completed add very
much to the beauty and attractiveness
OF the grounds and afford short but
picturesque road for walking, riding or
driving From the southern terminus
Of 151s street the roadway would sweep
in a semi-circle to 1872 street, the latter
to be opened between the War and Navy
Departments and the Executive Man
sion. The plan was to elevate this new
U-shaped road enough ito afford some
fine views of the Potomac and Airing
ton Heights The old and unsightly
Of the Executive Mansion on the south
was to be removed for a neat iron fence
with a granite base. This plan was
practically identical with the present
arrangement save for the elevation OF
the road, which now is on the general
level.
The after-war reduction of the de-
partments continued fifty years ago,
greatly to the
Reducing the distress of menu
Treasury Force. eminent force
here. In The Star of April 2s, 1869, is
the following:
'The work of reducing the force in
the various bureaus Of the Treasury
Department is still progressing. a small
number being dismissed from some one
of the bureaus each day. About 500
clerks will be dismissed in this way,
but it is announced that no appoint
ments can be made at present to fill
vacancies, it being the desire of the
Secretary to have the force reduced as
low as possible. in order to properly con-
duct the business Of the department
with the least possible expense. 1t is
thought by the first of July all dismiss
sails will have been made"
**
Half a century ago DR. Mary E.
Walker who died recently in her home
in New York state,
Advocates of was familiar in the
streets of Wash
OAeSS ASoioim' ington, attracting
universal attention by her wearing Of
mans apparel and her vigorous ad-
vocacy of dress reform. She organized
the National Dress Reform and Equal
Rights Association. In The Star of
April 80, 1869, is an account Of meet
ing of this body at Union League Hall,
with DR.. Walker in the chair, and DR..
Lydia Sayer Hasbrook acting as secre-
tary. The Stars report says:
'rThese two, with the husband Of the
latter, appeared as the only advocates OF
dress reform present. although the nan
was filed with ladies and gentlemen.
Several benches near the door were
filed with young men. who seemed TO
enjoy the proceedings so much and evl-
denced their appreciation by applause
SO frequently as to become obnoxious to
Dr. Walker and the janitor OF the nall,
who was acting as kind OF sergeant
alarms. DuC WltHOuI ciiC>t. <1ieSi
the reading Of the minutes of the pre-
yious meeting DR.. Walker said that many
speakers who were expected mad not
arrived"
The speech of the evening was
made by Dr. Hasbrook, who said that
no greater compliment could be paid
to her than to call her strong
minded woman. For twelve years
she had worked side by side with
her husband in the printing office and
the editorial room and she had tried