Evening star., 1919-11-30
FIFTY YEARS AGO IN THE STAR

little war cloud drifted over the
horizon fifty years ago. for time
obscuring the rela-
Threat of War tions between the
With cn;- United states and
SP"u Spain. 1t did not.
however. break into a storm. as a
similar cloud did break twenty mine
years later. II was caused by a re-
fusal OF the United states govern
ment to allow Spain to take away
some gunboats that had been built IN
this country. In The Star of November
2S. 1859. is this item about the matter:
The announced determination Of
the government to hold the Spanish
gunpoats recently built at Mystic.
Conn. has created somewhat of
hurry In diplomatic circles. District
Attorney Pierrepont was here last
week and had a long conference with
the President and Secretary Ssh as
TO what action he should take in the
matte<. the vessels having been conf
pieted and arrived At New York pro-
paratory to being handed over TO ne
spanish authorities. These Consuya-
tons resulted in an order from /the
President and Secretary Fish tV Mr..
Pierrepont to seize and libel thygun-
boats. The Spanish minister uttered
his protest against this action\of our
government and demanded an Smme
date release OF the boats on the
ground that the government had no
right to interfere in the matter, as
these gunboats were not to be used
against Cuba. but were destined for
action against Peru. Secretary Fish.
it is understood, replied TO the effect
that it made no Diligence whether
the boats were to bs/used directly or
indirectly against Cuba or Peru. The
strict observance/of the neutrality
laws compelled he United States TO
prevent their departure, even il the
boats were to be used against Peru,
as, 1T was claimed. like number of
Spanish vessels could be relieved by
Peru and then be used against Cuba
1t is reported that the Spanish min
lister threatens that his government
will assume arwarlike attitude If the
vessels are /held. but the story is
hardly probable"
Fbe practice of making an extra
charge for reserved seats at public
ente r tain
Protest Against Charge ments evok-
for Reserved Seats. af,S sa ',"sess years
ago. though without avail. In The
Star of November 25. 1869, is the fol-
lowing editorial on the subject of this
and other causes of complaint:
In view of the approaching season
OF amusements it seems proper that
few words should be said touching
| the matter of extra charges for re-
served seats. This additional tax has
| always been regarded as an abuse by
| theater and opera goers, one sanction
| ed by usage, we know, but none the
| more defensible on that account; and
| the time is anxiously looked forward
| to when it will be abolished alto
gether. 1t is true that it is worth
| something to the patrons of a place
Of amusement to have seats secured
| to their use in advance. and to know
| that they will be provided for without
| going long in advance of the begin
ming of a performance; but II is
worth much more to the manage
| ment to have the seats all sold.
| whether three or four days before
| hand or when the performance be-
| gins. and the persons who buy seats
| in advance not only contribute di-
. rectly and at once to the pecuniary
insure the management to this ex-
tent against loss; and this. too. solely
| at their own risk-they taking from
the manager all chances of bad
weather. sickness or other causes
which might prevent their attendance
have bought. OF course, the furnish
| ing of reserved seats entails some ex-
pense and trouble upon the manage
ment, but this. it is held, is moro
| than met by the security extended TO
| it in advance against pecuniary fail
| ure. Logically, indeed. the reserved
! seats sold in advance ought to be
| furnished at a lower price than seats
/ sold at the box Office after the doors
! are opened. But this is not claimed
| All that is asked is that people who
underwrite the management, with all
the risks and chances against them
selves, shall not be charged an ad-
| litional price for doing SO, ever
though their own comfort is served
| in case they do not lose their invest
ment In New York, We are glad I"
see, the best theaters take this com.
mon sense view of the matter. and
| have abolished the extra charge
When shall we be able to say as much
lor Washington