Evening star., 1919-11-30

notable slump in the organization Of
bodies of militia, as
OrpaniZinp the people of both
,r.,. north and south had
Ao' had enough OF soldier
ing for a time. In few years. how
ever. the tendency to organize reas-
serted itself In The Star OF Novem-
ber %. 1859. is the following editorial
on this matter:
We are glad to notice that many Of
our prominent citizens are moving for
the formation of military organiza-
tions in this city. without regard TO
political or other divisions. 1t is all
very well to laugh at holiday troops
and crack jokes at the expense of the
home guards and target companies.
but the only sure defense of a free
state against foreign or domestic foes
is its citizen soldiers. This is one of
the lessons taught us by the wars in
which we have been engaged. from
the revolution down TO the late re-
bellion. and another is that the most
patriotic and able bodied men are
worthless for military operations un-
til they have acquired knowledge OF
the tactics and then by proper train
ing transformed from a mob into an
army Much precious time. vast
amount of money and many valuable
lives might have been saved to the
nation in the late struggle il We could
have sent into the field trained COM
panies instead of raw militia and
awkward volunteers. who didn't know
one end Of the musket from the other
and had to be taught the manual OF
arms in the face Of the enemy.
The martial spirit of our people
was surfeited in the late war and the
reaction which ensued at he\close of
the struggle was fatal to the Forma-
ton OF volunteer companies tp play
soldier. Now. however revival
seems to be taking place and ma<,y-ef
those who took part in the contest,
and many young men grown up since
are working together to form mill
tary companies. and in New York
philadelphia and other cities they
have we'll drilled organizations"
TX
In the amusement advertisement
columns of The Star during the week
of November 22-27
Hermann, the 1859. is notice that
r: at Metzerott Hall
"saeo"' would appear Herr
mann, the Great Prestidigitateur
whose remarkable performance at the
Academy Of Music, New York, drew
the largest and most fashionable
audiences ever assembled in that
| building" 1t was further announced
! that in Herrmann's performance no
appliance of mechanism or assistance
of paraphernalia of any kind" was
used.
Thus was introduced to a Wash
ington audience a man who for many
years thereafter was known through
out the United States for his mysti-
flying tricks Of legerdemain, whose
skill surpassed that of any of his
cotemporaries and who remained
| virtually until his death the leading
! magician" on the American stage
! In later years Hermann did use me-
chanical appliances-in fact, devel-
oping them to a very high degree
of battling efficiency.
Inc SIdT VI A%oNCthUCL low, iS
a news note stating that the evening
before a select company had assem-
bled at the residence of the Argentine
| minister. by invitation OF Nine. Garcia
| to witness a private exhibition OF
Herrmann's skill. 1t was stated that
in addition to the members Of the
| diplomatic corps. Miss Nellie Grant
and Master Grant were present as
the guests of Miss Ella and Master
Garcia The paragraph continues:
Before the arrival Of Hermann,
| who had been entertained by tine
same hosts in Buenos Aires and else
where, Nine. Garcia and others en-
tertained the company with fine mu-
SIG and singing. The performances
of Hermann were wonderful and in
expIicable, of course, and afforded
much amusement to the company.
Much praise was accorded Master
Grant for his persistency in refusing
! to be deceived and his efforts at de-
| lection were ingenious, but without
| result"