Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-16
FIFTY YEARS AGO In THE STAR

1t was hoped atty years ago to get a
new pavement for Pennsylvania ave-
nue. that would
Avenue Pavement m Ike tha t
and Development. in an weathers
and would thereby aid in developing
the capitals principal thoroughfare-
The Star of February .. 1869. noting
the lack OF Avenue advancement, thus
put the cause directly upon the pave
ment:
Were Pennsylvania avenue covered
with A well laid wood pavement.
smooth and noiseless. free from dust
and mud. il would be the finest drive
and promenade in the country. IL not
the world. 1t would be filled. especial
ly of an afternoon. with handsome We
hicles that now shun its horrible ruts
and protuberances. Its sidewalks
would at the same time be thronged
with promenaders. Like the Partisan
boulevards, it would be the great
popular open air resort The value OF
property would be increased so per cent
and the amount of business done on IL
would be doubled. it is safe TO say.
almost from the moment such pave
ment was laid. AS n matter of self
interest the property holders should
pa ssage of the bill before Congress
providing for paving Pennsylvania
avenue. The bill divides the expense
between the government and the cor
poration. the railroad company ana
the property holder. Perhaps some or
the property holders still indulge
lingering hope that the government
will pay all the expense OF paving
They9 may as well dismiss il forever
That is the kind of hope deferred that
maketh the heart sick"
In The Star of February II. 1853. is
| an item descriptive Of the manner IN
which a start was OBJ
Erra tanned by a young wom-
an who later became ono
dDDott. of the most famous OF
American vocalists. Emma Abbott:
"At the conclusion of Miss Kelloggs
concert, in Toledo, a neat, modest
young lady of eighteen went onto the
stage after the audience had retired
and requested to see the manager.
Max Strakosch appeared and she ask
ed an engagement. In the presence of
Miss Kellogg and the members of the
company she sang. with piano accom-
paniment, difficult soprano piece, in
which the quality of her voice was
| well tested. Miss Kellogg expressed
| SD
| with the effort, as did the others pres
ent. and the young lady was request
| ed to make further trials The result
proved satisfactory. The young stran-
| ger said her name was Miss Abbott;
| that her parents, who were poor, re-
sided near Milwaukee; that she knew
| she was gifted with an uncommon
voice, and being passionately fond of
| music she had determined upon re-
| ceiving first-cIass instruction. She
! had sung for short time in a church
! in Chicago. and obtaining little
means started from there with the
ultimate hope of reaching New York
city and making herself known to
some professors of music. Mr.. Stra-
! kosch told her that as a travelling
| singer she could make but little ad-
| vancement in the art of music. What
| she first needed was thorough instruc-
| ton under frst-class tutors and that
| he would help to secure for her. BY
invitation Miss Abbott returned to the
Oliver House with the company. and
was provided with money and letters
to prominent musical personages in
| New York"
4
Washington experienced a very mild
| winter fifty years ago, even as at
| present. So Glenn
| Mild Winter and ent was the sea-
Ice Crop slort. fears were ex-
| pressed for the summers ice supply.