Evening star., 1926-01-03

Christmastime so years ago was an
occasion Of noisy celebration, with the
firing Of pistols and
christmas fireworks and other
Nu;sance clamorous devices for
"uA'oi0o. raising a din. Protest
was made against this practice, how
ever, as noted in The Star Of Decem-
Der 81, 1875:
1T Is a fair question for our au-
thorities to consider how far the COM
fort of whole community and the
health, II not the lives of invalids. are
to be sacrificed in order that gangs of
vicious or unruly boys may be undis.
turbed in the observance OF holiday
after their own Internal fashion.
Aside from the incongruity Of making
hideous with horns the anniversary
of the birthday of the Savior of man
kind, the din of Friday evening and
Saturday was so hideous and pervad-
ing as to amount to a nuisance OF
first-class proportion and TO provoke
general inquiry why the disturbers
were not arrested and punished. Tn
der their ordinary power to prevent
nuisances and preserve the peace of
the city. the police certainly have au-
thority, If they are SO disposed, to
break up all such practices. and that
they made no effort to do SO Is, to say
the least, not much to the credit Of
that body. If want Of authority be
pleaded, then it is time the laws were
changed. A police organization that
will not or cannot prevent nulSances
and breaches Of the peace, as we'll as
arrests for nuiSanceS and breaches
already committed, is of very little
service"
Rivalries over the authorship Of
popular poems have been numerous
in the course Of the years.
PoeCc Half a century ago one
p;r.,. developed over a verse
niFoAo' that Is now practically
forgotten, as noted in The Star of De
cember 81, 1875:
who wrote the little poem en-
titled "A Name In the Sand beginning
AIsns pssry Sahee shs xss sse in s
I stopped and wrote upon the sand
| Ny name. the year. the date.
"Our impression always was that 1,
was written by Miss Hannah +. Gould
and we are still of that opinion; but
we find it included in volume OF the
poems Of George D. Prentice, just
issued, edited by Mr.. John ]. Piatt.
We suppose the editor had sufficient
| reasons for claiming it as the work OF
Mr., Prentice, but If so, 1t Is curious
J that the little fugitive should have
| gone around the papers for so many
wears as the property OF Miss Goulo
and never, so far as we can remember
as that of the distinguished poet
editor. Are we to have another ROCK
Ne to Sleep Beautiful Snow. and
Nothing to Wear controversy!
| The wear 1876 was regarded through
out the country with especial interest
| because of the hun
Centennial dredth anniversary OF
Nau year the signing OF the
| Ne" Aeai' Declaration of Inde.
pendence, which was to be celebrated
by great exposition at Philadelpnia
| Unusual preparations were made Tor
ushering in this new year, as noted
in the following In The Star or De
cember 81, 1875:
| I'm all parts Of the country-ex
cept Washington.-the advent OF the
centennial year will be greeted al
midnight with demonstrations OF
marked enthusiasm. In Baltimore
the occasion will be celebrated by the
welcoming peal Of Big Sam the ring
ing of Christ Church chimes ano
other CnOrCQ D6liS, anu eilSO the bciis
Of the Fire Department, and by tht
illumination of the new City Hall. A
general display of bunting will bt
made during Saturday. In New York
PHILADELPHIA, Boston and other lead
ing cities appropriate demonstration
will also be made. At Middletown
". Y, the church bells are to be rung
the factory whistles blown and the
churches are to have services, anc
the town will be illuminated until
O'Clock. There will also be bonfires
illuminations, fireworks and torch
light procession of q hundred horse
men. The event will be celebrated a
Portsmouth, N. H., by large mass
meeting. concert, parade, etc. Al
IPoughkeepsie, n. Y, all the military
firemen and civic organizations viii
parade, salute of one hundred gun,
will be fired, all the bells of the city
rung, public and private buildings
illuminated and the streets lighted by
tbanares. New London Conn. M