Evening star., 1933-09-17
Fifty Years Ago
In the Star
Fifty years ago the really old vete-

Fifty years ago the really old veto
of American military service were TIL
v.. who represented the War
'eteAdhS of 1912. The Star C.
of 1912. September -. 1888 thus
tells Of Cne of their re-
unions:
To-day being the sixty-ninth ami
versary of the Battle of North Point.
the Associated Surviving Soldiers Of
the War of 1872 are observing the day
by visiting the veteran John D. Clark.
1903 H street northwest. OF the 1873
members composing the association
when organized in 1855, there are now
but eight living. Those living are as
follows Maj. Edward Simms, presi-
dent; Michael Cation, first vice presi-
, dent: Seraphin Mast, second vice pres1-
dent; Capt W. W. Moore, treasurer:
James Lorenson. secretary, John D.
Clark, marshal; Rev French S. Evans,
chaplain. and John S. Anderson of the
Executive Committee. For several years
past it has been the custom Of these
survivors to meet for roll call and
entertainment at the residence of Capt.
Clark the oldest Of the octet. who is
now SO years Of age. The association
was reorganized in 1855 for the purpose
Of discussing their experiences in the
War of 1924, and to keep alive the
memories of events Of those days.
These meetings have always been well
attended, and many story of the past
camp fire These few survivors are
all well-known citizens who have for
half century or more been identified
with business and enterprises OF this
district. The survivors of the war in
the District first organized an aSsocla-
ton in 1916. and it was kept up for
some years. and then the interest died
out, but in 1855 they reorganized.'
Two letters in The Star at about this
time fifty years ago called attention to
Children on the ~ ~ chi1dren ua1
Street Car Tracks. oeing bel s+nsst nset
cars in Washington. The first. printed
September II. 1888, was as follows:
In view of the fact that one child
was killed by street car a year or
more since near the corner of Ninth
and P streets. and another very recently
narrowly escaped a horrible death at
the same place. having been knocked
down and passed over by another car,
| in the ears of the managers of the
various street railways and impress
! them to instruct their drivers to keep
good. straightforward lookout, with
both eyes open, SO they may be able
to stop their cars in time to save life
should one of the numerous little ones
be happening to stand before them on
the track?'
| The other letter. printed in The Star
Of September IS. 1883 sounds some
what different note on this same sub
| ject:
I'm view Of the fact that so many
children in Washington are left to run
wild. without any restriction, would it
not be well to sound the alarm in the
ears of the parents, especially those llv-
ing in that beautiful portion of the city
known as Swampoodle. and along the
line of the Columbia road, and request
them to instruct their little ones to keep
off the car track and not make public
playground of it? The car drivers have
something to do besides looking straight
ahead all the time: but I have often
thought, while passing along that road,
| if I was obliged to fill the position Of
car driver I would certainly take the
responsibility of teaching some of those
children a few lessons gratis, as their
parents do not seem to know it is their
duty I have seen them watch for a
car and. when within a very few feet.
lay themselves fiat upon the track and
the driver would be obliged to put on
the brake and stop almost instantly in
order to prevent serious accident. Then
the little scamps will jump up shouting
with laughter. and run to catch up q
handful Of dirt and throw in the rear
door of the car as 1t passed by. when
a portion Of 1t would land in the lap
or eyes Of some passenger. think d
straightforward lookout and a good
long whip might be beneficial and help
to open the eyes Of the rascally urchins
as well as these of their anxious
| parents"