Evening star., 1935-11-24
Links With Older
Periods, n b | e
for Talent in Enter
tanning, Are
Found.
By John ClaeeH Proctor.

- ONE folk might look upon the
gay COS" as simply an eX-
preston or as a joke, but
~ there is really something to
the saving. because it not only in
cludes the horse and buggy days, but
also the zenith of the bicycle days
and the beginning of the automoolie
davs as well, and, besides, it was
great decade for theatrical productions
and other sources of entertainment,
near and dear to the hearts OF those
who we're living and enjoying their
early life at that time. But, however,
the gay 80s," about Which we DO
not hear so much, were also among
the good old days, when skating, sleigh
riding and Avenue carnivals, straw
rides and dances were popular in the
Wintertime, and excursions down the
river. picnicking in the wood, trip
to Bay Ridge, or drive behind the olo
gray mare, furnished the chief sources
of pleasure in the Summer.
There were also many pleasure clubs,
functioning during the 80s and gus,
and the writer has before him
pile of dance programs, issued by
some of these old clubs, many OF which
are now forgotten, or almost so at
least They were given the writer by
Frank S. Parks. member OF the AS
sociation of Oldest Inhabitants, who
has saved them all these years, and
they represent at least part OF the
balls, dance and soirees he attended
when he was somewhat younger than
he is today and no doubt could shake
a wicked" foot.
AS veteran printer, it is more than
interesting to note the changes In
Typography that have been going on
during the past half century, especially
since the 8Os, when curved lines
and rule twisting were on the decline,
and job printing was fast developing
into the styles we see today.
Even the type faces have changed
q number of times since then, for the
foundries are always putting on the
market new designs to please the
public, and progressive printing
office, like any other kind of business,
must sit up and take notice, and keep
up to date. But, after all, the type
faces used today, at least to an old
timer, are not near so attractive for
display work as the faces called card
text, Queen Anne text, Mantua, attic,
the beautiful lining gothics, the De
Vinnes, Spencerian script and other
styles much in use so years ago and
later.
IT Is surprising how many pleasure
clubs there were in those days, and
how few we can remember. In just
these few programs we find the Musette
Pleasure Club. P-X-S of Dawson
Lodge No. 16, F. A. A. M; the Owls,
Alpha Club, the IS. S. P. Club" {what-
ever that stands for) and the Excelsior
Club, Union Club and the Golden Star
Socials.
Other dance programs in the lot for
the years 1888, 1884 and 1885 include
the Ladies' Aid Society, whose dance
was for the benefit OF the German
Club, National Rifles, Columbia Boat
Club. Brotherhood of Telegraphers,
Union Veteran Corps, Martha Wash
ington dress party, Washington BIZ
cycle Club. Washington Light Infantry,
the Old Guard, Washington Lodge of
Elks, Saengerbund and the Presidents
Guards
Scanning the names contained in
these old programs, the writer naturally
came across quite a number which he
recognized as old friends, but the card
OF the Excelsior Club especially at
tracted his attention, because it con-
tained the name of James S. Gold
smith, who was recently retired from
the National Museum, after serving
more than so years, for the last three
decades as superintendent of buildings.
This club was probably a South
Washington organization, of which
George A. Neumeyer was president in
1884 j. T. Steel, vice president; j. S.
Goldsmith, recording secretary; H. E.
French, financial secretary; F. w.
Plugge. treasurer, and w. H. Hoffman,
sergeant AT arms.
At the dance given by this club at
the National Rifles Hall on November
19, 1884, Prof. j. T. Proctor was floor
director; H. E. French, assistant floor
director, and the Floor Committee and
Reception Committee, in addition to
those mentioned, included D. A. Sulli-
van, John Lynn, Frank S. Parks, T.
Pumphrey, w. S. Barker, F. w. Harper
and w. c. Parker.
At dance given few months later,
Frank S. Parks had become vice presi-
dent of the club.
A YEAR before this, in 1883, we find
the IS. S. P c." giving a grand
ball at Abner's Music Hall, 708-7l2
z street northwest. Those conduct
ing this dance were nearly all of Ger
man descent, as their names will indi-
cate, for there was Charles Kattel-
mann, jr.; Aug. G. Hermann, Fred. P.
Voigt, Edward w. Koch, Herbert
Harding, G. Theo. Thomas, John Eber,
Florian r. Hitz, Charles F. Mackin,
Charles Kaiser, Carlisle Jones, j. B.
Holden, John Jost, Fred. Hirsch,
Charles e. Epgels, Albert Reesch,
hugo LANCER. James Hagan, A. H.
Wurdeman, Leo Griebel, Temple Belt,
Louis Kurtz, Louis Kaiser, J. Fred
Miller and Edison Phillips. Kruger's
Ornheetro furnished the yr,tisir and