Evening star., 1940-03-17
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Since the dawn of history tall tales
about fish, the freaks Of nature. sea
A. monsters, meteors and nu-
"e.eo! meluus other phenomenal
looks happenings in the realm Of
Fish the usual have interested and
held the attention Of mankind. One
such tale which merits believe 1t or
not" classification came out Of Mississippi
half a century ago and was printed as
follows in The Star of March II, 1890:
"At the home of Martin Kittringham,
a large planter, near Monticello. Miss.
there was eaten Sunday a dinner the
cooking of which was unique in ancient
and modern history. A large, glowing
hot meteor passed over the town shortly
after 10 o'clock Sunday morning, and
from the comparative slowness Of Its
motion and its downward tendency it
had clearly lost most Of the force which
was compelling it. Parties abroad were
much alarmed, thinking 1t about to fall
upon them, for it was scarcely 100 yards
above the steeples of the churches. It
passed over the town, however, and fell
in the pasture Of Mr.. Kittringham, who
lives about 10 miles east Of Monticello.
In this pasture Mr.. Kittringham has, or
had, a large fish pond which he had
stocked with trout and perch, and the
meteor fell as plump into the pond as If
it had been fired at 1t by some dead shot
in another world.
"The red-hot stone struck the water
with loud hiss and soon converted the
entire volume into steam. Of course kill
ing and cooking the fish at the same
time. Mr.. Kittringham and his hands
went running to the spot where they saw
the meteor fall and found the fish thrown
out on the ground, and on examination
saw that they were thoroughly cooked,
upon which MI. Kittringham had his
men to secure as many Of them as they
could reach with long poles, for 1t was
impossible to approach the still white
hot mass.
Invitations were at once issued and q
large number Of friends Of Mr.. Kittring-
ham sat down with him to banquet pre-
pared as banquet never was before-by .
recipe coming from the very SKIES"
HE
"That the centennial of the establish
ment of the District Of Columbia should
be suitably celebrated is
District admitted gen orally"
Centennial reads an editorial in The
Star of March IL, 1890.
1T Is matter Of much import, not SIM
ply to the inhabitants Of the District.
but to all the people everywhere in the
Union who feel proper pride in the
foundation Of their seat Of government.
Among the centennials connected with
the framing of the Government none has
more local interest to the citizens Of this
District and vicinity. The question
and the only question-in their minds Is
the precise day on which the celebration
should take place to be the fittest COM
memoration Of the event. The bill Tor
the establishment Of the District Of
Columbia and of the Capital Of the
United States therein was approved by
President Washington and became law
on the 10th day Of July, 1790. Although
the preparations went on, the boundaries
Of the District were not fixed until the
30th OF March, 1871. The. cornerstone
was laid at Jones Point, below Alexan-
dria. April is, 1791, the Freemasons OF
Alexandria. the city government Of that
place and the original commissioners for
laying of the Federal District participate
ing In the ceremonies. The latter event
Is certainly the crowning event OF the
work of establishing the District. Wheth-
er the Tooth anniversary Of the flrst
complete act, the signature Of President
Washington to the law which made the
District q certainty, or the second COM
plete act, the establishment Of the metes
and bounds by which the world knew
Just where the District territory was. Is
the more suitable time to adopt as the
time In which to commemorate the foun-
dation of the Federal District Of Columbia
has not yet been determined by Con-
gress. The citizens Of the District have
not indicated their desires. There has
been some talk on the subject, but no
formal movement had been made.
"The Star suggests that the approach
Of the centennial period, whether July Is,
1890, or April IS, 1871, be accepted as the
date for the commemoration, makes 1t
important that some action shall be
taken forthwith. In view Of the short
ness of the time between now and the
10th of July. Il might bo well, svsn 4