Evening star., 1941-01-05
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

The Stars editorial comment on the
year which ended half century ago
last Tuesday was optimistic
Annual in tone. 1t read in part:
Review The year 1890 has had its
full quota of notable events.
While the annalist will record no great
wars. no such calamitous single events
as have characterized some previous
years. few inventions of startling or rev.
olutionary Importance, few ravages by
pestilence, there have been many domes-
tic and foreign occurrences OF signal i'm
portance in the social political, religious,
scientific and literary development of
the age. -
"Of American events may be men,
toned the taking of the decennial census,
the completion Of the plans for holding
a worlds fair the admission of the new
States of Idaho and Wyoming, the
closing sessions of the International
American Congress. the passage of the
tariff bill, the elections in the fall trans
ferring IN the Fifty-second Congress and
in some of the States party control from
the Republicans to the Democrats. the Wis
it to Washington and other cities of the
British iron manufacturers, the discus
Slons in the Methodist Church of woman
representation in the General Conference
and in the Presbyterian Church of a
revision of the denominational creed, the
revolt of the Sioux and death of Sitting
Bull, with peril of a general Indian
uprising.
Among prominent events abroad are
the resignation of Bismarck and change
OF domestic policy in the German En-
pire from the mastership of a class to
policy Of liberal tendency; the visit to
Europe OF an American naval squadron
OF evolution: the adoption of new con-
stltutlon by Brazil; the split of the Irish
parliamentary party and, greatest of all.
not yet perfected, of a remedy bv DR.
Koch for tubercular diseases. Both in
London and in American cities. notably
New York, great financial pinch
marked the closing months of the wear.
the worst effects of which are probably
now passing off into revival of con-
fidence."
further paragraph. printed at the
bottom OF the editorial column of the
>, r, issue for Wednesday, De-
noPerul cember 81. 1890, set forth
Opinion The Stars hopeful convic-
tion of the moral and in
tellectual evolution of the human race.
Just compare the United States of 1891
with the United States of 1900, and the
United States of 1900 with the most
enlightened of the British colonies in
l7OO," suggested the writer. Study the
contrasts presented in the Europe of
today with the Europe of the worlds
midnight, when ancient learning was
dead and modern learning had not vet
arisen. 1t is not in mental culture alone
that civilization has climbed to a dizzv
summit after having descended into a
dark valley. The advance in morals and
spirituality is the most conspicuous eIe-
ment OF our progress"
htE
One example of progress in practical
Things was indicated in a news story.
,., ., published on the front
White House page of The Star for De-
Lighting cember 80, 1890, to the
effect that: "The work of
establishing the electric lighting system
of the White House is being pushed with
vigor in order that the light may be
ready for use day after tomorrow during
the reception should it be dark enough
to require artificial Illumination in the
parlors. The blue room has been quite
ready TOR some weeks, but the green and
red parlorS and the east room the
main corridor and the foyer, as well as
the private and State dining rooms, have
been delayed more or less by the nom
arrival of materials. . - A very hand
some electrolier has been designed for
the private dining room, but this NAV
not be put up in time for New Year Dav.
1t is of a beautiful model, slender and
graceful, the main motive being a small
caryatide or cherub holding to a rod
coming down from the ceiling with one
hand and swinging the lamp rods In
the other"