Evening star., 1942-01-04
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star
Fifty New Years ago Washington ta

TAty rCW 4cdlS ago WdSfllIlStOll IldQ
something now grimly lacking-a bril-
liant peacetime social re-
White House ception at the White
p.-...;.. House. The Star for New
Year Day. 1892 discussed
1t at great length, saying: There was
just enough Of crispness in the air this
morning to make the warmth of the
Executive Mansion something to be ap-
preciated, and so far as the weather was
concerned nothing could have been more
desirable for the general success Of a
New Year Day reception. The prepara-
tions at the White House for this, the
stateliest function of the years record,
began early. BY 9 a force of flfty-three
policemen under 1t. Guy began to show
up in almost as many directions about
the house and grounds" The account
continued with list of prominent guests
a description of gowns worn and de-
tailed report on all activities.
Not to be outdone by the White House,
the Oldest Inhabitants Association held
their annual New Year
Oldest meeting. The Stars ac-
I-L.L:... count reported THE
bright sunlight no doubt
had a great deal to do with the large
attendance of the members of the Oldest
Inhabitants Association at the meeting
this morning at their rooms in the Cor
coran Building. For years 1t has been
the custom for this association to meet
| on the first day Of the year and then in
a body proceed to the White House to
pay their respects to the Chief Execu-
tive of the Nation. The meeting this
morning was attended by an unusually
large number and as Is always the case,
whether the attendance is large or small,
the members came together in very
happy frame Of mind. They showered
good wishes upon each other, and the
vigorous tones and hearty laughter
which this social meeting evoked DEM
onstrated that the members of the So
ciety are old only in years."
A commonplace reality today was
merely q vision half century ago. The
Star of January 1, 1892,
ADreom carried this item 'The
Realized engineers OF the Belt Line
tunnel now being con-
structed under Baltimore ''' propose
to light 1t by electricity, have 1t perfectly
| free from smoke and make it the model
railroad tunnel of the country. The
plans so far considered are hot-aiI
currents. fans and f1ues, cable traction
and electricity. ''' 1t was thought that
| on account of the weight Of the trains
no electric motor could produce force
enough to move them. Prof Duncan,
the electrician at Johns Hopkins UNI
versity. says that force enough can be
generated and that the trains can be
hauled through the tunnels by electricity
If it is so desired"
A warlike touch was given the new.
by the announcement OF new cavalry
weapon, In The Star OF
ANew January 2, 1892: Capt. w
uy..,.. F. Peel Of the British Army
"~'P has invented and tested
contrivance for adding to the effective
fighting strength Of the cavalry. The
invention consists of an attach
ment for rifles or other firearms to the
harness of cavalry horses in such q
manner that they may while so attached
be fired at the will OF the rider" F1he
invention sounds quaint now, but 1t u
interesting to note that the basic idea
recently has been adopted. Then, wher
the most mobile striking force Of az
army was horses. the captain proposed
to aim the horse itself and IRE viii
fixed weapons; now. when ths mos
mobile striking force = an armada q
planes, It b standard practice to hAv'
its armament fixed and aim the plane