Evening star., 1942-09-20
Fifty Years Ago
in The Star
Fifty years ago there was but one
variety OF news of any Importance and

Fifty years ago there was but one
variety OF news of any Importance and
only one topic OF con-
~. -. n. yersation and subject
Encompment of planning in Wash
ington - the annual
encampment of the Grand Army OF the
Republic. Months before Washington
had been chosen, at the GAR conven-
ton, as the place Of the 1892 meeting
and ever since that was assured, various
civic and Federal organizatio had
been preparing for the occasion. The
grand parade was scheduled for Tues
day, September 20, 1892.
The Star of that date appeared in
several editions. One feature article
was entitled Twenty
High liqhts Seven Years After"
Of+h.N.. Another was on Con-
federate prisons, about
the men who endured the horrors of
Andersonville and Libbey," which would
seem tame now, considering that these
men were captured by an honorable
and chivalrous foe who recognized the
rules of warfare and was not cruel
Another feature article was a resume of
the Grand Review at the close OF the
war, In May OF 1865, illustrated by cuts
showing the scene at the time one
depicting Gen. Sherman, mounted, pass
ing the reviewing stand.
Yet another article was headed Battles
Around Washington" and was accom-
panied by maps and
more sketc les. Captured
Hioh liohts Confederate Colors"
were diseusse as
trophies of the battle now preserved
in the War Department" Statues OF
Soldiers" were described in detail
memorials of the war with which WASH
ington is adorned" War songs, both in
spring and comic, were reviewed. I'M
pressions were given Of the war hospitals
in and around Washington, although
few traces were now left of most Of
them" The forts erected around
Washington for it's defense also were
described and accounts given of the feel
ings of Washirgtonians when, after Bull
Run. it seemed probable that the Con-
federates might try to take the Capital.
Accounts were given OF other reunions,
especially in an article entitled Elbow
to Elbow Again" Gen.
0en. roimers Palmer's address to the
SBeech Grand Army was print
ed, taking up whole
page of type so fine that it was equivalent
to two full pages of the modern Star.
The address was delivered at Albaugh's
Opera House, long since torn down. but
then standing on Pennsylvania avenue
near Fifteenth street.
That night there were fireworks on
the Monument grounds. Said The Star
of September 81, 1892: Not
fireworks less than 10000 people
Displov witnessed the display of
fireworks on the Monument
grounds last evening and it can safely be
said that not one who was there was
disappointed. Even before the great
parade Con Pennsylvania avenue) was
over people began to make their way to
the Monument grounds and before sun
down thousands had gathered there. -
Nightfall come. every available bit OF
space had been occupied" A catalogue
of fireworks was printed, which makes
it evident that the pyrotechnic art. even
in those days, was near perfection.
The fireworks by no means signifed
the breakup of the encampment, which
was gradual. There were
Ofher special m things of
Activities branches of the GAR
such, for instance, as the
Ex-Prisoners' Association. There were
assemblies of cavalry and of naval units.
There were excursions down the Potomac
for various groups and many private
receptions for smaller units
ever, is far from easy and far from
popular, although both England and
Canada have found that their people
were more ready to make sacrifices than
the government was tn demand those