Evening star., 1942-05-17
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

peace, cultural activities were Of interest,
and an advance along this line was made
by the Inauguration of an Art Congress.
AS reported in The Star of
Art May II, 1892: The first
CONGRESS congress of the National
Art Association in favor of
free art began its session this morning
at 1890 o'clock in the lecture hall of
Columbian University. corner Fifteenth
and H streets. DR.. yelling began
with the statement that a nation without
art Is in a state Of savagery and ma
ton with its art caught in the meshes
of imitation confesses itself in a state
of arrested civilization" The meeting
was attended by Mr.. Halford, the Presi-
dents private secretary, who was en-
powered to, and did, invite the congress
to visit the White House.
Another item of local interest was an
anniversary get-together of the veterans
Of the California gold rush, the Forty
Miners, at Marshall Hall, a popular
Maryland outing resort.
Forty Miners The Star Of May 16, 1892
Conoress declared: Marshall Hall
never looked prettier than
1t did Saturday afternoon when the
California pioneers Of '49 gathered on
the green lawn and were photographed
by Photographer Pullman. The heavy
rainfall kept many at home, but those
who went down and discussed gold dust
and gold digging were fully repaid for
Drawing the storm. Those who went
down on the morning trip of the River
Queen remained to greet their brother
pioneers on the arrival of the afternoon
boat, and just as the afternoon party
landed the clouds parted and the SUM-
light shone with brightness that
cheered the old pioneers and gave the
photographer a chance to obtain an ex-
cellent picture" Specimens Of the origi-
nal gold dust were shown, and old-time
miners songs sung. The party broke up
at 8, when the boat returned to Wash
ington.
Half a century ago the cyclist was in
his prime, and much interest was noted
in various contests. An ambitious one
was bicycle relay race from Chicago to
New York. The Star of
Bicycle ReIoy May 1s. 1892. chronicled:
Rorz The great relay bicycle
race, or rather trial, from
Chicago to New York has begun. For
blocks up and down Michigan avenue
rothing could be seen but crowds await
ing the start of what is to be the crown
ing test Of the silent steed.' Accounts
from little towns along the route fol-
lowed, including the Spectacular" run
Of Mr.. Citizens, whose stint Of seven
miles from Grand Crossing, ILL.,, to Ken
sington, ILL.,, was made in 20 minutes.
Mississippi floods that started a week
before were still continuing. In dis
patch from ST. Louis, The Star of May
II, 1892, said: The rise in the Mississippi
continues, but more slowly,
Mississippi being scarcely more than
Floods half an inch per hour. the
damage to crops, ETC., In the
bottom lands grows daily in the immense
districts up and down the stream from
here now under water. Many small
bridges are reported carried away. {.
Every point of danger along the river is
carefully guarded and ample warning
will be given where breaks occur. -. The
breaking Of the Madison dyke in East
st. Louis yesterday threatens to bring
on a coal famine, which may send the
price of coal twice its present figure per
ton" Other dispatches reported that
the Gypsy crevasse, break in Louis
lana levee, was widening at the rate Of
10 feet per hour, and that United States
and Louisiana engineers and railway
officials were making concerted effort to
close the break. Material and workers
had been sent from New Orleans