Evening star., 1943-04-18
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star
Fifty years ago there was an invasion"
Of this country by warships of several


of this country by warships of several
foreign nations-a peace
A Peaceful full invasion by invita-
invasion ton, preliminary to the
big naval review in New
York. The Star had staff correspondent
at Hampton Roads, and on April II,
1898, he sent in copy" printed the fol-
lowing day: "At last the proud day has
arrived. Now the heart of the true
American girl can beat high in her
breast, for the British feet has come in
all its glory, and coming, has conquered
all before it." The account went on to
give details of Russian and French YES
sells as we'll. One of the French fleet was
named the Jean Bart.
On April Is, 1893, The Star gave it's
readers a preview of new building
about to be erected-the
Corcoron Corcoran Gallery of Art. at
GoIIery Seventeenth street and New
York avenue. Plans of two
floors were included and a cut of the
"As for the location chosen :,
it is doubtless the very best to be
found in the city for the purpose. Not
far from the present site (at Seven
teenth street and Pennsylvania avenue)
and easily reached y, it is yet
quiet and retired as to surroundings,
with a splendid park in front, and open
and unobstructed spaces on all sides.
That the building when completed will
be creditable alike to the authorities of
the gallery and to the city, an ornament
to the locality. and potent agency in
the improvement of the neighborhood,
need scarcely be added" The corner
stone was laid on May 10 of the following
year. the building completed on January
8, 1897, and formally opened on Wash
ington's Birthday anniversary later that
year.
ALI Belgium was in ferment, fighting
for universal suffrage. Workingmen, in
particular. threatened to
Votes for strike if they did not get it..
BeIoions The Star of April 18, 1898,
in a cable from Brussels,
said: "The outlook is still threatening.
The movement is directed entirely
against the Chamber of Deputies and the
ministers who oppose the workingmen' S
demands for the right to vote when they
qualification whatsoever" The next day
they quieted down and in September got
nearly what they wanted. In constitu-
ton adopted then, universal male suf-
frage was granted, but certain property
holders and those with superior educa-
ton were allowed plural votes. 1t was
not until 1919 that universal single
vote suffrage was allowed. At the pres
ent moment there is no more suffrage
in Belgium than there is in Washington,
the Capital of the United States. Con-
gress, please note.
A disastrous earthquake on the island
Of Zante, Greece, was reported in The
Star of April II, 1893:
Earthquake There was great loss Of
In Greece life and property.
The shock this morning
appears to have been most violent in the
city of zante, the greater part Of which
was destroyed. The people are panic
stricken and the authorities helpless.
The streets are impossible" Curiously
enough, the earthquake and the exact
date were predicted by Greek scientist,
but no one took him seriously enough to
vacate the area in time.
Premonitions of the panic of 90 were
evident In the action taken by the Treas
ury to suspend the
Gold Certificates issue of gold GER
CurtojIed tificates, but were
not needed by Wall
Street. The Star of April II, 1893, said:
"The anticipation in some quarters that
Secretary Carlisles order suspending the
issue of gold certificates would throw
Wall Street into whirl of excitement
was hardly realized this morning." It
was realized clearly enough the following
month when the panic broke.
The last solar eclipse Of the century
took place on April l6, 1893. but was Of
little interest to Americans. It was
visible only In certain parts Of South
America and Africa.