Evening star., 1945-01-07
Fifty Years Ago
The Star for the first dav of 1908

tanned an essay by Sir Edwin Arnold
which is worthy of reading
Opinion OF in the light of events half
Jopon century later. Japan" he
wrote, SIS no globe-trotters
playground of undersized, frivolous peo-
pie. living life like that depicted upon
tea trays and screens, but a great.
serious and most intelligent nation.
having history extending over $500.
years, obeying an unbroken dynasty
dating its origin only hundred years
short of the. time of the foundation of
Rome. and deriving from its isolated
position in the North Pacific a solidity
and unity possible only to island en-
pires." The distinguished British liter
ary genius who penned these words
further testified that Japan 'is the
country of all countries where the
ethics-if not the doctrines-of Chris
tianity have found and will find the
most ready reception"
Dramatic criticism in grandfather's
youth was an art which was practiced
with great simplicity. The
Monsfeld as following paragraph from
Napoleon The Star of JANUARY 2,
1895, illustrates the GUS
tomary procedure: Richard Mansfield
and the strong company supporting him
Grew a crowded house to Albaugh's last
night to witness the production of Ma
poleon.' The play, if 1t can be called a
play. Is series of five scenes taken
from the life of Bonaparte and strung
together with an underlying current of
connection. The production would prob
ably be more satisfactory if the author
had contented himself with the Develop
ment Of some one phase of Napoleon's
life. As 1t is, an impression of disap-
pointedness is left on the mind, which
was not made less by tedious waits be-
tween the acts. Two paintings
are introduced as drop curtains showing
the flight from Moscow and the end of
Waterloo, of which the less said the
better"
A famous Washington hostelry began
its career in public service on Janu-
ary 8, 1895. The Star for
Hotel that date reported: ITO
Opened day the new hotel build
ing at the northeast cor
ner of Pennsylvania avenue and Twelfth
street, which has been named the Ra-
leigh. was opened" Visitors, it was ex-
planned, availed themselves of the
opportunity ito get behind the doors
which had been closed for so many
months while the building operations
were going on. and groups were found
throughout the building looking at the
admirable results of the liberal ex-
penditure of money and the exercise
of good taste which were plainly visible
on all sides. = The interior fitting
and furnishing is on scale never before
attempted in this city, and the house,
from top to the bottom of its seven
stories, IS modern hotel, provided not
only with all the comforts and facilities
Of such building, but also with the
luxury and sumptuousness which the
travelling public seem to expect" B. w.
Frazier was the manager, and the
traditions which he established appear
to have been followed ever since.
George E. Hamilton, ST., one Of the orig
inal board OF directors, still actively
Is interested in the enterprise.
%++
People took their politics seriously
so years ago. For example. The Star
Of January 4, 1895, contained
Witho story to the effect that:
Cone Another chapter was added
yesterday afternoon at Lex
ington, KY, to the Pollard -Breckinridge
affair. John T. Shelby. law partner Of
Col. Breckenridge, assaulted Editor
Charles G.. Moore Of the Blue Grass
Blade with : cane, breaking it over
his head. He then tore out q bunch
OF Moores whiskers. George 8. Shank
lin, another lawyer and Breckinridge
supporter, accompanied Shelby and
looked on with apparent pleasure while