Evening star., 1946-10-20
Fifty Years Ago
The Star for october 8, 1896, reported
the passing of George Du Maurier, cele-

the passing OF george Du Maurler, cele-
brated both as an
Deoth Of Fomous illustrator and as
Artist Novelist writer OF superior
fiction He had
been Ill for weeks, yet the end came
suddenly. The popularity Of "TrAby"
as play as we'll as a book, he told his
friends, "has killed me at last" Poverty
had spoiled his youth, prosperity could
not save him when he no longer was
young. The Star obituary told of his
struggles, his disappointments and his
eventual triumph over misfortune. Half
a century after his departure he per-
haps is better known for Peter Ibbet-
son. than for his creation of Svengali
and Little Billee and the beautiful but
pathetic girl whose name gave him the
title of his first novel.
A reception and a banquet rendered
to Miss Clara Barton on her return from
Turkey were
Tribute to chroni c lie in
Red Cross Leoder The Star OF oc-
tober 9. 1896
The distinguished Red Gross worker to
whom the community paid homage was
represented as. looking unusually WELL
showing few traces of her long and
arduous labors." She was handsomely
gowned in black velvet, while about her
neck was a magnificent point lace col
lar" It was mentioned that: "On her
breast she wore half dozen or more of
the decorations and medals which have
been presented to her" B. H. Warner,
president of the local auxiliary of the
Red Gross Society, was toastmaster.
Other speakers included: Mrs. John A.
Logan, Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey and
Miss Barton herself. The Star regarded
the whole affair as "a fitting testimonial
to a noble woman"
Employees of the District of Columbia
school system know that history repeats,
but If they had any
Teochers' Poy temptation to doubt
Delayed that 1t really aoes 1ney
words from The Star Of october 10,
1896: "The Office Of the superintendent
of public schools, in the Franklin Build
ing, today presented every appearance
of a bargain sale at some commercial
establishment. The office was crowded
to the doors with an ever-increasing
gathering of clamoring humanity, who
in every y-day life are the teachers OF
the public schools of the District. The
teachers, of course, have not received
anything In the way of salary since the
close of the schools last June. The first
payment of the new school year was
due October /. The coveted checks
failed to put in an appearance on that
date. and the teachers made no effort
to hide their disappointment. The
checks were expected the following day
but again failed to materialize. Such
has been the program for 10 long days,
and the army of instructors grew des-
perate at the delay in the auditors
office" Even after the teachers had
received their wages their troubles were
not over. The Star explained: ITO all
intents and purposes" the checks were
worthless until cashed" by obliging
banks and mercantile houses.
x X X
The memorial arch for war corre-
spondents at Gapland, Washington
County, Md,
War Correspondents scheduled to be
Arch Described dedicated on
october Is, was
described in The Star OF october II,
1896, in this language: Though built at
q cost of less than $1,000, the Army cor
respondents memorial is one of the
largest and most interesting monu-
ments in the battlefelds Of the country.
From the foundation in concrete 1t Is
so feet to the battlements of the side
tower, and a Flagstaff 20 feet high on
the tower carried the visible structure
to the height of 10 feet. 1t looks north
and south In the spandrels of the
large arch are shields on which are the
watch words of the war correspondents,
Heed and Speed and above these are
the heads of the god Mercury and
symbol of poetry. Over the gable or
barbizan is gold vane of the pen
mightier than the sword On panels of
red brick in the middle Of the gateway
is carved War Correspondents in large
letters. In niche 9 feet high by the
side of the upper arches is S-foot