Evening star., 1946-06-23
Fifty Years Ago
The Gentleman,s MAGAZINE was oil,

AAIy ASd1o ASO
The Gentleman's Magazine was quoted
at length by The Star on June II. 1896,
concerning the ques-
First ton of who first
Tobacco Users smoked tobacco in
England A man by
the name Of Lane was the pioneer,
according to "the learned Camden"
But Aubrey, speaking Of Sir Walter
Raleigh, says: He was the first that
brought tobacco into England and into
fashion" Q5S0. But the honor was
claimed by others for Capt. Price of
Plasyollin and with Capts. Middleton
and Koet, "on their return from the
Azores in 1891" These heroes, it was
understood, smoked in London and peo-
pie "docked from all parts to see them"
~
An editorial in The Star OF June l3,
1895, discussed foreign opinion concern
ing the United
Foreign Comment States as follows:
Commented Upon tGr,ssa european un e%, . =
American affairs are as rule of two
classes: They either annoy or amuse;
hardly ever do they instruct 1t might
reasonably be supposed that the London
Times would provide frequent excep-
tions to the rule. but even that journal
declines to avail itself Of the services OF
those who are conversant with political
and social conditions" in America. "The
latest effort of the Thunderer to en-
tighten its readers on current history in
the United States deals with Mckinley,
Of whom 1t says that his career offers
nothing that the most devoted biog-
rapher could call picturesque, his con-
victions are inconspicuous and his opin-
ions are indeterminate
- 4 y
The Star for June Is, 1896, reported
that: "Mourse Jackson and J. w. Vest,
two pro m n n
Sixteen Innocents politicians 80 had
Rereoved an ARRAY at Hart
selle, Ala, Satur-
day night which resulted in the death
Of both. jackson was in Vests saloon
with companion. Their discussion Of
political matters offended Vest, who
was also drinking, and wound up in his
ordering the men out of his place. He
followed them into the street and the
quarrel between him and Jackson was
renewed. Finally jackson drew knife
and Vest pistol and the two Of them
went for one another like hyenas.
Jackson was shot through the body and
thigh and in the chest and back. Vest
was cut in the body in several places
Both men finally fell to the ground ex-
hausted from loss Of blood, and both
died an hour afterward. Jackson leaves
a wife and 10 children and Vest a wife
and 6 children" Conceivably, the two
widows might have done something to
prevent the tragedy, but there can be
no question that the 16 orphans at best
were innocent bystanders at the mourn
full proceedings.
=
No less than 10 columns of fine type
were required in The Star of June 16.
1896, to tell
Republicans in how the
Convention Assembled Republican
party con-
vention at st. Louis got going. The
same Mr.. Mckinley who had been crit
icized by the London Times was des-
tined to be the candidate, but before
he was nominated and accepted by the
assembly considerable preliminary busi-
ness had to be transacted. EARLY this
morning" it was explained, "the dele
gates at the Southern, Planters and
Lindell Hotels were up" and in action.
Among those who did not stay in bed
were Senator Matt Quay of Pennsyl-
vania and Mark Hanna of Ohio, both
of whom, allegedly, were confident that
their favorite would be chosen NOM
inee and win the subsequent election.
They were justified in their faith, but
neither of them could prove it at the
moment.
Politicians interested In the silver in
dustry always have been noted for their
willingness to drama
Silver Men tie their cause by
On Rompooe showmanship. and an
example of their the
atrical genius may be discovered in The
Star for June Is, 1896, where hamboyant
headlines announce: Bolt by Silver
Men; Sensational Scenes in the Re-
publican Convention: Senator Teller De-
livers an Earnest Speech of Protest
Against the Money Plank: Formal
Manifesto Read by Senator Cannon;
Uncertainty stil Prevails Regarding the
Vice Presidential Candidate" The text
following these striking attention-catch-
ers began, 'The Convention Hall prom
ised to be very warm today. - The
spectators and delegates provided them
selves with fans, which were freely
used" But nothing could Danish the
specter of q new standard of exchange
based on q less valuable metal than gold.
The issue was fixture Of American
politics Tor many years. It still is I'M
portanA.