Evening star., 1948-04-11
Fifty Years Ago

N1Ulcy WcuI u tOIlk way III tcImS Oh ClObIlcS
half q century ago. A double truck" adver-
tisement Of the Saks Stores,
Easter printed in The Star on April 1,
CIothino 1893, offered mems spring suits
of cheviots and tweeds at $3.50
each; imported cheviots and unfinished
worsted sack suits at $780, English checks
and Scotch plaids at SIS; and black and OK
ford mixed Vicuna Prince Alberts for men "of
fastidious tastes at $25 Women also could be
well dressed at little expense. Strictly tailor
made suits in brown and new green. black and
blue serges and cheviots with box coats or
tight-htting jackets" were $795; imported
diagonal serge suits with English box coats,
STATS; and black and cadet blue broadcloth
suits with eight rows Of tucks on the skirts
and velvet collars on the coats, $40. For boys
there were REFER and double-breasted coats
with pants with double seats and knees, the
whole ensemble for $l48
= y
"At this season of the year; when walking is
good" said The Star for April 5, 1885, "the So
called presidential cranks ap-
White House pear in larger numbers than
Visitors at other seasons" Recent
callers at the White House. 1t
was explained had included a Prohibitionist
from near Stewartstown, Pa, who wanted Mr..
MCEAlIlSy- 10 Sct IlIu UP Ms al LlQSp6IOCnL
cobbler in Baltimore; a woman from Whining
ton, Del, who wished house rebuilt after
devastating FIRE; and veteran of the Union
Army who called the Chief Executive Uncle
Billy" and insisted that his contribution to
the Republican campaign fund had been
responsible for victory for the G.. o. P. The
last of these petitioners let 1t be known that
Ii he did not obtain what he had come for he
would 60 home and tell his wife "and then
there will be h-"
Under this heading The Star on April 0, 1893,
commented editorially: Public opinion has
crystallized. The war In Cuba
'Stond must cease. The Spanish flag
TOGETHER must depart from the island.
Satisfaction must be given for
the treacherous murder Of American sailors.
The administration has moved step by step
with public opinion In reaching these conclu-
sions. The next step will be action, will be
war with foreign nation, and when that
step is taken public opinion should waive its
rights and place the reins once for all in the
hands OF regular leaders. This will not be .
Republican war; 1t will not be Democratic
war; 1t will be an American war, for the pres
ervation Of national honor and the defense
from murder Of American sailors and Cuban
women ana cnlldren
Each issue Of The Star fifty years ago con-
tanned verses rejecting the tension which soon
was to lead to hostilities with ruth
Patriotic less and treacherous Spain" The
Poetry Star of April 7, 1898, published
composition by Lillian Pike entitled
Battle Hymn of America" from which these
lines are quoted:
Lord God of Hosts. wilt Thou strengthen
our arm7
WIT Thou this Spanish Armada disarm?
Now, as of old, whose vile plots seek to harm
Innocent souls, with deep sympathies warm.
Struggling for freedom from oppression 20 dire.
Tortured and harried with sword and with
fire;
Rousing, manful resistance, SPANS ire;
They, whom the thoughts Of great Liberty
inspire"
In the Star on March o. 1898. George Fred
erick Kunz Was mentioned as the author
Of "a preliminary report submitted
Precious to the Division OF Mineral Resorces
sfoues Of the Geological Survey" on the
value Of precious stones produced
In the United States during 1897 The total stip-
ulated was S13o.s75, Is compared with ss7S5o
IN 1896. Principal items were: Turquoise.
s55.000; sapphire. s25,ooo: quartz crystal.
ti1.0oo: tourmaitns. ts,o76. and gold quartz.
1,