Evening star., 1948-11-21
Fifty Years AGO


BIRDS" said The Star of November Is, 1898,
gathered in the lecture hall of the
Students National Museum at II o'clock this
Of Birds morning, including some Of the
most eminent scientists in that
branch. The occasion was the 18th con-
gress of the American Ornithological Union,
and the sessions will continue, day and evening,
until Thursday. 1t was apparent that the public
Is taking some interest in the sessions because
ladies were present wearing stuffed birds and
birds feathers In their hats and when the
attention of the secretary was called to the fact
he remarked: They don't belong to u.s. DR.. C.
Hart Merriam of the Agricultural Department
called the convention to order and announced
the election of the following officers: President,
Robert Ridgway; vice presidents, himself and
Charles B. Cory; secretary, John H. Sage, and
treasurer, William butcher
Charles B. Hanford and his fellow thespians
were at the Columbia Theater half century
ago. The Star on November
Honford 1e, 1898, announced that
and Company they were presenting "The
Merchant of Venice" Other
Shakespearean plays in their repertory were:
Julius Caesar and "Othelo" MI. Hanford
"a local boy" who had reached celebrity on
the legitimate stage was praised for his ability
to resd well' and his musical voice" The
gallery gave him royal welcome. Others who
shared in the applause at the final curtain
we're: Frank Henning John A. Elisler, Law
renee Lowell Mary Timberman and Marie
Drofnah. A rival attraction was "The Tree of
Knowledge booked for a weeks run at the
National with James X. Hackett in the leading
role
"The Usage Indians as reported by The
Star TO. November II, 1898. "are probably the
wealthiest people per capita on
Rich earth" They also were de-
Osooes scribed as "aristocrats" who "scorn
manual labor" An annual re-
port released by the Interior Department
Indicated that: "They own 300 acres Of
land for each man. woman and child, each
receiving an annuity Of over 5000 in cash.
As an illustration, If an Indian and his
wife have eight children the annual cash
income Of the family Is over $4,000. In
advance even of his white brother in this
respect he prefers the conveniences, luxu-
ries and dissipations Of village life to agri-
cultural avocation; he loves to sing and dance
and rest, and he has plenty of money to sup
port his family in idleness" The explanation
apparently was: Royalties from oil extracted
from the Usage communts's holdings in Okla
homa.
A possibility that hostiities between the
United States and Spain might be resumed
was limited in cable from Paris,
War Again published in The Star of Novem-
p,sshl. ber 2l 1898, saying that Monetro
Rios president Of the Spanish
peace commission, has refused to continue
the negotiations" Difficulty had developed
over the demand Of the American delegation
for "the entire Philippine archipelago and
a proposal that the United States would pay
$20,000,OO0 for "a treaty cession Of the islands"
The spaniards position was not clear, but it
seemed they wanted larger cash award for
the territory conquered by American forces.
4
Third Assistant Postmaster General Merritt
notified The Star on November %, 1885, that
the color Of the Accent postage
Stomp coIors stamp had been changed from
chonoed velvet bliwn" to reg brown.
~"'"s'" and thee [Sslor Of the 10-cent
stamp had been changed from "milori green"
to "lisht brown" The Universal Postal Union.