Evening star., 1949-07-03
Fifty Years Ago

A dispatch to The Star of June 26, 1899.
related how Prof Willis L. Moore, chief of
the United States Weather
IN Doh9er Bureau Service, and Philan-
At the Shore der johnson of The Star
staff had been rescued
from drowning at Cape May. N. j.. the pre-
vious day. The meteorologist and the poet
humorist entered the surf when the sea was
running high and struck out into deep water
without realizing their peril Suddenly be-
coming exhausted. their plight was grasped
by their friends. Representative Henry c.
Loudenslager of New Jersey and S. H. Kirk
patrick. Philadelphia newspaper writer
The latter plunged through the waves" and
brought their sinking companions to safety.
1T was only with the greatest difficulty that
the rescue was effected" Prof Moore sur
vived until 1927. still wrestling with clima-
tological problems: Mr. johnson until 1899,
still turning out Shooting Stars remem-
bered by many readers.
Grandfathers of the little boys of today
celebrated the Glorious Fourth in pyrotech
nical fashion. The Star for
5ronddods June 81, 1899, contained ad-
Eireworks vertisements Of at least two
stores where the materials for
a noisy and famboyant independence Day
might be obtained at price. Quong Sang
Lung Co., 314 Pennsylvania avenue NV,
announced: Imported, Genuine. Best Chi
nese Fireworks for sale, wholesale and retail
and Hip Chong Lung, 110 AZ street, NV,
offered "The Best Firecrackers Up to Date"
Neither firm now Is in existence, so far as
the telephone directory sayeth. Times have
changed also in respect to the way the Fourth
is observed. There are less noise and fewer
burnt fingers, but unfortunately too many
automobile casualties.
A cable from London to The Star OF June
20, 1899 said: Nine. Sara Bernhardt and
har company gave matinee
Divine Soro performance of Hamlet at
As'HomIet' the Shakespeare Memorial
Theater at Stratford today.
A large and distinguished audience was
present The mayor and corporation and
delegation of the inhabitants met the great
French actress on her arrival. The
town was decorated in honor OF the occasion.
After the pei formance the mayor presented
Mme Bernhardt with bouquet OF flowers.
and the actress subsequently visited the
historical spots in the neighborhood"
James P. Willett, who had been postmaster
of Washington from December. 1894, was
retiring on June 80, 1899. and
Postmaster The Star for that date
p.t;,e. bid him farewell in a story
column long embellished with
a half tone portrait engraving. HE brought
to the Office the experience he had gained
as a lifelong business man Of the District"
it explained land his Jealous efforts in be-
half Of the postal service have borne fruit
from the beginning Of his term" The num-
Der of clerks employed in the local post
office was 276 when he assumed charge; It
had risen to 337. Another index Of ex-
pansion was: I'm 1894 there were 179 regu-
lar and substitute letter carriers. while there
are now 227 regulars and substitutes"
X X
'Fairyland,'" said The Star on June 28.
1899, well describes Chevy Chase Lake. 1t
is conceded by all who have
CHEVY Chose visited this suburban resort
Lake to be the prettiest spot about
Washington. Nothing in the
wav of illuminations has ever been attempted
in this vicinity \ equal the magnificent dis
play to be seen at the lake every evening.
Those who did not visit the Worlds Fair