Evening star., 1951-07-29

Nights in a Barroom" type, had
ong runs in Washington in the
carly days, at che old Odd Fellows
Hall. One dedicated to Father
Matthews of old st. Patrick's S
Church was advertised in The
star of January. 1875. It was SO
good that it ran for a week or
more when it had been billed for
D shorter stay. The announce
nent appealed as follows:
"l875. A New Year Festival. 1875.
Friday and Saturday After
noon and Nights.
Return to Washington of
the eminent artists, Rose and
Harry Watkins, and the wonder
full child actress and songstress.
Little Amy Lee, in a grand moral
drama, entitled:
his WORST ENEMY, OR
THE ANGEL CHILD,
dedicated to the memory Of
Father Matthews, the great
apostle of temperance, and the
Good Templars of America.
This powerful play has met with
extraordinary success through
out the country, and is faith
full picture of the times we
live in,' depicting the political
and social aspects of our ma
tional life, and vividly il1ustrat-
ing the besetting sin of society.
Admission. so cents and Is
cents; reserved seats, rs cents
to be had at Ellis Music Store
on and after Wednesday morn
ing"
Following on the heels of thi
came Blind Tom. the celebrated
Negro boy pianist and vocalist
who always applauded himsel
even if no one else did, which wa
seldom the case. Perhaps sand
wiched in between more seriou
performances came a troupe o
athletes, and the man who playec
on the musical glasses such ex'
quisite pieces as when You and
Were Young, Maggie" followed
later on. by the popular Uncle
Toms Cabin"
Little Eyo Brought Tears
Though it has been many
years since the writer witnessed
this dramatization of Harriet
Beecher Stoves great slavery
story, he has not forgotten the
lump that then swelled in hi.
throat and the copious tears HI
shed when little Eva. in her dying
hours, sang ''Uncle Tom, oh, mak'
him free. papa. promise this tC
me-" Nor the lawyer, whose name
was Marks, and Simon Legree, al
well as Topsy. who "just grew"
poor old Uncle Tom. and Eliza
who made her thrilling escap,
over the scenic cakes of ice, fol
lowed by "ferocious" bloodhound
The story was first published il
the National Era in this city il
1872. The publishing plant wa
at 428 Seventh street NV, op
posite Odd Fellows Hall, the sit
now being occupied by the Lans
burgh department store.
This paper was established her,
as an abolitionist organ on Janu
ary Z, 1847. with DR.. Gamalie
Bailey as editor and John G
Whittier, the Quaker poet, a
corresponding editor. For a Will,
it was a thriving weekly. Senti
ment in Washington then wa
pro-Southern. Because of tn,
feeling against the paper and it
management. it is said that onl!
one lady called to pay her re
Spects to the editors wife durinl
the first six months of her resi-
dence.
Dr.. BoiIey Died of Sea
DR.. Bailey was never lionizet
in Washington, yet, because O.
the sensible and conservative wa,
in which he conducted the Era
he made and retained man.
friends even among those opposed
to him on the slavery question.
DR.. Bailey did not live man.
years after coming to this city
and his death was announced il
the National Era of June 80, 1853
1t seems he died on board tn,
Arago, while on a voyage for hi
health, Sunday, June 5, 1859, OF
the high seas, and that his eldes
son, Marcellus Bailey. was with
him at the time. His body wa!
returned to this city, arriving here
on July 4 of that year, and wa!
inferred in Congressional Gene.
terry, the Rev. DR.. Butler, rector
of Trinity Church, delivering ar
eloquent funeral sermon, assisted
by Rev. Mr.. Ernest.
The press at the time stated
that he left wife and six chill.
dren. His eldest son, Marcellus