Show FIFTY YEARS AGO The Washington Star has been deal delv delving dealing ing into its flies files of fifty years and as a result we get a of social and political life lICe in the national capItal im immediately Immediately mediately preceding the civil war James Buchanan was president and the customary Now New Years reception was held in the White house with the marine band In attendance just about as it was on the first day of the present pres present ent month with WIlliam H Taft at atthe atthe the head of the receiving line The House of Representatives was dead deadlocked deadlocked locked on the question or of organization and John Sherman who so con conspicuously figured In the affaIrs of the country for many years afterward Teas as within three votes of election as speaker He failed however Perhaps the most Interesting items reprinted are those relating to the hir hiring hiring ing and sale of human beings Slavery i iwas was abolished so many y years rs ago that i ithe the great majority of people now lW of what ing have little or no conception it meant It seems that not only were the black men and women woman bought and out b by bythe sold Rold but they were also hired the year by their owners At Alexan across the Po Potomac Potomac Irla and other places tomac from Washington It was cus customary customary tomary to do the hiring on the first of the year ear In the Star of January 3 1860 there appeared the following quo Gazette atton atlon from the Alexandria Yesterday was hiring day at Catts Tavern West Yest End The number of servants for hire was about being was than have been offered usually on Rates were much lower e New EW Year day 90 to hired hirell from than last earmen SIlO per annum women 40 to SO 80 and 36 35 to 75 5 At Fairfax court courthouse courthouse house on Thursday r the rates of hiring were much lower lower than lat last year yar rulIng rul rulIng Ing about th same as those t Catts yesterday Like everything else servants were hEap in those days Another item which was printed as a news brief the people being accustomed to such scenes gave ave an account of a sale of slaves as follows In Alexandria yesterday a number of slaves were sold at public sale ale under un undEr dEr a decree of court A likely man managed managed aged about 21 years ye rs brought 1950 1450 another about 30 years ears old brought 1100 and another 36 35 years earS of age 1000 A slave woman about 30 years ears of age and two children sold together WErE purchased at 1700 That was in 1860 1560 the year made memorable by the el election of Abraham IS Lincoln to the presidency followed by our years ears of bloody conflict durIng the Emancipation Proclamation was Issued and the curse of slavery driven from the land The Star or of fifty years ears ago notes the fa fact t that a building boom was on In Washington and claims great increase is population and aU all the substantial elements of municipal prosperity Those who were In the national capital 1 pity Y years ems ago and amI still reside there best appreciate the boom of 1869 1859 and 1 CO ut Washington i is a beautiful city now none more sO lm In the country and its itol citizens have a right to feel ire id or of Its great progress One can cannot cannot not help thinking however hoever that the picture of the Ule Star was con overdrawn |