Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-12-13
BALTIMORE CORRESPONDENCE
BALTIMORE, Dec. 1s-r

BALTIMORE, Dec. 1S-p. m.
This morning, in passing through several Of
our business thorougfares, I was struck with
the rather unusual sight of some two hundred,
or more, idle drays and carts. Every square
and street was blocked up with them, whilst
tho owners and employees were lounging about
in idleness Curiosity prompted me to en-
qui-e Of an old sable cartman, why so many
vehicles wore unemployed "Massa," he
said, de times am hard-tings be not as de-
used to was. Las season about dis day In da
mumf, all desc yer niggers, dem drays and
carts wot you see doin nofin, had more as
da could get along wifi Da tar On dem cart
alters a gwain. Dis nigger's old bones felt
sore at night when he gwain home at night,
and all dem yonder idle darkies wot you see,
had scratchin huff. Da good Massa says da
workman am wordy his hire, and We got ourn.
dollas day. Now We is glad if We gifts q
quarta or fifty cents Sometimes We lays down
da shubble and da hoe wild noffn. Den
we used to buy whole barrel of -four at once,
| now VIC git him by de pound and hardly dat
Den We tuck home cord OBJ wood; now We is
glad to take two or tree sticks, and some OBJ
dem picked up by de way, wot hab fallen
from de cart az it was gwain to some rich
man. Desc am de differumance between dis
time las year and dis time now. Den we had
more as we could do, and de white massa
| plenty oh money; now we haint got scarcely
| nofin, and de white man little for Us to pull
| on. Desc am de reasons why you see all desc
idle carts and drays, bosses and drivas White
folks say old Nicholum OBJ Scrusia, dem Albums
and de Turkys, hab fotch dis state oh tings
pom de people"
We left the old cartman with the conviction
that there was more truth than poetry in his
philosophy. 1t was really an unusual circum.
stance to observe so much ideness and want
of employment among these humble auxiliaries
to healthful condition of commercial indus
try and business progress. Where such oper-
atives, though l0wly in their occupation, are
seen without work, it is palpable that some
unfortunate cause has paralyzed the free ao
ton of trade.
I remarked some time ago that the Hon
John P. Kennedy would be made President of
the Northern Central Railway. The election
has taken place, and he is now filling that
Office.
I am now prepared to state positively that
VIM. G. Harrison will be re- elected to the
Presidency of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
over which he has presided with so much
credit to himself and advantage to the com.
pany.
There is some talk about calling an extra
session of our Legislature, though my impres.
sion is it will not be elected
Mr.. John E. Owens has suspended his en-
gagement at the Holiday street theater, ow.
ing to some Misunderstanding with the mana
gers.
The Museum continues to flourish under the
patronage Of its pious audiences and connoi
| seurs of stuffed birds.
sapisnt correspondents may plaster as much
| as they please, but there is q want of harmony
in the Know Nothing Administration of thii
city. Mayor Kinks requires that his officers
shall avoid grog shops, and enjoins upon then
to attend church at least once on-Sunday, anG
prayer meetin if possible. BEN Bolt.