Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-12
x0eal anS AsrsOmaL

EDtal aHu RtAo " a.
High Prices and short Measures. - II il
scarcely necessary 10 quote the prices Of produce
in the Washington markets, further than 10 state
that butter is selling AT fily cents pound; bee
al eighteen ndihree-quarler cents for the same
quantity, and potatoes from fifty to seventy five
cents peel, according TO quantity.
| Not few wives have ceased, temporarily, TO
| market" in order that their husbands may per-
| form that essential duty, and be convinced, by
personal experience, that this cry of "high, exor-
bitant prices" is not "a cunningy devised fable,
on the part Of their better and gentler halves.
The charm of cheapness has departed, and the
excessive tariff on gnstronomy proyokes and
alarms, without remedy! "Good measure" is out
of the question, and the over-taxed consumer fire.
quenly receives far less Of the article Of food than
he bargained for.
During the present week, the market-master and
the police officers have made descent on the So
called quarter and halfpeek measures, which, be-
ing tested by the SeaIer Of Weights and Measures.
were found 10 be either considerably shrunken in
dimensions. or purposey lessened in their proper
tons. II is no excuse 10 say 10 the purchaser,
BY this arrangement you will have less 10 carry"
Comfort cannot thus be impaired. Il is hard
enough TO have to pay two or three prices, CON-
pared with the charges of former years, without
being cheated in ones dealings with the hucksers.
Inc wv c.- e the measures 10 which we have
referred were required to appear before ponce
magistrate, who, punishment for the fraud, in
Ac.ed on each of them a fine of three dollars and
costs. @i
II il to be regretted that there was no means
by which the dishonest traders could be required
TO indemnify their unsuspecting victims
The Musical Convention, which has been in
and instrumental concert al the Smithsonian In
stituiion, last night. The entertainment consist
ed of chorusses, quartettes, tros, gees, ballads,
and other descriptions of music, calling into requi-
stion the best vocal talent OF the members of the
convention. The price of ticket was only TWEEN
ty-fve cents, in order TO secure large audn6ry.
In addition to the delightful singing, was playing
by the Marine band; altogether producing an eff
feet which had never before been attempted in the
metropolis
Aiding Digestion.-Among the patents issued
from the United States Patent Office, during the
past week, was one "for improvement in pro-
cesses for preparing liquids tor aiding digestion"
In this city, the bar-keepers prepare liquids for
q aiding digestion" without patent; not few
dyspeptics prsferring TO take their medicine in
preference to that of the apothecares unless they
shall keep on hand the materials for toddies,
cocktails, smsshes, and julips, as was the case
with ono of such establishments recently, in Ban
gor; no less than fifteen hundred gallons Of liquor
having been seized there, on Wednesday, under
the new law of the State of Maine, and confs-
Gated to the legal authorities.
Warrington National Monument.-When
the Know nothings, on the twenty-second of Feb
ruary last, 30 overwhelmingly elected new board
Of directors Of the society il was at once pro-
claimed that, in a very few months, the American
Order throughout the country would so promptly
respond to the movement that a sufficient amount
of funds would be Immediately contributed 10
finish the msRument-say a million of dollars.
But at an anii-know-nothing meeting, few nights
ago, DR.. VIM. B. Magruder, in the course of
speech said that the receipts, under the new order
of things, were bur hirty-seven dollars! This
dicted. Under the old board, statement OF the
receipts was published monthly, for the benefit of
the contributors and of the country at large; and
we see no reason for now departing from that
| usage.
A Disturbance.-Ou usually quiet and much
respected sister city, Georgetown, was thrown
| into state of intense excitement on Thursday
night, in consequence of Forest Hall having been
rented to q party Of colored persons, through the
agency of white man, who concealed his inten-
ton from the proprietor. Directlythe latter heard
of the uses 10 which his premises were 10 be de-
voted, he interposed his stern veto TO gathering
of that kind. The Vigilant fire company, and the
Eagle and Our Clubs, met and passed Indignation
resolutions; and at about ten o'clock two or three
hundred persons, for the greater part boys rushed
10 the hall, where the company OF colored men
and women, in gay clothing, had assembled for a
festival and dance, and put them TO flight, smash
ing. the crockery' and spelling the refreshment
tables The determination is that white folks
alone shall have the privilege of meeting in the
| hall.
The Presidents Grounds afford delightful,
refreshing promenade. This afternoon, the Ma.
rine band will there lend the additional charms OF
music Beauty and fashion will, doubtless, as
heretofore, be prominent in the large assemblage.
The blooming. belle and the gallant and gay wild
over and bachelor, will mutually see something 10
interest them. Many mamas little darling, TOO,
in a nd.csrrisge or in the nurses arms; and
romping juveniles, and stsid adults, will alike be
entertained by the beautiful scenes of nature and
of art, and made glad by the instrumental perform
ances
Digest and Codifcation Of the Laws
Messrs. Ould and Gross, the gentlemen hereto.
fore appointed by the President Of the United
States TO revise, simplify, digest, and codify the
laws Of the District of Columbia, under the super
inrendence and revision of the Attorney General
of the United States, have entered upon the per.
/ of AZ ;Y,norts nj dutv The coda 10 IN