The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-22
LETTER FROM BALTIMORE.
[RvENINa TELEGRAPH SPECIAL ooRRRsPoNDENoE.l
BALTIMORE December al 1866

[ EVENING TELEGRAPH SPECIAL CORRRSPONDHNCH,1
BALTIMORE, December 81, 1866.
That Christmas is coming there be no doubt
We feel it in the atmosphere-now freezing and In
tensely cold. We see it in the immense number Of
naked gobblers exposed for sale in all directions.
We realize it emphatcally in the high prices asked
for everything. Turkeys, S3 apiece; and canvas.
backs, SO to $40 pairs nor in this one but In the
inroads made upon our collapsing purses TO pur-
chase gifts, etc, TOR the little urchins we'll as the
grown ones. 1t is a melancholy fact, but many
costly present is made such times by persons who
ne glect paying their just debts.
1his IN point of moral philosophy, is wYonR-Ge-
cdedly 80, especially in the opinion of creditors
but custom and fashion arbitrary; and who dare
resistS The rising generation, who are not apt to
think much about pressing necessities, and live only
for the present-soitar at least the holidays are
concerned-fnd no excuses If their lon g-cherished
desires for presents on Christmas are neglected.
Parents and friends who are remiss upon such occa-
sons will find grim faces to encounter afterwards,
and colo friendships 10 appease which may cost many
regrets and heartaches. So, upon the WHOLE oil
things considered II have always approved the
policy OF proheTing some memento be It as small even
as the "widow's mite" when TINS glorious ann.
veIsary, under the pecu lar guardianship OF st,
Nicholas, makes its annual round. Young folks
enjoy il because OF its present delights, aud those
iowea "reminiscences. We may be excused, there.
TORE i for the sake of keeping fresh the green spots
ton, are done at the return this anntg, sary.
SO there is no use of complaining, finding fault.
other three hundred and sixty -four days Of the year,
tnat slight deviation from the path of recttude
Christmas may be amply atoned for.
have been kindly honored with q complimentary
invitation 10 attend the Third Annvorsay Banquet
of the press Club" of Phi adelpha, which takes
place at the La Pierre House tomorrow Saturday,
evening. Permit me say to my respected trends
OF that most excellent association, that nothing could
afford me more pleasure than to be with them at
their CONTEMPLATED BANQUET, but that professional
and other unavoidable engagements prevent. They
have my hearts best wishes for their full est ENJOY.
ment. am only sorry our beautiful Monumental
City has not emulated the example of yours
in the formation of Press Club, and hope the time
doing so. Surely there can be no class of proies-
sional gentlemen better suited to appreciate the
fined and intellectual, as well as physical epjoymens
of life. Let me say to my friends of the ''Pnlla-
6elphia Press Club, " wish them, individually and
Ung me- ioy6 proSpeTy % 9fDo%nae1 fSir nap
shall be with them in spirit, if not IN person.
1 have myself been connected with the public
press as writer editor publisher, etc. for nearly all
my life, and still bow to its peculiar tascinations
1t may not be known to many, but L will,
just by way of incilent. state the fact
that am the originator of the New York Asso
Grated Press system OF c0mOlned correspondence,
and play ed the first game OF drafts or checkers that
ever play ed by telegraph in the known world.
This was done only few days after the wires first
commenced working between Baltimore and Wash.
lngton, when teegraphing was then mere play
thing and experiment. The account of tina game
IN which proved victor. was published In the Bal
L
editor, and subsequently copied amazing
curiosity AL over Europe. as well as IN our own
The decision made in the Superior Court yester-
day. Judge Martin presiding, puts at rest the idea
that parties who got their lives insured, made
the amount to friends who paid the premiums, then
went South, Joined the ReOel army, and died of
disease contracted thereby, claim obtain said
insurance
The Soldiers (Unionl Orphans Fair is now pro.
crossing here and is well patron,zed by loyal cti-
zens 1t is very handsome. Fair is also being
held for the benefit OF the orphans of Rebels who
died trying to destroy our Union. 1t is likewise fully
attended.
We have it very cold to-day Last night the
mercury stood only ten degrees above zero. The
skating ponds in the vicinity of our city are all
finely frozen, ana thousands are out skating L
understand Professor N. r. Smith, one of our most
celebrated surgeons and physicians pronounces
against this amusement for ladies' as being danger
and injurious to their health. Notwithstanding,
they persist
Business, excepting in so far as it appertains to
fancy stores and pei sons who supply demands for
the holidays, is quiet Prices OF nearly all staple
articles on the decline. 1t is but the combina-
tiOn of hucksters and monopollsts that causes the
high rates of small market articles for daily use.