Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1869-02-12

BALTIMORE, Feb. 6, 1869.

BALTIMORE, Feb. 6, 1869.
This, being carnival week. has been pretty
generally devoted, especially among our large
Catholic community. to feasting and merry
making. Masked balls seem to be the rage
at present. Prominent among these was the
one given at the Mount Vernon Hotel on
Wednesday evening last Judging from the
reports circulated by rumor and the account
which appeared in this mornings Bulletin
this was decidedly the ball of the season, be-
ing composed of the bon-ton of the city. The
spirit of feasting and hilarity will, l suppose.
be kept up until Wednesday next, when the
advent Of Lent will direct the popular thought
more in devotional channel.
Public amusements are rather at low ebb
No city of its size in the world is, perhaps, as
deficient of FIRST class places Of amusement as
Baltimore. We do not know that this of it.
self is disadvantageous, but as there are, and,
l expect, ever will be those who seek recrea-
ton and pleasure at the theatre and the opera,
| it is far better to encourage the higher order
of stage performances if for 10 other purpose
than to keep the play-going public from the
low play-bouses, as poisonous to public NOR
ais as the the most vindictive and malignant
enemy of society could DESIRE Public taste
in this respect seems to be, here at least, sad
ly degenerating. Evidencing this, is the fact
that for several weeks past about the only
theatre of consequence in the city has been
nightly attended by large numbers to witness
the "Black Crook" performance, according
to rumor, for we have never seen it, of de-
cidedly Objectionable character. If, as the
handbills have from time to time announced,
the audiences witnessing this play have been
composed of the most intelligent and refined
people. we can only say that either rumor is
in fault or refined taste is being strangely per-
verted. 81.
The Davenport Brothers are nightly bold
ing forth at the Concordia Opera House for
the benefit of the spiritualistic and non-spir-
itualistic curious. Their performances, we
understand, consist in certain rope-tying and
untying exhibitions, in which tho aid Of spirits
enters as a necessary feature. What is the
peculiar character of the spirits or what par
ticular region they are from the advertise
ments do not state nor are we otherwise in
formed. Since the humbug cry of olanchette
has been more fully manifested by the people,
their gulibility, generally voracious in such
matters, has not been SO easily imposed upon,
and hence, we are Informed, the Davenports
and the spirits are giving their entertainments
to small audiences. ~
The past several days have been extremely
cold. Yesterday and day before the wind
was clearly on the rampage. Any one might
know by the creaking Of singboards, the rat
Ting of windows, the slaming Of shutters and
doors which might happen to be loosed from
their fastenings, by the clouds Of dust which
filed the air, and by the stronger twisting and
turning, and boiling, and starting of perplex-
ed females exposed to the freaks of the blast.
Steadily it has blown from Northwest since
Wednesday, as verified by weather-cocks
! sbivering on bleak spires away above shut
ters, and signboards, and dust, and women.
Steadily from Nortbwest,--as evidenced,
moreover, by blue-nosed pedestrians on windy
streets-by teeth chsttering drivers and con-
ductors Of city cars, who have to brave the
wind wherever it came from-by deserted ap-
pie stands on exposed corners-and by q
thousand other circumstances equally convinc-
| ing. To-day we have skating, consequently
there is quite turn out of fancy petticoats
and jackets, with stockings, boots and hat to
match, and the skating parks are gay with
youth and beauty" done up in skating COS
tune.
Thus far Governor Bowie seems to have re-
sisted the heavy pressure that has, we are in
formed, been brought to bear upon him for
the calling of an extra session of the Legisla-
ture. 1t is to be most earnestly hoped he
will continue firm in his resistance. There is
undoubtedly important work for the Legisla-
ture to do when called together. Some Of
the doing of the last session ought unquestion-
ably to be undone. But we have no assur-
ance that the grievances complained of would
be remedied even were an extra session called.
Some of these evils were the direct creation of
the last Legislature, and the material of which
it was composed would in no wise be chang
ed. Take the School Law for example,
This is, in many of its features, highly objec-
tionable, and loud demands are being made in
some sections Of the State that it shall be re-
medied. But when it is remembered how
hurriedly the present slip-shod School System
was Matched out by the last Legislature, APP
parently with design of getting some system
in the place Of the one then in being, and
which latter system we question has single
worthy feature in it that was not borrowed
from, or, at least, embodied in the one it sup
planted, we confess some misgiving as to Sc
curing remedy even though the State should
be taxed to pay the expense of an extra ses-
sion of the Legislature. Let US have less leg
islation and let it b better. ~ F"-
Vice..
ROAD NOTICE.
IA1OTICE is hereby oiven. that netition has