Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-09-21
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

EDITOR CHRONICLE THE dull sea-
son approaches its end. Families in ru-
raj retreats, tourists, f~ashionables and
those absenton leave are all returning,
much to the joy of the market men,
hueksters and shop keepers. The wealth
er since the break has been delightful,
the nights cool enough to sleep under
extra cover, the mosquitoes not unreas-
enable; altogether you need not ask for
finer weather at the north. The sudden
transition, however, develops my ten
dency to ague, which is said to be pre-
valent. The only drawback is drought
and dust. Having been wet through the
spring and summer we are now paying
the penalty.
This is a great country for fruit, Der
ries and melons; in their season the mar
kets are filed and prices reasonable. A
trip to Norfolk last summer revealed
where much Of the truck in northern
markets Genes from. It was melon
time, and the quantities were astounding.
~SchoOners, sail boats, scows, wharves
and streets piled with watermelons.-
They were then selling at five dollars
per hundred for fine ones, and the Cap
tain assured me they were frequently
sold at three. Strawberries Of fine quail
ity have sold in this market this season
at six cents a quart by the crate. Black
berries seem to the sacred soil
and the trade is carried on by the ne
groes. In tina season there is no end to
the number Of large and small darkies
who come in with pals and baskets on
their heads, and often sell them at so to
40 cts. for a pail full. The markets look
tempting with the loads of peaches,
pears, grapes, melons-and such sweet
potatoes! The latter can be bought at
about S1,25 per bushels cheap as Irish
potatoes. The markets Of this city are
well supplied, and it only needs plenty
Of money to live well.
The magnitude of the European war,
the energy, swiftness and success of the
Prussians, and the vast and speedy re-
suits are amazing. We are bewildered
at the almost daily victories Of the Prus-
SLAMS in their steady, though swim and
majestic onset not upon Mexicans, Chi
nese or other barbarian hordes, but up
on the most martial nation Of the world,
sweeping away the cobwebs offame, and
in a short month making the prestige
and glory Of the French nation a thing
Of the past. Henceforth France is a sec
ond rate power-the Napoleonio dynasty
conceived ndinaugurated in frand, con-
tinued by false pretences and imperial
glitter, is brought to an ~inglorious end
No single private bully was ever sooner
demolished by a quiet man whom he
had badgered and insulted. Again out
Of chaos rises the third French Republic,
not upon law and order, but giving snoth-
er evidence that 'Paris is France
What shall be its future? Are the
French people capable Of self-gOvern-
ment? The absence ofmob rule, and the
fact that rabid, leveling Red Republican
ism has not yet grasped the reins, is a
favorable Omen,-perhaps the presence
of a vast outside impending danger pre-
vents it But what Of Prussia, o the
Colossus Of eastern Europe, able to snap
her fingers a. proposals Of mediation or
intervention. VIII she insist upon the
dismemberment of France as the ransom
of Paris, now within her grasp? We
wait for the next scene in the drama,
perhaps to be as stirring a those Of the
last few weeks.
The enthusiasm of the Germans Of this
city e~ffervesced at their Schutzenfest last
week, and lager in vast quantities dis
appeared as repeated cheering dried their
throats. 1t is at high water mark the
country over, and lager appears to he the
hydrometer that indicates the rise Of the
patriotic tide. The unusual demand for
beer stamps the past month from all the
large cities shows a vast enthusiasm for
fader-land. 1t is noticed that the sales
increase in proportion to the advance on
Paris. The bureau of Engraving and
Printing is turning out 100000 quarter
Dbl. beer stamps daily, but the stock is
small, and should King William effect
an entrance into Paris, it is doubtful
whether the supply would equal the de-
mand.
Some idea may be formed of the fnan-
cial prosperity of the country under the
present administration, by the customs
report for August The receipts at New
York alone were SI5,O7S, sO6.2, being
SI,2SS,775.5 more than ever received in
the same period Of time. The Internal
Revenue receipts from the first Of July
to date are IS, "A, 4T2.5s, against S89,42I,-
O46,65 for the same period last year,-in-
crease, S~6,S20,42@.92. Four years OF
Grant and an energetic execution Of the
revenue laws will do much 70 solve the
question, How shall we pay the National
debt? EZRA.