The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-08-26
LETTER FROM NORTH EAST.
NORTH EAST, August 21st, 1871.

/ NORTH EAST, August list, 1871.
Mr.. EDIToR:-I noticed in your issue of
the 9Th inst. an article on our late excur-
sion, over the well known signature of
"TeetOtal." AS an excursionist, l beg
leave to reply to that indefatigabe and
somewhat flexible correspondent. "Tee-
total" not content with vilifying his neigh
/ bors, and casting contumely upon onr vii
/ lage through the agency of the "North
East rum traffic." has now endeavored to
scandalize our late excursion, by varying
from the truth and magnifying mole hills
into mountains. He has done this in order
to create the impression among people who
are unfamiliar with excursions, that this
last, instead of being, as advertised, "a
day OF pleasure" was nothing more than a
purpose of making money; and that those
persons who went, far from enjoying them
selves, returned home "with haggard
and woe-begone appearance, bleary eyes
and soiled dresses-became terribly sea-
sick" prayed God that if He "would
only forgive them for this trip they would
never go on another excursion. New
York! oh, but am SICK" and all such vul-
gar nonsense; all this because he and his
coadjutors disapproved of the excursion
from the first, but waited until it was over
to stretch the truth aud publish gossip, in
order to defame it-thus exhibiting the
"cloven hoof."
Now, for the correct information of those
who know nothing of the excursion, with
the exception of what they have learned
from Teetotal's" fexibility and gossip,
l would say, from certain knowledge, that
the excursion was not gotten up for a
drunken spree-was not drunken spree.
1t was not gotten up solely for the purpose
of making money, and no money was made
on it. l would furthermore state that, to
my certain knowledge, all, with but very
few exceptions, enjoyed themselves from
the time the steamer left North East
until she started on her return trip from
Fair Haven; when, about two hours after
ward, a storm, which no one could forsee
overlook her, which made it somewhat
rough on the excursionists. Yet there was
but little complaint, and there would have
been much less, had the boat been fitted up
with better night accommodations; but she
was only day boat, and had cost the
stockholders equally as much as had
larger and much better boat the year
before. Had it not been for the storm, the
excursion would have arrived at North
East in good time, and none but the "sore-
heads" who did complain, would have had
any cause for complaint.
AS to the "pilot losing his reckoning" as
"Teetotal " observes, it is nonsense to sup
pose that man of years of experience on
the waters of Chesapeake Bay and North
East River, as pilot, would cast anchor
in sight of well known "light" and
that, too, in sight of the very land on
which it is situated, because he "could
steer no further in the dark" The boat
did stop at Turkey Point, but it was
because we did not want to land in the
dark and storm, and several persons were
to be landed at Bulls Mountain, but few
miles above. The COMMITTEE did lose
nine dollars on the excursion, and the great
majority of them say they are willing to
risk nine more next year. The cateress
did refuse 90 to pay up all her liabilities, in
consequence of which they (the Commit
tee) had to call on Bailiif De Ford for
assistance who, with their aid, captured
key of larger from her," but here Teeto-
tai " is altogether off the track. Now, to
show that the excursion was not such a
disgusting affair as "Teetotal " would like
to make it out to have been, l would say
that, when the Bailiffappeared on the boat,
(of course he could do nothing the woman
informed the Committee that if she had
sold five more kegs of lager, she would
have paid all her liabilities. The Commit
tee then asked her what the retail price of
key would have been. She answered,
"ten dollars" They then offered to take
the whole five kegs at that price-which
offer was at length accepted, and they then
proceeded to sell right back to her, at the
rate of three dollars per key, thus realizing
the sum of fifteen dollars, which they never
would have gotten, had it not been for that
little piece of sharp practice. The "keg
of lager" to which =" Teetotal" refers, was
one that was bought and paid for by two or
three individuals who could not resist the
temptation to get drunk, after having
landed on I" terra firma." The parties to
whom "Teetotal" refers as having been
"rendered unfit for business for the day,
losing good situations for neglect of duty"
were not on the excursion, but got drunk
in North East, on the morning after the
excursion. "Teetotal" then winds up by
hoping that "for the credit of the town
and its vicinity, this will be the last
Annual Excursion " that will leave North
East. Now, whenever anything happens
in North East, that is in the least discred-
| liable, and to which the word sc Rum " can
be applied, "Teetotal " is always around
to have his finger in the pie" He then
inserts his little quill and blows and blows,
until it is inflated to the utmost it will
bear, and then publishes it as memento
of his love of morality and temperance
Bravo! Teetotal," go on! go on.-but
remember, "there's time to sing and a
time to dance;' and zoe chose the excursion
for it. f. Y. CURsIoN.
I'VE don't see that this account differs
materially from Teetotaf s.-ED.l
| DEMOCRATIC EXTRAvAGANCE.-Th Gun
terrified " catch it from all quarters. A
reform meeting was held in Baltimore, on