The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-07-17
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, D. c., July 18th, 49,


abouts is one of the incest things in the
world to read about, and l always read
religiously all the advertisements for coun-
try board in the morning aud evening pa
pers, and then thank my stars that have
sufficient strength of mind to stay at home.
Outside of the administration and $50
ciety," half of the people here don't go
more than two or three miles out of sight
of the dome of the Capitol; but then it's
"the thing" to go away, and for the sake
of being considered orthodox, they will
leave comfortable homes and stow them
selves away in small room, live on poor
fare and put up with mosquitoes, kerosene
lamps, &C., at night. These are generally
the browning miseries of Summer resorts
near the Capital. Life is uncertain, but
not a bit moro SO than kerosene and mos
uuitos. If my bank account was in better
order, | should like to 60 away to some
good, honest seaside place; but as for tax
ing oneself and family to one of these cheap
country boarding places within stones
throw of the city, packed with the "make
believes" for the sake of saying am going
to the country, cannot do it. When l say
"make believes mean those people who
skirmish around the out-posts of "socety"
and make believe they arc in the center.
tried one of these places once, and rather
enjoyed the excitement of hunting mosqui-
tos, &C., by the light of kerosene lamp,
| ~, 80 60
from repeating the experiment.
took nice little trip down to Point
Lookout, during the past week, and have
concluded that Washingtonians are not
alive to their own advantages. If Wash
ngton had half the enterprise of New
York or Philadelphia, with such an availa-
BILE place SO near at hand, where good food
and good salt. water bathing could be had
at moderate price, enabling all to take
rest for awhile, they would long ago have
made it fakorite resort for the people.
But lack of enterprise and the costliness
of seaside board compels US to take great
interest in that department of the army
Familiarity known as the probability divi-
sion. A harsh fate that seals us here all
Summer has taught us to respect that body
which deals out the weather, and brought
us to a conviction that signal sergeant in
the Summer season is of more account than
lieutenant general of any other brigade
of our veteran life preservcrs. What we
want is to coax Old Probabilities, Young
Prob, and the balance of the Prob family
to give us wholesome weather, and we will
be happy. "Light breezes from the south
east, with clouds and probably showers
toward the afternoon for the Middle States
and the District. A remarkable fall in the
thermometer and a continuance of light
rains" Something like that, you know,
that will cheer the city pilgrim and make
the sea- side hotel keeper shoulder his jaw
and howl.
THE HOLLY TREE.
A great deal of virtuous indignation is
being expended here on the part of our
dining saloon and boarding house keepers
on band of Christian females, who have
established pious eating houses, called
Holly Tree Lunch Rooms. The object the
association ostensibly has in view is good
one-to provide lunch room-where de-
partmental clerks, ladies and gentlemen,
can go in and get lunch or a simple cup
of tea or coffee without being compelled to
60 into restaurant. There are so few
places in Washington where ladies desiring
anything of the kind car. 60 with perfect
safety and comtor...; therefore, institutions
OF THIS KIND Ere needed and should be sup
ported. But their price list is considerably
! below the average prices of the aforesaid
saloon and boarding house keepers, hence
the indignation.
Great stress is laid on the fact that it is
an aid to temperance. This, l think, is a
mistake. As far as my personal observa-
ton extends, it is my opinion that when a
man wants drink of whisky he is not
going to eat mush and milk instead. He
will probably take his ten cents in cash
and get drink, then use his ticket for
lunch. An acquaintance of mine told me
he was boarding at the Holly Tree because
he could save five dollars per month, and
he could take two drinks now where he
could only take one before. I fail to see
how, in this case, the temperance cause is
| advanced.
OUR RIFLE TEAM.
Our crack shots at the Capital propose to
form rifle team, and preparations have
already begun in earnest. The plan is to
enroll one hundred members, practice con-
tinually, and out of that number select the
best ten shots, and then invite all the rifle
teams in the world to participate in a Ma
tional Rifle Match, in this city, during the
coming Fall, and vanquish them ALL 1t is
just as we might expect; the fame won in
Ireland has aroused the National ardor,
and the Americans being initiative bipeds,
there will be tons of powder and lead
wasted in the sport of driving the bulls
eye. One thing, however, is settled fact,
Pat can't hold rifle with Jonathan, but if
Jonathan could be induced to try it with
shillaahs, Pat would score him in man.
ner that would put an end to his aim for
some time to come.
THE FOURTH.
The day we celebrate passed off very
quietly but with the usual run of accidents,
and arrests for drunkenness and disorderly
conduct.
BASE BALL.
Providence knocks base ball club sooner
or later, as surely as he settles the man
that splits his hair in the middle. Our un-
fortunate Washingtonian nine, after being
licked out of their stockings wherever they
went, are now stranded in St. Louis, their
financial agent having absconded with their
funds. Other clubs are raising subscrip.
tons to send them home-a sad come down
from base ball heroes. ]. II. p.
rB A change has taken place in the edi.
torial charge of The Rod and Gun, Mr.. W
F. Parker being compelled to retire from
the editorial chair, on account of i'll health
T. c.. Banks and VIM. Humphreys take