The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1875-05-15
Editorial QWGTTeIs.
BY J. L. sNoDGRAss.

"a single regimental muster in which l
"hourished" in the suburbs of Martinsburg, as
a staff officer, was about the beginning and end
Of my military career in the "Virgiuia Flat
iOots, or in any other military organization, l
might have added, for l have never mad much
inclination toward playing either the "bold
soldier boy" or the courageous FIRE laddie, or
"sich" as ropsy is made to say. And as | look
back on my past life from my present stand
point of three-scnre, am glad this was the
case. have known not a few promising young
men ruined both in morals and pocket by such
associations as those begotten by military or
fire companies.
"Amongst the duties assumed by me as an Of
tcer in the aforesaid "Flatfoots" was that of
attending the court-martial In my day, that
august body met at Kroesens tave. Il, which
stood near where Grantham Hall now stands
the headquarters for popular gatherings of all
kinds, not only because of the roominess of
the establishment and It's accommodations for
the outward man, out those for the inner man
well. 1t fact, Mrs Kroesen was famous !or
the satlslactoriness OF the culinary arrange
ments at the buzzing old proprietor's hotel
the difference in the Learing of the host and hos
tess being this, that she was as docla as he
was obstreperous.
sit was at sitting of our court-martial, held
in Kroesen's, first saw Captains Hunter aud
Alburtis together. And / well remember how
surprised was at their mutual bearing. was
constant reader of Hunters paper, the Ga-
Sette, while was not unfamiliar with that Of
Alburts, the Republican, albeit | read the lat
ter's Democratic diatribes with all the preju-
dices of a young Whig Their respective edi-
torlals bristled all over with epithets and
threats. In personal invective Alburtis was
too much for Hunter. This had felt-hence
my greater sympathy with the latter. | sup
posed they meant what they said, and did not
write in the "Pickwickian style" to employ
phrase which came in vogue at a later date,
with the writings Of "Boz," as Charles Dickens
always monde plumed himself at the start of
his literary career. got not llttte excited
over the editorial controversy, for it waxed
warmer and warmer as the recurring weeks
brought the antagonistic newspapers face to
face. In fact, expecting duel as almost cer-
tain to occur, began to feel, at length, as if
seconds place would be acceptable to my SYM
pathetic feelings.
at was under these circumstances that l
saw the two captains, as they were ranked
then, Il was only lieutenant) come in and
take their respective seats at the court martial.
"W they be able to restrain their anger" Z"
/ asked myself-"Will they confer together af-
ter what they have been saying of each other
in their papers?" l answered my own query
with, "No; i'm possible"
"But they did confer when necessary in the
course of our proceedings-or. at least, they
referred to each other by name and title, and
with precisely the same courtesy and in the
same tone as others did.
"Well," said to myself, al suppose the rules
require this, and good soldiers they obey
them, however severe the self-control demand
ed for the ordeal.
"But what was my amazement, when the
court martial adjourned, to see these belliger-
ent editorial Cal plains put their heads together,
and hear colloquy like this: "Now, Captain,
as your paper comes out first, suppose you take
the proceedings, and send me a proof slip of
them, when you get them in type?"
"AlI right" replied the other editorial cap
iain.
Then they marched off together to the bar.
Addressed as ''Lieutenant ST." and therefore
fatteringly invited to accompany them, as l
felt, did so. Think of my now unutterable
amazemeRt when actually saw them drink
together (D was positively dumblounded, and
could scarcely belive my own eyes.
''Whether l drank with them, do not now
recall, though it is very probable that, being in
Rome l acted Roman, there being
temperance pledge to restrain any body then.
But this one fact do l distinctly remember
NV sympathetic interest in the Gazette's side
OF the pending controversy with the Republican,
which was renewed in the very next issue of
each paper, had vanished. The blindfold
had worn dropped off. read the next bellig
erent editorial (bellignerent in words only, |
now knew calmly. And I slept soundly af-
forwards. Visions of duels and streetfghts
haunted my slumbers no longer. And never
have lost wink of sleep overeditorial quar-
rels since
"Now for lesson: If editors of opposing
politics feel they must write severe things, let
them write them, and let their respective read
ers enjoy the spice thus afforded. But let not
what they say in their papers disturb their so.
cial relations. When political strife is sufficed
to do this, as is too often the case nowadays, it
becomes positive evil to the community
wherein it is fostered-in fact, it becomes So
cial curse.
NAHhonor to the memories of Hunter and
Alburtis in this respect! Let their successors
in all future time strive to initiate their sensi-
BILE example"