The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-06-23


number Of churches. There are two Pres
byterian, one Methodist. The Episcopa-
lians are building a commodous one, the
Catholics are building one also. and the
Friends are gathering the funds toward
erecting meeting house, as that thrifty,
prudent people object to contracting debts,
unless they see their way clear to the pay
ing of the same; meanwhile they hold cir
cular meetings in each others houses.
From the scenes we witnessed in and
around one of the hotels that evening, we
think that the Murphy movement will have
to move again on old King Alcohol before
they bring the millennium to the doors of
the town.
Oxford has number of nice stores and
lots of nice things in them; a spicy little
paper well conducted by two ob!ising and
courteous gentlemen; ice cream restaurants
ahouud on the main street, to which the
green houses of Messrs. Dickey give a very
attractive appearance Ito the strcet not the
restaurantSl; the CO operative car works
give employment to number Of men
The public school building is new aud hand
some, and the school is ably conducted by
Mr.. Snyder, who holds a life certificate, and
his lady assistants. \ private school is
also conducted 10y Miss Worrest and Mrs
Gatchell in the new aud pleasant dwelling
of the latter. Within sight of The town,
and situated upon commanding em;n2nce,
are the commodious buildings of the Lin
coin University, an institute III for the col
lesiate education of colored students, which
is the foremost institute of its class in the
United States at the present time. Two
banks are located in Oxford; one being 4
national affair and the other belonging to
banking company. The houses, most of
vi: nd Ia i.,o
pearance stand somewhat back from the
village street." and are surrounded by
shade trees and snowy flowers. AS we
walked its smoothly laid side walks in the
late June twilight, we voted it pretty lit
tie inland town, "only this and nothing
more, y like Poe's raven or any other man.
The prevailing topic of conversation in bar
room and store was the late "tidal wave "
of temperance which lately swept over the
town with such unprecedented fury. We
learned from conversations, to which we
listened. that some of the first SignerS were
sat it again - as bad as ever and that the
hotel man had told the tobacco chewing
zealot that he would quit the trade just as
soon as the banker quit charging u>aiy and
he quit countenancing and encouraging
dice throwing and other genteei gambling
III The church in order to increase his sal
"
zsalot 10 understand that the whisky men
are not the only members of the comm an
ity who cause the aged aud decrepit Henry
to waltz around the stump quite lively.
Now for the truth or talsehoOd of any
| thing in this communication do not vouch,
but this reported conversation between the
zealot and the dealer | give as the idle Cos
| sip of some loafers. | certainly heard it
repeated by them, and if it never did take
| place. | certainly wish that it had for rca
sons which shall keep to myself for the
| present.
| There was q very strange thing happened
! to me while | sCjoulned in Oxford, Mr..
! Editor, and am going to tell you all about
it, because | know that you will like to
hear it. While | was sitting on a hotel
| porch ! WAS approached by an influential
citizen Of the borough, who asked me con-
Iidentially to tell him if my name WASH t
" Cousin jim Cinquefoil,' g Sue, !"
"Quip?' l asked him what kind of a
hairpin he took me for, who would roam
over this wooden world, with one all of
those outlandish cognomens attached to
his mortal carcass. Excuse me- he re-
| piled, 81 have been told that that indi
vidua is a very eccentric genius and
| thought you might be him. Mo! eover, my
! family consider the writings of the person
age | have mentioned as very piquant and
| original and enjoy them so much that they
wish to make his acquaintance, and | was
about to invite you home with me to tea. -
| | thought my heart would burst at this.
and | had a mind to lie and swear that
was one and all of them. To be considered
"pquant and original" in this prosaic
age, to be invited to tea in the houses of
| Scrbes and PhariSeeS, that's what it is to
! be 4 wandering Bohemian, instead of Il
vagabond tramp. My friend took me home
with him that night. We travelled west
ward from the borough a mile or two aud
passed some fine dairy farms, but | OBJ
served that the land looked Thrush, as
though this incessant grazing were begin
ming to tell upon it. Just west Of Oxford
. is situated the fine residence of Rev. Bing
ham, Presbyterian minister at Avondale.
! The handsome brick mansion stands in the
midst of q beautiful. well kept park Of
noble forest trees. We saw the reverend
gentleman, hatleSs and coatless, driving
home his fine herd of Durhams from the
| pasture land. He appeared to be a tall.
slender man of the blonde type, in the
prime of a vigorous manhood.
The next morning my old '.Pdrd :" gave
me a dollar, and told me that he wanted
me to get on the marrow gauge" and
depart from his house in the way ard
manner of gentleman, which gladly did.
He took me down t, the cross road. and lie
said we must hurry and signal the train.
SO we hurried aud both stood on the track
where it crossed the road. Depot or ticket
office there was none, not even 4 leaning
post with "Look out for the engine on it.
By dint of shouting and waving our hats,
we got the train stopped when it came
along, and soon we We're off flying toward
the Susquehanua. We came near having
a terrific accident, caused by an impudeut
gobbler making at the engine, bat the
! heroic little engine came off victorious and
went putting and screeching on, and the
last we saw Of that discounted turkey, lie
was beating an inglorous retreat to a
neighboring farm house.
With love to all, remain
| Your aflectionate.
PHILEUs PEwTERSP0ONS.
For The Cecil Wing.