Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-03-08

rs -fsf..lE .isa LEOkAIUTOWI
u.i... |. .us..i.....-. - Gsu.i.i.z. s-..u-.uuu !
about leave Of absence 10 60 10 wash
ingto6. - .-se7 Il ssiaiEss EEE 'iEsg 2gl
:.Now,' continued the Ganeral, n
Ismste Beutven moved, rather ruefully
away. "I'il show you our oldest, case,
the centenarian Of the establishment." I"
We entered Z little room, In the centre
ofwhieh cbsat over q table, sat q per-
con Of .extFene ag6 ,siA;ssais1A ratty
swallow tail coat. s,He sw9a whiting dill
igently and without cessstion.
Look up, Hannibal" said lie So
Perintesdssts pekisS him gently with
g g; faea -! :! eGh eGh p ss6s s. 1shs -
~ When the sged lamate locked up, we
saw that he, WAS tied in slhk chair to
keep him from tumbling out. He smiled
blandly upon " for . moment from be-
hind his spectacles, and then began 70
write agsm ss industrioosiy as ever.
"What 10 he doing 7" I asked.
'He is writing franks. He has lost
oil bis teeth and his hair and his hear
ing and his wits, but he can hold pen,
and he writes franks from morning till
night, stopping only for his Cruel. The
other inmates are celebratingthe Fourth,
but here is old Hannibal at hi, custom
ary occupation. He writes his name
on every old envelope, newspaper or
scrap Of paper that be can find, and puts
them ell in the big mail box in the hall.
OF course, like the contributions Of the
rest OF the inmates. they never 60 any
further than my Office. But he doesn't I
know it, and he placidly keeps on writ
ing franks. The only thing that ever
exasPerates him is the sight Of q post
age stamp. I suppose he will write
franks fill the Day Of Judgment. Such, "
added the General, -did.ctieally, ais the
force OF habit" f..... ., .3.
"You must find q curious collection
Of epi>tles in your mail box, General 2"
Rather! We have good reading
room connected with the institution.
and most of the inmates take great IN
terest in our current affairs. Many of
them fancy that they are still inAuen-
tial in shaping political events. They
write innumerable letters which nobody
ever reads but myself. Not long ago /
found letter from Blame, addressed to
the Pope, asking for the Vatican inAu-
ence to help him along in the Presiden-
tial campaign Of '84. You would have
laughed at the Piteous appeal which
Schuyler Colfax once mailed to Presi-
de,t Tilden. He wanted the Post Of
fee at South Bend, and said he could
produce certificates Of good neral char
acter. Only yesterday I found this brief
letter in the box. You may value it rs
an autograph"
TEE RHrarAr, July 3, 1880.
DEAR SrLPH: Although writing comes hard,
thought would send YOU a single line. will
fight il out on this line if it takes all summer.
may have made escapes but my worst enemy
cannot say that ever let any guilty man mis-
take.
"What!" =" I exclaimed, sis he here:"
Yes" said our guide. ave employ
him about the stables, and he seems
tolerably happy. If you give him a
cigar when you pass there. he will be
affected to tears"
The majority Of the inmates had as
sembled in the large courtyard of the
asylum. around whIch was > high brick
wall patrolled by keepers. The recur.
renee ofthe national anniversary SCENE d
to excite considerable enthusiasm.
recognized many faces once familiar,
but now almost forgotten. The assort-
ment of decayed politicians included
representatives Of every political caste,
from the ex-senator or the ex-Govern-
or to the played out ward striker. Ire
marked the peculiar satisfaction with
which Gen. Butler pointed out Blaine.
Apart from all the others sat Morton, of
Indiana, gloomy and morose, his chin
resting upon the handle Of a eruteh.
started to approach him, having known
him IN other days.
"You' better not" said the Super
intendent. catching my intention and
my arm at the same instant.
why not!"
YOU'D better not, that's ALL" said
Gen. Butler, significantly; and just then
Morton looked up from his crutch, and
scowled across the courtyard at John
Sherman, with an expression on his
face which convinced me that the Su-
perintendent was right. =
The inmates had hoisted q f1ag m
honor Of the day--and lwere making
speeches. regret that ! am not able
TO report theft remarks, which were
full of patriotic sentiment. I was par
tieularly impressed with the eloquent
words Of old Subsidy Pomeroy who
wept as he pointed TO the flag and moved
the following resolutions. which were
seconded by Schuyler Colfax and passed
unanimously:
Resolved, That the inmates Of this
Retreat point with pride to the record
Of their services IA the past and pledge
their unwavering support in the future
to the Government Of this grand Re-
public.
Resolved, That the petty Of our in
s,itutions must be maintained at all
hazards.
Resolved, That a committee OF three
be appointed TO lay these resolutions be-
fore Gen. Butler. and to ask at the sssne
time that there be plums ia the duff on
the occasion Of this anniversaEy o( oss
national independence. -
In the cheering which followed the
reading Of these resolutions, one cid
naa-aearly as old - the centenasian
whom had seen inside-swung his
cap feebly. and shouted in a tremalous