The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-06-21
LETTER FROM A eRUMBLING BRlTOA.
nALTIMORE vs. LoNDoN.
cs''e-pssasnss Of q Democratic Aavoq.'s.


cosrcspondence Of lhe Democratic Advocate
-
MgssRs. EDfroRs:--I am getting rusty.
Things here are too bright aud brilliant, and
am positively wearying for something to
grumble at II is the custom Of my Milesian
compatriots when he hnngers for fight, to
slip his right arm out Of his coat sleave, and
letting that garment trail, TO invite all aud
sandry TO tread on the tail OF il. Should the
invitation be accepted scrimlnage ensues Of
a more or less blood. thirsty character. But
no such simple process is open to me in order
to get occasion for good grumble. am
obliged to take things as | find them, aud if
they commend themselves TO my good opinion
am unhappy, for there is nothing TO grum'
BILE at. Now, in the matter Of food-an Eng.
hshmans most prolific source Of grumbling-
am quite silenced. | have found so many
appetising and relishable dishes that ! am
bound TO say admire Balhmorean cookery.
In fact, | am getting quite n gourmand, so
much so that hayeactually tastedfrog. Now,
ofall the dishes NTH world thatan Englishman
has horror OF, II is frog, and yet here am |,
an outaRd-out Briton, ready to grumble at
anything, calmly sitting down aud confessing
that | have not only eaten frog, but enjoyed
it. U Temporal, o moTes. "Can such things
be, and overcome us like summer cloud,
without orr special wonderg' Surely not.
am degenerate Briton, and it is the ileshpots
Of Baltimore that have tempted me to the
abnegation Of my prejudiees. who, from
my birth, have hitherto scrupulously believed
thatroastbeefand plum-pudding were the only
two dishes which were worth living for, have
sadly degenerated and learned to love fried
clans, clam soup, clam chowder, soft crabs,
terraplns, cocoa'nut pie, strawberry short.
cake, and host Of other things, not omittiug
the most outrageous of all--frogl II stay
in Baltimore much longer, aud escape govt
aud dyspepsia, il will be marvel.
But leaving gastronomy for the present, |
want TO say a word or two about Baltimore
street paving am astonished that in a city
where there are SO many fine buildings land
capital cooks that the streets are not better
paved. A few nights ago | had to return
home in the small hours. There was no moon
and no gas; and the acrobatic feats that | had
to perform to maintain my equilibrium would
have made Blondin-could he have seen
me-weep with envy. For abouta mile was
performing the most extraordinary eyou
1 tons. Now, with one foot on the point Of a
| boulder and the other down deep and un.
! fathomable ebasm, make n frantic effort TO
| find myself balanced on tramcar rail, prepar.
! atory to once more gaining the sidewalk,
which, for the space perhaps Of yard, is toll.
erably level; then pitch forward, scramble,
a shuttle, q leap, fall, and seat on the stone
steps OF a store, whose charitable proprietor
has left gaslight burning for the benefit of
any poor belaied wayiarer like myself. Some
time ago, when the North Metropolitan Tram.
way Company, Of London, q. b., imported a
number OF American horses to work the cars,
the universal cry of the horsey knowing ones
was, that although the animals were splendid
specimens Of the equine race, they would
never be able to stand the wear and tear OF
the London granitepaved streets But II
these knowing ones had ever seen Baltimore
streets, they would have held their tongues,
for if a horse eau work on Baltimore streets,
he can work on any road in the world. | say
this adyisedly, for rougher, harder, more un.
even, more unsightly-bnt, wilhal, Clearly
4 roads and sidewalks, il would surely be i'm.
possible 10 find in any country in the world.
/ by the by, | was out the other day in the
storm here, which you have probably heard
| OF. must say it was worthy its name; but,
| only think, the press were content with de-
voting about half column to il. Had any
4 thing approaching it occurred ia London, G..
/ b., the dailies would have devoted a page TO
| it, at least. How is this to be accounted for +?
Are storms regular institutions here, Of such
I frequent occurrence that they excite only pass.
| ing noticeg This is conuiidrun that can
] not answer, and give il up
visited the publishing Office of the Ameri,
can the other day, and was much astonshed
at some pictures there beheld, and which
believe are the work Of an American artist.
! One of the pictures represents Roman girl,
in an erect posture, her hand resting on a
vase. IL Is perfect gem, from an art point
Of view. The pose of the girl is natural and
hfe.iike, the expression Of the face as true to
nature as is possible. There is nothing stiff,
pedantie, or out Of drawing 10 the whole pic.
ture; and the fidelity aud care exhibited in
minute details reminds one very forcibly OF
the masterpiece Of Holman Hunt. The pic.
ture in question not only attracted me as a
chef d acre of art, but it impressed me with
tho wonderful inmate vitality that must exis,
in the American people, since with a history
practically only 100 years old, it can equal,
If not excel, some Of the best works OF both
ancient aud modern masters, in that most
critical OF all tests of nations advance in
| eisilizaiion-the test Of painting.
| But, but this is not grumbling, but quite
the other thing. | must relieve my feelings
/ by dining 10 Baltimore, aud in the mean
time beg 10 remain yours ever very truly,
/ GRuAniiNG BATON.