The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-07-19

BOILER Explosions and state 1nspection-Sal
Of Public buildings Firsi Class Mnsie-A Test
ter, Water Everywhere, but not Drop thp to
nrink'-The Weather, etc,
BALTIMORE, Mn, July IL, 1879.
To Baltimore belongs the honor Of putting
down a firm aud unAiuching foot upon the
growing tendency to athleticism among the
| female sex. That udieionsly selected calls
thenic exercises are Of benefit to the female
body there is no question; but il is equally
beyond doubt that public exhibitions by la.
dies of physical prowess have q tendency to
cast slur upon that retiring modesty which
is. and ever will be, one OF the most potent
attractions of the sex. Il Is stated that tho
! Red and Blue stocking female base ball play.
ers achieved triumph in Philadelphia. III
so, the triumph was not endorsed in Balt.
more. True enough, on the first day Of their
appearance, there were thousands went out
to see, and possibly TO admire; and itishumil
ating to know that those who paid for best
seats, and seemed best pleased at the exhibit
ton, wore baldheads. But one sight seems
10 have been enough, even for the hairless.
The s'lady'' players exhibited no very atlrac-
tive charms, and their ''play" was an unmit-
gated fizzle. 1t is noteworthy fact, that
"ladiesp who come out in this way are not, as
rule, the handsomest of their sex. Some
are even profane enough to say they are de
cidedly plain. Their figures are not likely TO
eclipse Venus, and their complications will
scarcely bear comparison with the soft pink
and-white of Mrs. Langtry's.
BY the BY, tits rumored that the Jersey Lily
is going to visit America. Gluued with ex.
cessive aud fulsome fattery in Great Britain,
she is going to seek fresh woods and pas
lures new Well, be il so. In America
she will be welcomed and treated as a lady;
but if she come merely as a conscious beauty,
bent on conquest, she will surely discover
that American society has keener appreca
ton Of the graces of the mind than il has Of
the beauty OF the case in which it is locked.
1t is no doubt true that Baltimore has the
best appointed and the most ably served Fire
Brigade in the world; but it is question Of
some importance whether the practice Of ex-
hibting the skill of the force upon what are
termed test alarms is wise one. IL is
possible 10 cry "wolfh so often that it may
be fatally disregarded in the hour of real
danger The other day, a lot Of Philadelphia
officials honored the monumental city with
their presence, and straightway the City Hall
rung forth fire alarm. That the visitors were
surprised aud gratified with the promptitude
of the Fire Brigade-that they admired the
power and precision Of the hose, the pluck
and zeal Of the men, and were altogether ia-
vorably impressed with the experiments con-
Quoted for their inspection there can be no
manner Of doubt; but the fact remains, that If
real con6agration had broken out, the prob
abilities of a serious disaster would be multi
piled in consequence Of the simple circum
stance that the members of the Fire Brigade
were, at the moment, playing at fire-exiinc-
ton. Further, II is unnecessarily increasing
the labor of and risk to the firemen. On the
occasion an accident did actually happen.
If Philadelphians or others want to study the
Baltimore Fire Brigade, surely il eau be done
without rehearsing FIRE. Let the engines be
visited and inspected at their stations, and If
it be absolutely necessary that it should be
proved by experiment to what height jet of
water can be thrown, why let the experiment
be tried at these particular spots.
The Sunday Drinking question is assuming
o somewhat serious aspect in Baltimore. A
large number of corporate clubs have been es-
tablished, in regard to which it is not too
much to say that they have but the flimsiest
claims to be regarded as clubs In fact, they
are merely devices for the purpose of enabling
thirsty souls to get drinks on Sundays.
The Grand Jury has taken action in the mat
ter, and there can be very little doubt but that
the majority of these clubs are merely new
doors to old SALOONS. Ii is pretty generally
understood that these clubs will be regarded
as frauds, and that they will be put down by
the strong arm of the law. And very prop
erly so, too. So long as the ordinary license
holder is debarred from selling on Sunday, so
long should the authorities have the power to
shut the doors of selfstyled clubs, merely
started for the purpose OF bringing law into
contempt
The recent disastrous boiler explosion has
+ u.
safety Of steam.boilers in general. 1t seems
that insurance protects the owner of a steam
boiler from State inspection as to its condi-
ton. This is bad. No private interest or
private caution should be sufficient to prove
barrier TO the action Of the State. As aboiler
explosion is peculiarly liable 10 inlet injury
on citizens in general, it is all the more i'm.
portant that they should be under the direct
protection Of the State. Ali boilers, under
all conditions, ought to be subject to periodi-
cal State examination, aud the running of
boiler without sanction of a properly consti.
tuted State authority should be absolutely and
Internationally prohibited.
The storms with which we have been lately
visited have revealed an unpleasant experience
as TO the stability of tin roof. So many OF
these have been torn down, that the inquiry
naturally arises as TO whether they were ever
nNtuitll nAtus VI tntTt Is hOt1ethluE
in the mode Of fixing, that renders them so
susceptible to the influences Of gust of wind.
IL does not appear that roofs not OF tin eseap.
ed entirely harmless, but it is clear enough
that tin roofs suffered the most, and the qnes.
ton is occupying many minds as to whether
IT IS advisable or not to have an official in
spector OF all building operations, so that
risks from inefficient construction may be
reduced TO minimum.
Considerable and laudable efforts are being
made here to inaugurate Symphony Concerts
at the Academy. The idea is a good one,
and II music'loyers will only bestr themselves,
there is no reason why Baltimoreans should
not enjoy competent rendition Of the best
works of the best masters. The Academy
room possesses fac acoustic properties, and
all that seems to be wanting is body OF sub
seribers who would guarantee against loss the
promoters Of really first class concerts.
The press Of Baltimore has not been spar
ing in its sneers at the ineiiciency of 1.-THE
finest police force in the world.r Ii has now
an excellent opportunity of seeing how much
better this sort Of thing is at home. On Mon.
day evening the dead body Of Mr.. Alien ID.
Hutchinson was found in a vacant house in
the suburbs, under circumstances Of consid-
cradle mystery, If not of justifable suspicion.
The case IN all its details, is quite as inter
esting as that Of the late Mrs. Hull, and the
police yif not the press) have m excellent op.
portnniiy Of exhibiting their acumen in un.
rayeiiing this deplorable catastrophe.
ny the BY, pressmen are good detectives,
and should be proof against all sinful wiles
/ spread by the unprineipled for yictimising
inc upwaTy and the innocent. Journalists
should be absolutely proof against all .'eonfi-
denee tricks and their hearts should be
preternatnrally hard agains, all appeals for
practical sympathy in cases of small wives
and large families absolutely perishing from
want, But beneath tho waisieoat Of the most
astnte journalist there EXISTS a heart, lf you
can only reach Il; and Il is really refreshing
to lind that an innocent ~ girl captured a
couple OF experienced Journalistic --conviuced
them that she had been first chIoroiorined
and then oatraged-and so moved the com
passion OF her Interviewer that free quar-.
tiers were provided her. But-oh the pity
Of iti-all the innocence in the natter seems
% have been on the side Of the journalists
Well, they acted the part Of the Good Samar
itan, and doubtless they will get their reward.
But i isn't at hand just at present, unless he
overdrawn sympathy Of their co.journalisls
can be taken as comforting, which, 10 nut il
mildly, is doubtful
/ The shutting up Of the pumps, aud the sub
.