The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-02-07
MY MARYLAND.
A Chapter from q Forthcoming History
OF Mt. Washington.

OF At. washington.
From IL, Er,ry Sa,"rday.
Maryland's true boundaries are in the
hearts of her sons. No native has ever
wandered from the dear old State who
did not return, or repine because return
was impossible. ltwas showed in between
the North and South expressly to keep
the peace between those disputatious
sections but owing TO its small area it
proved on one occasion TO be inadequate.
There is however, no unmixcd evil
According TO the respectable rule OF
three. the less our territory the fewer
should be our politicians.
Looking now at the map, Maryland
resembles Rip Van Wrinkles hunting
shirt, when he awokc from his long
slumber or like a regimental flag that
has gallantly gone through hundred
battles. Through the fraud of the Penns'
our boundary was encroached upon by
the Quaker State At the north, and by
the rapacity OF the Old Dominion they
were narrowed down on the south and
southwest. Little Delaware was mali
ciously cut out of our northeast, where
she adheres like 4 barnacle. Perhaps
this has also its compensation in prevent
ing the Eastern Shore from being wash
cd away by the ocean.
The whole State, what is left OF it, is
ripped into two shores, which are the
cause Of the Chesapeake Bay. The hilly
country is usually more or less elevated,
and the flat regions are remarkable for
being, so to speak, level; mountains
exist which are chiefly used by the Bal.
timore and Ohio Railroad to cross over
on its way to the West. The fastidious
immigrant may have his choice in this
highly favored State of every variety OF
soil, from the rocks on the top of the
Alleghanies to the sands OF the Eastern
Shore, out of which oysters cons,ruc,
their shells. II is admitted that in sew
eral localities il is occasionally muddy
in extremely wet weather. But il is
healthy mud, as is proved by the clouds
of mosquitoes that arise in such places,
and which exhibit every indication OF
vigorous appetite. That in summer the
sun is sometimes warm. and that th,.
wind occasionally blows in spring is not
denied but it is confidently asserted
that We are more comfortable here than
our neighbors in Alaska, and quite rs
secure as those in ST. Thomas. Indeed,
the seasons in this highly favored lati-
iude are so temperate that the tempera-
ture may be truthfully said to be inces-
SAINT and unfailing. We are prepared
to dcpose that, during long residence,
We have never known the weather to fail
us. The climate indeed may be said
to be 4 mean climate-that is between
the extremes of heat and cold. For
so exquisitely is the thermometer bal
anccd that is never freezes and scorchcs
At the same time, except in certain aguc
districts, where, however, the chills are
not indigenous. but were introduced by
some infected Yankee peddling through
the country long ago. Another instance
ofthe remarkable equality Of the climate
is the total absence Of droughts in wet
weather and yet, on the other hand,
there are few rains which are not thor
oughly wet, not to say generally moist.
These phenomena deserve to be espe-
cially noticed by the intelligent agricul-
turist.
Wheat, oats and rye grow here upon
their own roots corn natures in the
ear potatoes yield one bushel for every
bushel planted with liberal use Of phos-
phate, and grass of the most verdent
description grows absolutely in a state
Of nature. Wild fruits grow sponta-
neously, without cultivation; and the in
habitants can indulge in the luxury Of
Of oranges and hgs-by paying for them.
Fish are abundant, especially dry cod,
barrelled mackeral, and smoked her
rings HOLSTERS are found chiefly in cans.
Oysters are so plentiful that people often
find them in their beds-but how they
get there no one can surmisc. There is
apeculiar variety Of this delicious bivalve
which has no shell. II is only the
"raws" that have shells; but in broiled,
stewed or fried we have never observed
such an appendage-at least in Mary
land oysters. Wild geese and ducks fy
abroad in great numbers also crows,
which are very interesting fowl of sable
hue. These birds watch cornfelds ma
turally, without being trained to the ser
vice and IL a thief should approach,
however quietly, they will instantly rise
and give the alarm.
Among the mineral treasurers are sew
eral copper mines, which are operated
upon the peculiar principle that for any
given amount Of gold that is put into
them, an equal weight Of copper can be
got out. Sccptics have denied that the
production is so heavy, but that was
probably under bad management. BY
the special favor Of Providence, we have
so far been preserved from oil.
The soil Of Maryland isof light sky
blue color. My authority is the map Of
the United States, in which il is there
so represented, whilst Pennsylvania is
shewn yellow and Virginia red.
Its history is fascinating to the last