Morning journal and courier., 1880-11-01
CORRESPONDENCE.

Baltimore and its Great CeIebration-on
 the Way to PhiIadelphia-Stories and | Incidents.
 | oN PHILADELPHIA STEAMER, JUST LEAVING 1 BALTIMORE, Oct. 26. | To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER: l have written you from this place so many 1 times that your readers who are not interest
 ed may wonder at it. and to those I will say ! that no city as far from New Haven as Balti- more is has so many of our own people resi- ding ln and about it. Therefore write from here again. To-day I was gratified once more to see with what interest your paper was read by gentleman, and one of the oldest and wealthiest merchants here Any thing from Connecticut seems to have a par ticular interest, not only in this city but in whatever place I visit This morning in Washington good story was told of Yan- kee drummer" getting the best of some would-be sharpers, and of course did not feel the least bit fiattered thereby. Of course 1t was told me as a compliment, and as such I took it, but then not every Yankee drum mer" is smart.
 But, as usual, am getting away from my subject. began by speaking about Balti- more Of late that place has been a great center of attraction, particularly during the past week, for during the whole of that time the city was given up to holiday and mirth. On Monday the stores closed, and during the next few days were open only part of the time. And even politics (for the time) were almost forgotten. I noticed to-day that many of the streets were spanned with arches, which even in decay were yet splendid. And many buildings were yet decorated with the ''orange and black" Judging from what saw even after the celebration was over there must have been a great time, for even the harnesses on the mules (for mules and Balti- more go together) were trimmed with the colors of the lord" who one hundred and fifty years ago last week gave this flourishing city his name. The wooden Indians standing in front of the cigar stores the windows of the hotels, the barbers' poles the stands for store awnings the numerous flag staffs and almost every place where those two colors could be made conspicuous were made to show them. I saw one building that had a row of gas shade globes all painted yellow, and sign in black letters upon the said shade-globes. Most commendable of all was the fact that there was perfect harmony and quiet all the while. It was said by the sur rounding newspapers, which were better able to judge of it's merits than those directly in- terested, that it was the greatest celebration America ever saw. It was the main building of the Philadelphia centennial exposition all over the great town. It was said to me to-day that if people had known it was to be only one tenth as grand and great as 1t actually was it would have been visited by thousands upon thousands more than did come. And yet six hundred thousand persons make a large crowd
 It is too well known to your readers for your correspondent to say that the city of Baltimore continues the greatest rival of New York in the matter of exporting grain Being nearer the grain fields the saving of freight is an item and in these days of fgur- ing (even in election) everything counts. For instance, the very boat that I am this mo- ment travelling upon is wonderful saving in freight. By necessity she must be small or she could not go through the locks on the canal, by doing which she cuts off over three miles of travel.
 I was greatly amused since I began this letter by little story of the captains who told me he had quite a controversy with passenger a short time ago about this matter of 'going through the canal.' was giving him very freely piece of my mind because they had no faster boats upon this line, and he said they made excellent time, and then he told his story. But before I tell the same I must first give you a little idea of our captain, who says that for twenty-two years he has not lost trip nor an hours time. You know by my letters that go by this line pretty often and am quite well acquainted with 'tall hands," It pays to be on good terms with those at whose mercy you are
 
 into their good graces. Well, this gentleman is rather short and stout, uses tobacco (strong language also) pretty freely, and ex- pectorates (without regard where) often. He said, going over short time ago pas senger standing near him was watch CT glide past them at twice their rate of speed and said ''Why don't you go like that ?" To which he replied that fast as she was going he would wager new hat that he would beat her into Philadelphia, at which the stranger grew very angry and called him ignorant D And so the matter grew warm Con the one side) until the fact which have just stated was shown to the shorten ing of the distance by the canal-and all turned into good hearty laugh.
 To-day Cor rather it is night now) we have goodly number of passengers on board, five times as many usual, and as often Cor always) in such cases they are of the miscel- laneous sort I have talked with good many of them and indulged in much study of human nature Some folks claim they can tell the history of person by lock of their hair Others can give you all the points about another by specimen of handwriting; and whether either of these are true or false, certainly can tell great deal about man by short conversation with him. Selling goods for score of years on the road gives person an excellent opportunity to read others, by words, looks, actions, dress and manners and although claim no merit as a detective I can give a pretty good account of nearly every man I meet, even if but for a short time. The most striking person on board to my notion tonight is a man of strange dress, singular actions and peculiar voice. I have seen him before on this line. He knows every one, has lived in many parts of the world and been engaged in various occupa- tions. During the war he was substitute broker" Since then he has kept saloons for eating, drinking, the playing of games and for still worse purposes. In his language he is guarded, yet seemingly free. He never makes a statement if asked a question and listens instead of talking. His-hair is long and curly and his voice is soft and winning when he speaks, but his eyes! Let him but look into yours and you have seen enough of him. Another is an older man. He said he had just returned from the woods and wanted to know from me if there was any news in Philadelphia. told him politics was ''all the rage' now. He said he supposed so, and he was right. He left me and is at present reading his Bible by the dim light. I think when he gets through I will go over and speak to him. There, he has finished. I will speak to him now. M. .. ;.