Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-12-08

"CraRiord," wIlting 10 tho Chicago Lines
from Washington anent the "To1 PATH C!ab
orgabization and ills troubles, sa5s:
Several months ago there budded sud booul.
ed in this oig al organization that called l:seit
national. Il attempted to shoot forth branches
but tho inoipient idicc7 of the parsut was sCcA
that propagation Was weak aud lamentab'o
failure This association vas known es tho
| Tow Bath Club, 80 nRmod 10 honor CT the eau
al boy, Garfield, who was then candidate tjr
the Presidency. This Tow Path Ciu5. as
local Wit said, organized by electiog It's mem
bers to all the petitions 10 calal boat service,
except the mules There was first decshaD5,
second deckhand, first r0ustaoout, sscood
roustabout. and other imaginative canal hande.
The Tow Path Club was made up OF depart
me n! clerks, who devised the tow path ldltcy
ss means of proIonging their lfiolal existence.
"For three months thes, clerks have been 90.
sent from their work the greater portion Oh
their time. doing what they call tospath work;
that is drinking cheap rum AID ho~iiug ssrVile
speeches in little seven -tlne psrtls;n gain
eriDgs, where not mother's son OF tho spco'a.
tors had vote 10 be infuerc.d. The Tow
FATHERS had badge made, the de'
sign of which is canal boat, win
helm hsrdsport under s!u3dng canvass
White House. Tho caual boat 10 tie des'go !s
large enough to laks tho White Hsu7c ADD all
the departments into it5 hold. The ears CT
tho mules ars close copy OF the frs: deck,
hands, the worthy genius who brs. vas visited
With the inspiration ct doVlsog the orgsu,zi'
ton, The uoifcru Of tho ToWpaher5 hes
been white cap with straight siaor, WoEo "itn
a white oil cloth c,pe. The edge Of the ciDe was
painted beautiful red. Under the cape a1d
can the apparel of the average dep,rtci :tt 8eTi
was permitted, though O sscood haud trnT
uniform was considered moro desirable, e
small torch costing twenty i've cents rotsiI ooa'
pIcted the picturesque mako up or tto low
p,thers, Their appearance WAS grotcsquo
enough to make the real mules or tue to'psta
laugh themselves into bysteros.
"When Garfield first visited Washington lie
roYpathers hslped at his reception, aad: It Is
estimated, produced about o1e-tbIrd Ot Tbs
hoarse shout of Welcome that greeted him n
iron. of the Riggs House. This eRe &C! was
tho only cficsl ono approeohlrg importance
| nsrforued BY the Towpaihers. L. was uoIlced
At the timo that General Garfield did not
| fall UPON the bosom Of aoy OF the d'ck~
hands, ard thst ho embraced nonc OF tue
| rousabou,s. Hc made GO itqni'i=s way
the mules we're overlooked 10 this orgahiz'iloa.
| He merely treated the fo%pathsIs a' yell as Il I;
did suybody else, sud that Was all there WAS CT
liz. When General Galf:ll san, ward bers thaS
be was o,miug on for visit, The To"pathsts
proposed at ouo, to take hin IN hood Ina
| idiots even elected GlrG I'D chief deckhaad,
| and then made ready for the old s4l!or OF tha
raging canawl. They planned reception Ia
whicl olnal boat was to hgu;o prom
ineotly. .,,
emptorv declination of any public reception. /.
came so curt and direc: that if there had been
sny mulss 10 the organization their ssns'lv,
feeIipes would have been afronted. Bu! yes
Iterdsy the Towpathers were enlightened. Ii
is saf. to say the mission OF this society Is q! al
loud. After the vigorous setting do"o Ct
!Geueral Gar6.ld's haads that they rcchVed,
| even mules perception is not needed to soc
ethat the cansl organization should bs damned
lun now aud forever. Eone cf tha Leading
Tovpsthers c,lIed upon General G.rd,!t u
jths namo of the society. Tbeso blooming
fresh water idiois had cards specially prnted tor
,he occasion, with the til, 10 fu OF "hfst DECK
lhard." etc, printed after each precious owner
NAM. Oae may imagine Geaersl GARFIELD
fseIings WHEN he was caIed fr1n his library BY
servspt With q dozen of these cIrd5' The
rssantiou he gave bis friends vas absolutely
elacisl. Hs curty nodded to them, staining
and not sskiog them to Sit down.
zone of the sotkssnen fccbly tried to say ina
he was glad to see that the GaIh5id capal Doa
va finally entering the LIS; look. waeu Gensf a
Garfield shut hiI eff with eucl s'era loci
that the speaker caoted 10 the middle or
word, and almost scrauslet. Gradua!!yi: bsga,
i. 10 dawn upon the OILERS saas they were GO
pleasant companiors. esd they cropt sentl
away, bopiog. IS they went, that tne,' naa %
rcc,ption by answering and erq1iry, "uo7
were y,u receivsd2 "D-n co!a." Genera
G,r6tId said af,eraard TO a friend that be ha'
/ 40 patience with su,h idl5cy. he was co
ashamed of bis having been eana' ooy' nsl:rc 9
gasit matter Of boaq.ina; it Was norc il c
deu: 10 his life. of the lsast importance 10 shar
ing his after career"
FOE TIE MILLIONS Tho bauisomest liz
of Silk Il Hs,odkercn,els. Cloves. Hoo and N :cs
wear at ISAAC EIoHBERG's.