The Baltimore County union., 1881-12-24
CorTesy,oadsHcs Baihmors CoHHfv Caioa.
LETTER FROM CAToNsviLLE.
A Little Illustration OF u Big Tendency
Argus s''-Cranks-Ed Educa; on-Doc
tors-Asylums ms-Felines and
EQuines Etc Etc

CArONsvtLLE, December goth. Issl.
us.'Ts. EdiioTs ;-Sotlong ago, Asis well knowh,
n party % gentlemen wen, over the route Of the
proposed steam road 90 th. place. and among the
number Was the worthy baltimore corresponds nj
Of the JoarHai Argus" In his usual piqaant,
mi.humorou. vein he Afierward described 10 the
Journal an account of his trip, embracing also such
features Of our village struck bis eye ia a casual
glance. As he made no attempt 10 historical ac-
euraey and tingei with humor the sonbre thing.
he described be uniuckily aroused the ire Of some
of our wise ones, who, notwithstandins their vie
dom, were incapable Of properly Undertaking
his jocular shaiingS.
One Of these e-roused gentlemen Wa about %
administer O. Argus" q severe casti tigation in a
communication 90 our village paper. when he hap
penei TO mention his intention 90 the writer, aud
vas finally toned down 20 . good -humored pro.
duction. argus" afterwArd noted this produc
tion In his usual happy vein In the Joaraai. and
the writer vas again fortunate or unfortunate
enough 90 hear him subjected 60 q verbal malelic-
tion account thereof from one person. and to
hear him pronounced. In all seriousness, a. q
"crank, unworthy Of notice by, another.
Now, the points 60 be observed are; The cas,i-
gatory inelinations Of the Catonsville eorrcspon.
dent. when, notwithstanding hi. supposed inielIi.
gence. he vas unable TO properly appreciate a
scholar and gentlemen; and, the tendency 60 brand
~ cranky persons whO really or supposedly antag-
onite certain common interests or opinions from
both the extreme Of criminals 60 that Of beneiac-
tors. There are necessarily various degrees in
these conflicting tendencies in which certain de
gree one side balances with certain degree on
the other and II 80 happened that the above par
ties proved thus contrarily balanced. some per
sons might not see the same points Of conflict in
certain relations that others ght bu, they might
them in other relations.
With all the vauntei education and civilization
Of the day IL might be supposed that people at.
tained 20 some appreeiable degree of disrrimina-
tion; but such 10 the machine. like working.to
gether- uniformity on the average that whatever
comes in outside Of that average 10 misunderstood.
IL mans pride or interest is de,rimentaily affect.
ed by q man . little below or above this average,
the average penalty is showered upon him. This
penalty has been heretofore personal odium or law
In some shape, hut IL Is becoming TO be found
cemprehended In the term crank OF luna,ie, aud
line over an assassin at Washington is proving
itsefto be the great supplemental educator thereto
II must not be supposed that Catonsville, with
Its "fair women and brave men," has any more
than its due quota Of personages foremost In this
delightful approaching dispensation, wherein
every Doctor will become combined judge, jury
and attorney, every prison an insane asylum, aud
every man, not doctor n keeper Of his brother,
n lunatic. Although proud of all tina, IL worthy
Of pride In our people and village, Il l. but meet
20 esPose growing, general failaey as itemiEed
among rs and as capable from certain felicitous
surroundings and personages Of an expansion un-
proportional TO our growth.
Our village paper. aware Of the antagonisms
that may be engendered, has excluded from It,
columns any allusien TO the topics involved in
certain Of the chief subjects Of the day and treads
with feline softness on its way. A. q natural Sc
qusnee 10 such accustomed dociity, the exhilira-
ting equine prance Of an incoming visitor cannot
but be viewed with tinge Of disdain. Let him,
however, smile at our pettiness and honor more
worthy places with the charms Of his pen. Y.