Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-01-15

wines and fsrmented liquors has been
fast. On Christmas day here and
there on the streets were bundles OF
human clay fallen prone upon the
sidewalks and alleys like brave war
riors smitten by the hand of death.
Our policemen-may their leaf never
wither were kept busy trundling
off these limp and faccid Jumps.
New Years day was little better
as to the engulfment Of fluids, but not
different in its antec3dents and ae-
quences as to the flow OF yellow gold.
Altogether for the past two or thr ee
weeks the people of Cumberland have
been burning LIES candle at both
ends and in the middle too. Action
and reaction, you are aware, are OF
equal power. There has been so
much dissipation here of late, so much
"wine and wassall," SO much wicked
ness that l should not be surprised to
see a revival of religion break out"
i believe that's the expression
and many sinners reclaimed.
l was rather disappointed this year
IN the church decorations. Few peo-
pie seem to realize that the evergreen
sweet memory of summer can be
made into any other shape than the
traditional, perennial, obvious, bar
rem ones of the testoon, Wi cath and
lettering; they don't seem to know
that it can cling like spray, peep
from coign of vantage, or spring up
abruptly in some out-of-the-wa7 place
like tuft of tender grass making
glad the heart oil the desert.
The canal people are once more on
top. The anti-canal faction are mad
as hornets over the receivership deci-
sion and threaten direful things to
the Gins" ard an alliance with repub-
licans is openly limited. | do not
think much will come of this. Nc
Cardell-who might have been in the
democratic ranks what Luman is
among republicans-has a political
future before him and I do not think
it likely that he will deliberately walk
out to the end of a plank and saw
himself off. The Times, the organ CT
tho democracy here, seems to be wax
ing more and mere prosperous. ]
should not be surprised if it paid the
proprietor a clean $4,000 year.
No news is often good news. 1t is
notably so in this case with regard to
school affairs. The new commission
ers seem 10 have taken tight grip
on things and promise, among other
reforms, ten months schooling next
year-a colsummation devoutly to
be desired. ! am frank to admit that
l was not prepared to see Mr.. Coch-
rane turn out the efficient school man
that he has proved himself to be. l
was somewhat prejudiced against him
for reasons upon which it is not now
necessary to dilate, and my present
good opinion of his work is therefore
something that has been borne in
uron me-" as the Scotch say. When
he goes out of office-a time that
should be remote 1T will be with a
sense of public loss to all who have
been in a position to know.
So the asylum still remains beauti-
fully hung in mid-air. 1t seems to
my humble judgment that when the
people of Allegany county voted for
that institution they were good deal
crazier than any who will ever be
consigned to its sacred precincts. In
sanity is matter entirely for experts.
1t demands expert doctors, expert
nurses, expert food and regimen, ex-
pert hygienic rules, expert appliances,
WAYS and means, in fact expert every
thi ug. To place these poor unfortu,
mates in the custody of some heavy
handed Orson is a refinement Of
cruelty. The hospital is the place
for them, and the triaing difference
in expense between keeping them at
home and abroad should not amount
to consideration when justice and
mercy are concerned. I have as yet
heard nothing in favor of the asylum
that 1 consider worthy the dignity OF
being called an argument.
The Y. M. G. A. of this city have
done a good thing in getting a regular
paid secretary. The result is being
felt. The nucleus of good library
has been started, the boys are given
a short "talk" every Saturday night
by some competent person thrifty
Johot;no eooiety where live questions