The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-01-29
Correspondence of the Democratic Advoca
"a BAYSIDE IDYL."
Cambridge--Her PeOpIe--Her Industries.

So sings "Gath" in his rather meaning
less poem entitled GA Bayside Idyl," and
so might he we'll sing. 1t is true that if
he had given US snow storm or two, a
few hail stones, an occasional rain, and en-
veloped the whole in sheet Of ice, he
would have been more consistent with the
present state of weather, but as consisten-
cy is not one of "Gath's' jewels, we need
not look for it. But then that would only
be applicable now, for it is in the pleasant
summertime that Cambridge puts on her
best dress, and trims it up with pretty
flowers and luscious fruits. 1t would be
scarcely fair for one to draw his conclu-
sions in regard to the town and its advan-
tages at present, since the snow and rain
has rather dampened persons and things;
but as the present writer has been "seven
times around Jerusalem" as it were, in all
seasons of the year, he can at least dot
down few observations without injustice
to his subject.
The cold wave has rolled over this way,
and has given us good spell Of oold
weather, whichever you please. The muir
curry has fallen considerably, as also have
many persons who left their overshoes
home and were careless how they stepped.
A heavy snow has made sleighing excel
lent, and even my pen seems to have
caught the St. Vitus's dance, "from the
jingling and the tinkling of the bells. "
Trains have been delayed, business inter-
fered with, and Vennor is politely request
ed to send better sample of his weather
down this way. The people like him much
as prophet, but it is the muchness of his
snow storms that they object to,
Cambridge has an admirable situation,
on the left bank of the Choptank River,
about 18 miles from its confluence with
the Chesapeake Bay. 1t is favored with
a splendid harbor, convenient wharfage,
and is easy of access. The general plan
of the town is somewhat like that of West
minister. There is one principal thorough.
fare, along which the leading business
houses, hotels, county buildings, and best
residences are found The clean and we'll
kept streets, forced upon each other by
the irregularity of the Cambridge creek,
meet in an oblique direction. They are
paved with brick, and are more uneven
than the remaining stubs of the rotten De
Golyer pavement at Washington. The
town has sometime since outgrown its linn
its, and the new portion, or East Cam
bridge, situated across the creek, is max
ing favorable growth. Cambridge has
a venerable appearance. Approaching it
by steamboat it looks like a moated castle.
On closer inspection the houses tell plain
ly the story of its old age. They are large,
open, and southern, surrounded by large
lawns, nicely laid out and ezcellently kept,
The proverbial ivy clings around their
walls, and flowers of rare beauty in Sum-
mer enhance the surroundings. The in
habitants take a special pride in their
grounds and Conservatives, and even sue
ceed in making their gardens prettier than
many of our front yards. Especially is
this so with that of Judge Goldsborough,
whose own excellence, as we'll as that Of
his fruits and vegetables, has won more
than local reputation. Prior to 1876
there was, adjoining the Court House, a
beautiful grove, shaded by oaks and will
lows, and centered by public spring.
Here Cupid, on each summers eve, held
his court, and consigned many a bachelor
to the bonds Of matrimony. The people
have shamefully let this place go down,
and to-day it is a decaying reminder of
their former pride.
The Court House, for convenience of
location, and arrangement, is scarcely ex-
celled by any in the State: 1t is of brick
and cost in the neighborhood of $50, 900.
There are three churches here with the
prospect of another being shortly added.
Hotels aud stores flourish in profusion, and
lawyers offices are almost as thick as lager
beer saloons in Chicago. This is rather a
melancholy place for thirsty traveller,
since Local Option expressly forbids him
from "smiling" 1t is, however, a good
thing for the town, and also for the steam
boat companies, as was attested on one
morning preceding Christmas, upon which
they landed over eighty demiiohns filled
with the aqua ardeas. This fact is not
mentioned to disparage the morality of the
people of Cambridge. Far from it. Per
sons must have something to season mince
pies with, and as Cambridgeans are par
ticularly fond of that delicacy, who can
blame them if they use large amount Of
favoring? I can't, and only wish that
our landlady had been little more libera
with hers,
Among the buildings pointed out tt
visitors is the old jail in which Freeborr
Garretson was imprisoned, over one hun
dred years ago, for preaching Methodistic
doctrines. 1t is now utilized as stable
so you see that at least one of the land
marks of Cambridge is stable one. Tht
town has several banks, river banks, SNOW
banks and National Bank, and if we cal
place any reliance In Geology and Dor
chester county papers, the latter has beer
about as long in course of formation al
the other two. 1t is now, however, in ful
operation and has an excellent prospec