The Baltimore County union., 1882-12-23
Correspondence BaiiiHiors County UAioH.
LETTER FROM BALTIMORE.
Christmas Preparations-A Joyous Time
Anticipated-Over-Cr r-Crowded Street
Cars-Ice Crop-Increase OF
Business In tho Postoffice,
SC, &C., sc.

&C., &C., sc.
BALTIMORE, December Goth, lss2.
That we are close upon the Christmas holidays
Is palpabe In every direction. We realize u by
promenading our streets In all parts Of the city
and seeing thousands of every age. sex. color and
sire out In search Of articles for Christmas gifts.
The variety and fancy stores are literally packed
with persons making purchases Of such articles
suit their fancies. There appears 10 be neither
lack Of disposition nor money 10 get what Is most
pleasing and suitable to the OCCASION nor Is there
any real difficulty in making selections, As Abun-
dant assorments can be found in the various stores
TO suit every desire and taste.
The happy e0untenanees, rosy checks aud bright
eyes occasoned by the approach Of the Christ
mas holidays and-to Juveniles particularly-of
old Santa Claus being about 20 make his annual
visit, cannot be mistaken. Every move, look, act
and word show that even more joyous days-Mon-
day next (Nmas) and those intervening between
Il aud the approaching New Year's--arc antieipa-
ted. Occasionally. towards sunset and onward 10
almost the small hours Of morning, can already be
heard the peculiarly impressive sounds and sOnor-
Gus tootings of that everlasting Christmas horn.
For thing, l am glad 20 say, there Il cause Of
gratulation; that il. that the firing Of pistols,
shooting crackers, rockets spit devils and other
misehcvous and dangerous methods Of Juvenile
sport. have been strictly forbidden by the city
authorities. In other respects and otherwise the
boys and girls will have full liberty 10 follow the
bent of their incihations In such sports as are 10
them hHrmlessly spoTtivc. A. the lakes aud ponds
In the parks and elsewhere in and around the city
are well frozen With thick. firm ice. and II
comes between now and the joyous anniversary.
thousands will avail of that charming amusement
and exercise. n they arc already doing.
The prospects are that our city markets from
now up until Saturday night will be amply sup.
piled with every desirable dcicacy and substantial
needed 10 constitute lirst.rAie Christmas dinners.
there can come no complaints Of the inner man
having been overlooked or neglected. All secular
business IL TO be suspended and public Offices Of
every kind-cty. State and general government
closed, except the posi0ficc for an hour. Tho
whole truth oi the matter l. that every at
present appears O. be absorbed in thinking Of and
talking about the Christina. holidays 60 the ex.
clusion Of business and other matters. Even the
sage members of Congress who made an effort re.
cently To- ignore them. obliged 90 yield and
10 they have done befOrc since the formation of
our government To work at such time is con
sidcrcl bad policy and will not pay. a. no excuse
can be given of valid character for the neglect
of - glorious and memorable jubilee.
|; j. gratifying tO learn that most Of our pack
ors butchers aai others who require a large
amlun, of ice for certain business purposes have
already been fortunate in procuring il from ice.
ponds IN and cont ,ujus to the city. This icc
however. i unfit for drinking purposes or house
use. IL u hopcl second crop can be obiainablc
for such use before the winter ends II 50 Il will
greatly reduce the price of this indispensable arti
Gle from what consumers were obliged o. pay last
year more than i d,ublc than the year previous
when II was plcntifuly froEen.
The most uncomfortable prciicament those
obliged e. ride ia city passenger railway cars are
a; present subjected TO consists in the intense
crowd. that ride in ~ IN them inside and out
even g. the platforms. Nearly one. .halfthosc who
get in are obliged stand; not only that. but be
almost covered with market baskets. marketing
anil itff tff .fFn ataF and III
mension. making IL itf worse than fancy could
paint. The York road ear are almost unbrarahlc
on this account. ! am only surprised that the
owners aul mana:crs Of these lines DO not. in the
anticipation AMI certain coming Of such crowds at
such inli.pcnsible ,ime.. prepare 20 better accom-
mriatc their cutipmVrs and the community. The
discomfort. pressure AMI crowiing becomes really
O nuisance. An extra car--or two, three or half
dpzcU-at such times O. accommodate the riders
with seats. place. for their baskets. bundles. ETC..
would ccfiainlv show o willingness O. do sonc.
thin. outside the mere greed Of picking up ~
many ivcccnt fares can be gotten. not caring
hoN those ~h' pay and patroni1e are ac"nmmo-
latc!.
The ru.h anil croai in our po.,ofsice has been
very great. cau'ci by ptrsuns receiving and send.
10: money orlcrs. etc. 10 the pa.t few lays. con
scqgcn; upon the hu!liys receipt aHi sendin 8
away Il presents. money and souvenir a.! various
kinds. IAi.fusl will. no doubt. con,iaue ior some
iays g. come ia an increased ratio. Col. Adrcon,
postmaster. very wisely anticipated the pressure
iha; might fall upon h. Office on thi. account and
amply prepared for it. tina; all can he satisfac
torily accommodated. Il IL the Coloneps deter
mina;ion % have every letter. package. book. box,
Christmas present or whatever else IL may be de-
posted ia HE olice seat ID in regular time. the
sauc precisely A. j. sent other mailable matter,
not allowing these ihiags 10 accumulate and be
detained, waiting convenience of mailing on
occasions hitherto. such promptns'. and regu-
iarity must give especial confidence TO the many
who receive and send valued presents through .he
mail we'll also. money orders. rcgisterei
and Other letters. IL !. 90 be regretted that Col
Adrepu has not yet al command sufficient help 90
enable him to make the city carriers delivery and
collection o! letters AMI packages perfect as he
would wish o. have It.
The prisoners in cur jail aud pehiten,iary are
90 have grand and sumptuous dinners on Christ
mas and full holiday. These occasions are al
ways full Of peculiar interest. The neEsboys aud
booiblaeks. Who have grown into important fac
tors. no; only in tie present. bg; in the future Of
our county and it, citizenship. are 10 have pre-
seniei them sumr'uogs Christmas ieasts on the
the eve of that anniversary a. also on the day H.
self. Nothing can really be more impressive than
20 witncs. the festivities uf these important dis.
penscr. of news aud ".hncr. Of gentlemen boots.
Bu.ine.. On Change aad ia everything except
what pertains II the coming holidays il very quiet.
Merchant. generally are preparing 70 enter Wig
orously the New Year With books balanced stocks
taken. etc.
Permit lac now to close thi. epistle by wishing
90 yourselves. personally. Messrs. Editors, good
health. happiness ani prosperity heneeforth in
the pact. aBd joyous, happy Christmas, with the
same for ;he many readers of Tnr uSioS aud its
aud you sT!ends. SEsToR.