Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-12-13

BAND FA1R,-lue 0IdCcnnn Oohu Pun
pose holding Fair after the Holidays,
commencing on or about January LIST. -
They are vet somewhat in debt and will
make this, their last effort to rid themselves
of the burden. This organization is descrV-
ing of the loyal support of the people OF this
vicinity, on account of the determination to
excel that has been most marked element
in the character Of that Band. H.
HOIST BY OUR OWN PETARD.-Whenever
1t has entered our mind to make display OF
our scholarly attainments, we have been IN
the habit of referring to our Unabridged
Webster and selecting from quotations OF
words and phrases of foreign languages,
some brilliant thought, they being all clear
ly defined there, in the simplest English
We are then thought to be erudite, deeply
learned, and readers say cts wonder that
he is not engaged by some leading city dali
ly"
But our game is played, having been block
ed: we are checkmated the "honors" are held
by another hand and our "book" doesn't con-
tain the winning trick.
The Chronicle, which once, referring to us,
deprecated the use ofquotations from foreign
languages as being pedantic, has not only
discovered our well. guarded secret, but has
improved upon our method and with our
own weapon has crushed us. After malm-
ing us with its sarcasm it hurls at us but as
to the CLARIoN-Na basn change de lan-
gage" when 1t knew that that emigrant had
not been naturalized by Webster and that
we would not be able to tell whether we had
been caressed or curried.
We can now sympathize with the Banner
| as it wandered in the mazes of our enigma
of the Patriarchs and wrote line quod hoc
of fills.
Oh, We editors How we do pound each
other
QUAINT eat sapere! Out tamf (eD ad qaIod
damn I'm echo from the readers?
How TO CORRECT IT-Our attention has
been called to the Church Alley, not for the
first time either, and we in common with all
other citizens must deplore the condition in
which we now find it and in which, as we
see it, it will probably remain, until existing
circumstances are very materially modified
OF these, we shall refer first to our borough
authorities. That they should be required
to place that thoroughfare in lasting and
excellent condition, is not even to be consid-
cred as they do not receive one penny reVe-
nue. from property fronting thereon and not
five dollars per annum from all adjacent to
it. This fact dlsposes of the question with
out further argument.
The next party to be considered is the cor
porate body of the United Brethren Church
Here we find the claim that it is thorough
fare between the town and w. Md, railroad
station and the country beyond, not extern
sively used, but by sufficient numbers to
warrant the claim that it is a public conven-
fence. We find the further claim that it is a
necessity to the public on all occasions OF
funerals, the cemetery being the principal
place of interment being in fact the only
Protestant burying ground in the place, and
that therefore lot owners in the cemetery
should be looked to, to aid in keeping this
approach in repair.
There can be no denial of the partial cor
rectness Of the above views, but when we ap'
ply to it the sage aphorism that whats ev-
erybody's business, is nobody's business" We
learn at glance why this thoroughfare is
not and never will be made and kept first
class roadway, until interests that it serve
are concentrated and more clearly defined as
to their responsibility. To do this the two
principal interest, that are now really one
viz the Church and the Cemetery, should
either be divided absolutely, or Joined more
decidedly
What we mean by this proposition is, that
there should be an incorporated cemetery
company to own and control the cemetery
outside of the church organization, or, that
the present lot owners should organize and
enter into plain aud binding contract with
the church corporation, defining the duties
| of both in reference to the care of the GENE
terry and the approach thereto.
1t is claimed by the church, that the sale
of lots nets them a no inconsiderable and
| needed revenue and for this reason they are
loathe to have the entire portion, yet remain
ing unsold, pass into other hands. Conced.
| ing this, is not that source of revenue irreg-
ular and not at all to be depended upon for
any part of their current expenses and would
not lump sum obtained by a sale at good
price, we'll invested yield constant income,
almost as large and with the additional ad-
vantage of being real income and not sim
ply repayment in part of the capital, as
most certainly is the case in the sale Of a LOTT
With the present lot owners thus incorpora-
ted under the law, the power to levy tax
on all would be conferred and in this way a
revenue would be secured which together
with that received from the sale of new
lots could be applied to the purposes before
mentioned whereas, as it now stands, each
lot owner is the holder of piece of ground,
in fee simple, can he made do nothing tow
ards the care of his own lot, nor to contrib
ute anything for general purposes.
We see many excellent reasons why this
plan could be adopted to advantage to both
parties interested, the church and the lot
owners, but in case it should not be practi-
cable to carry out that idea, the second that
we mentioned would certainly result in a
moro satisfactory condition of affairs, than