The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-07-28
CorrepOadeHes BaiiinoTe CoHaiy UHion.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, d. C., July Esd, ISss.
MessTs. Editors The season has been 80 vAri- |
able, with the temperature sometimes up In the |
nineties and then down again 10 what may be |
termed moderate or comparatively cool, and these
alterations tFansPiring regularly almost every |
week or 90, one IL hardly able 10 denoninate what
Kind Of a summer We have % far had However, |
! think We should have TO vote that Il has not |
been an extremely unpleasant one either in this |
city or elsewhere. Yet the hegira Of u large por-
ton Of the population Of this District IL plainly
pereeptibls, the churches not being so well filed
on Sundays, many Of the seats at tho various
decks in the departments being void Of clerks and
the columns Of the newspapers filed up--in lieu
Of nows-with the correspondence u the waits of
the pen, who. too, have hied themselves away to
the seashoTe, the mountain side or other summer
resorts with tho "Eest Of mankind" Imean all u
the latter, and "womankind" too who could get
away and are not compelled TO shut themselves up
In their back parlors and close their blinds TO
make believe they are gone. AL or nearly all,
for sweet fashions sake Messrs Editors for other
wise no doubt many would remain and be much
better of and more comfortable at hOme-cyen In
y city-ihan at one Of these resorts, where the
heights Of fashion must be observed in the matter
Of dress as well in everything else that pertains
to the customs and manners Of fashionable society
and In which there cannot be much comfort. But
u Is the fashion. Their neighbors have gone, and
20 answer the requirements Of fashion they must
~ teos Rou uuucfstAuu me, Mertrs. Editors, TO
be objeetng 60 the resorts themselves. nor To the
practice Of going TO them, but only 10 the motives
that cause people often to go and to the customs
and styles that obtain after they have got there.
have just been reading to-day the correspond.
ence from one Of these resorts on the coast Of
Maine desert Island. in which the scribe CON.
plains Of the innovations that wealth and fashion
arc making there. which l. fast converting that
almost last summer resort ot comfort into n fash.
ionabe retreat of modern discomfort. The Eng.
iish people. said correspondent says. know what
comfort is. and when they go away from home in
summer really 60 TO seek IL. They do not take
with them n dozen large trunks or 80. laden down
with more clothing than would be required to sup
ply queen or princess, nor do they contemplate
changing their suits half dozen times day, but
they do hnd not only comfort but recreation and
health in being dressed plainly, living pIainly.
proper sleep and enjoying quiet and ease general.
ly. But Americans. When they visit watering
places OF other resorts ia summer. lose sight 0f all
these real conducers to comfort and endeavor TO
make all the display POss,ble drive Out with FASH
ionable teams accompanied 10y men In livery, at
tend balls. lose sleep aud live fast" generally,
thus deriving none OF the benefits that come FROM
real quiet aud rcp0sc. But they get their names
mentioned among the list of sojouTners by the cor
respondents ot the newspapers. and perhaps are
able TO create something Of envy in the breasts
Of their less fortunate ~ AMI stay at home neigh
bors.
President Ar,hur LETT Saturday night for Cape
May or Long Branch al one Of which places he
expects o. meet Secretary Frcnghuysen. whom
he will accompany 10 the summer residence Of the
latter in New Jersey, aud then 60 to New York On
some business. lie will then return to Washing
ton aud next week start his tour with the party
tina, is to accompany him To- the Yellowstone Park.
General Sherman. who j. now making hi. last
tour Of inspection Of the several army poets be.
fore being placed ON the retired lisi of the army
and succeeded in his present position by General
sheridan. Was. last week. with his party Mt the
YELLOWSTONE Park, Wyoming Territory. where
President Arthur Is going, and |; was reported
that Chief Justice Waite one Of the party. was
thrown from his horse and seriously injured II
Is TO be hoped that this report. at least Tar
Chief Justice Waite being seriously injured i.
ceFncd may be greatly modified.
Already there are several vacancies to bc filled
in the Departments here by applicants who have
passed Civil Service competitive examinations
The Civil Service Law went into effect the 10Th
inst, and about SOC applicants have been exam
ined. One OF the above vacancies was caused by
the resignation Of a $1,000 clerk In the Surgeon
General. Office. and three from discharges for
cause in the posioiice Dcpartment-one an 81 500
clerk. another 81 ,6OO clerk and another lady.
All Of these positions. except perhaps, the lowest
ones, will be fillel by clerks of lower grade al
ready in Office. aad the Civil Service Board will be
called on to furnish names from which the 81 900
Of applicants who have been examined by the
Civil Service Board 50 far IL is said that aboa,
two.thlrds Of them have passed the minimum Of
80 and some have gone up into the 90 per cents,
among the latter being some ladies aud colorcd
men. II Is conceded that persons living here At
the capital have grea, advantages ever persons in
other parts Of the country in the competitive
limitations from their familiar acquaintance with
matters pertaining 90 government. and are there
fore more likely to pass higher rate Of examina-
ton than the others.
Many persons, IL seems, throughout the country
have been mistaken 10 the time when the
duction Of postage will go into effect, and have |
tried 10 send their letter. with two cents instead
Of three, under the impression that the change
took place on the l.t Of July. II does not until
the LIST Of October, and the Postmaster GEN |
eral has Just issued u circular to the postmaster so
notifying them and inslructing them 10 50 inform
the public far possible. No provision has
yet been made for the redemption OF the old three
and two.cent stamps in the hands of the public. |
but they will DO available for sending letters after
the LIST Of October. the threc-cent stamps and |
stamped envelopes in combination with stamps Of
other denominations where more than one rate Of
postage IL required.
The telegraph strike has revived ia thoughtful !
minds the necessity OF the Government taking !
control OF the telegraphic service Of the country
in the same manner that IL now has charge Of its
postal business. There j. too much risk for the |
Puoilc ana private interests in'"IEed Tor tue tee-
graphing business Of the country to be in the |
hands and at the mercy q! private individuals or
corporations. mostly monOpOlies. and the intro
dueton Of bill into the next Congress 10 remedy
the evil may be looked for, which the present ex-
periences Of the business public and the country
generally will 20 \ good way towards making |
successful. II. however. the present owners OF
the great telegraph lines refuse to sell their prop
eriy 20 the Government at reasonable price, the /
latter can put up its own wires. Itisrich enough.
AEoS.