The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-04-26

From Woodberry.-0ur quiet village has
been unusually anxious during the session OF the
late Legislature to know if they really would take
us into the city. We are here, as in other parts
of the Belt, nearly equally divided. While some
were very DESTROYS of annexation, others were de-
cidedly opposed to it. One citizen claimed that
it would make Woodberry more healthy "to be in
Baltimore city," GLOW can that be?' asked his
neighbor. "Won't we be in the same place stillr
80 yes; but don't you know we will then have
city laws, and these will regulate drainage and
take away our great tendency to dphtheria," &c.
The other preferred light taxes and diphtheria to
heavy taxes and better health and greater security
from fire and burglars. Many opposed to
it because they feared it would take from us local
option, which is our pride and boast 1t does
work well here, though some grumble.
The old Clipper church, which was sold to Mr..
James E. Hooper last summer, has been converted
into a gymnasium. 1t collects the youth of the
town in crowds and keeps them from vicious
places. Mr.. David Bell, the manager of the Clip
per mill, has it in charge, and commands the best
order. He gives one night in the week to the
ladies, as spectators only. They come in large
numbers and look on with great delight. Mr..
Thomas Wilmer has been the skiful manipulation
of gymnastics and calisthenics. But being so
much engaged in the machine shops during the
day, it was found to tax him too heavily. Now
they have teacher from the city. Some of our
and say the devil is in it.
Anciently the Greeks taught their youth how to
become good soldiers by exercises in the gymna-
SUM. In Athens alone they had seven of these.
In modern times they became in Germany and
England places where they taught literature. The
French are the greatest adopts in this art In
1914 Louis Philippe adopted and improved the
system in the French army. From that time
gymnasia have been constructed for almost all
continental armies, and with moro or less success
for the civil population. England, less ordinarily
in public improvements, is but just moving in the
matter by establishing instruction in the science
at Aldershott and other camps. The course passed
through in the French army is, however, one
among the BEST as its fruits evince, in the remark
able activity and readiness for emergency dis
played by the soldiers who have undergone it.
The equipment consists of broad belt, to be
strapped tightly around the waist above the hips,
as support to the body in the arduous motions
to ensue, braces being of course discarded. The
implements most commonly required are an iron
ball in a roap sling, with loop for the hand to
pass through; wrestling handles, consisting of two
wooden bars, each about Is inches long, connected
by stout cordage; a club leaping bars to be leaped
over, and leaping poles wherewith to leap.
An admirable law of nature provides that
within certain limits-parts of the human frame
increase in strength aptitude and size in proper
ton to the use made of them. In gymnastics this
law is brought to bear successfully every part,
and finally on the whole system in combined &C
ton. If this be not carried so far as to induce
excessive fatigue, there will be general improve
ment of health and mind, if cultivated with judg-
ment, and an increase in power and endurance
Our town has had no amusement so popular as this.
The prolific genius of our people furnishes vari-
Gus ones. In the Grace M. E. church there was
interesting Easter entertainment, on the 18th
inst, gotten up by the Sunday school superinten-
dent, Mr.. C. A. Welker, Rev. Thomas Myers, pas
tor The illuminated cross was brilliant, and the
white dove, made to fly out and hover over it, was
very pretty. The vast audience enjoyed it very
much.
On the 22d the Johns Hopkins University Glee
Club gave concert in the M. p. church, rendered
by the Woodberry Library and Reading Rooms to
their members and friends. This was without
charge.
On Friday evening, the 25tb, a dairy maids re-
cepton will be given by the Juvenile Society of
the Baptist Sunday school. Tickets Is cents.
Our town is still building many houses, and all
soon become tenanted.
The great establishment of Poole a. Hunt, who
manufacture machinery of worldwide fame, is
very active, doing a large business and employ
many hands. By their liberal wages and prompt
pay they are sending gadness into many homes.
These princely men use their means literally for
all benevolent purposes. They are both Christian
gentlemen and members of the Methodist Episco-
pal church.
Our town is healthy, though not taken into the
city. OCCASIONAL.