Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-07-31
Mchansbwn Frederick County, Maryland Thursday Aug / 1884,
New York Letter.
From onr regular Correspondent.

polite, has taken slight upward turn
and the general tendency is towards
improvement in prices and confidence.
The suspension Of one of our large
wholesale dry goods houses, announced
on Saturday, is no indication of further
commercial troubles, and bears no re-
lation to the recent panicy condition
except as it may have been fastened
by the stringency caused thereby. The
firm had been more or less embarrass-
ed since January, and of course during
the late "scare" experienced more than
usual difficulty in making collections
and floating paper. There may be 9TH
er failures, but the general feeling
among shrewd fnanciers is that after
the vacation season, which ends here
about the middle of August, healthy
state of trade business will be entered
upon.
The political situation is Of course
now beginning to appear interesting
and never was more mixed in the City
and State than at the present moment.
So many strange features and unknown
quantities are entering into it that all
the prophets are disposed to wait until
some of these elements can be ''sized
up. After Kelly and Butler and fol-
lowers show their hands and the Inde-
pendent Republicans make their de-
monstration, it will be possible to take
more intelligent survey of the field
than can be done at present. The New
York City delegations to Chicago have
come scattering home during the last
few days. There is no denying that
Kelly and the Tammanyites are very
sore and in no humor to talk. They
feel that they were badly beaten, but it
is not unlikely that they will wheel in
to line after the choler wears off.
Bourke Cochran and Thomas F. Grady,
the spokesmen of the crowd in the op
position to Cleveland, are both COM
paratively young men. Both are Irish
Americans, and both have a slight
touch of the brogue, betraying, as their
features do not, their descent Coch-
ran is rather Italian in aspect, and
Grady is of a Teutonic appearance. Both
have the natural gift of CAB, and can
talk endlessly at moments notice.
Grady Is rather fat-witted, but Coch-
ran is man of some attainments and
greater force in argument.
Our quick witted and we'll known
townsman William R. Travers was at
Chicago, but he does not tappear to have
done much talking in public, and his
private efforts have doubtless been
brief. He does not happen to be of
fluent speech, though he is quick Of
ideas. He shutters painfully and yet
is accounted one of the wits of the town,
and many good stories are told of his
exploits and resorts 1t was he who
inquired of bird fancier, who had the
same infrmity, if thth at b-bird cou-
could ia talk stung the dealer into
replying, eff h-he cou-couldn't talk
b.better than y-you, | I'd Wv wiring
his n,ncck.' Approached by a bunko-
steerer he gave his name as "Mr. Will
liams, banker Of Syracuse" When
thus addressed a moment later by the
buuko man confederate, he said that
he was Mr.. William R. Travers, bunko-
steerer, Of New York" His tall, we'll
knit figure is we'll known in Wall
street, in the opera house and in most
of the clubs. He is the son-in-law of
Reverdy johnson.
Few people have any idea Of the ex-
tent to which opium eating and smok-
ing is practiced in this city. The latter
habit was introduced here by the Chi
ncse, whose dens where the practice is
carried on are objects of curiosity. They
are generally in Easements or some out
of the way secluded place, and ar
ranged in hunks somewhat after the
manner of sleeping car. Here the
devotees of this wretched practice lie
and smoke and dream, at cost of few
cents, amid filth and miserable sur
roundings But there is Il better class
who have fallen victims to it and who
frequent 'joints," as they are called,
fitted up in luxurious style. Attention
has lately been called to a new one in
Fourth street. The entire second tlool
is represented as being equipped in the
richest Oriental style. Chinese orna'
ments adorning the walls, and lanterns
depending from the ceiling. Every
night, it is stated, on the richly carpet
ed floor and on the velvet divans crowds
of men and women recline in a dreamy
repose from the effects of the deadly