The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-05-24
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
Different Names for Washington City
Convention of the American Wheel
men-The Luther Statue-The
Presidential Question,
Etc. Etc. Etc.
WASHINGTON, D. c., May Goth, 1884

WASHINGTON, D. c., May goth, 1884.
Editors Union There have been many names
given to the city of Washington. When it was
Young and its houses scattered at great distance
apart out of derison for the young capital, which
then had but the sparsest of a population, it was
called by foreigners, who came from the older
capitals and other cities of Europe, the "City Of
Magnificent Distances" Then after three score
years of comparative non improvement, except a
meagre increase, it may be said, of houses and in
habitants, and the war had ended, the hand Of
improvement was laid on, the streets, avenues and
parks were beautified, and myriads of shade trees
planted, which, having grown to considerable size
and degree of umbrageousness, gave it the name
of the "Forest City," Also numerous statues and
monuments to commemorate the lives and deeds
of heroes of the late and other wars and promi-
nent statesmen connected with the history of the
Nation were erected-among these the one I'M
yelled in front of the Capitol of Chief Justice
Marshall week ago, and that of Martin Luther,
in front Of the Lutheran Memorial church, on Nth
street, to be unveiled TO- morrow-which have very
properly given it the name of the "City of
Statues" But lastly it is called the paradise of
the Bicyclists." If any of the old philosophers
of Greece or Rome could have looked forward and
seen its asphalt pavements, "more smooth and
level than barn floor" and applied the principle
that "keeps the rolling hoop or spinning top from
falling" to light and graceful machine on the
back of which man may safely ride and which
speeds along with great velocity and n0iseless-
ness requiring just such smoothness as the streets
of this city present as the best condition for its
locomotion, they would undoubtedly have reached
the same conclusion and called the city according
to this last appellation.
For the last several days the city has been full
of bicycles and bicycists, fitting about in every
direction and speeding by you on the streets so
rapidly and noiselessy as to, ever and anon,
startle you with their sudden passage, you not
knowing that one near you until it ha<
whizzed by with the velocity and quietness of o
bird on the wing. and gone on to surprise the
next pedestrian it overtakes. The fifth annual
convention Of the League of American Wheelmen
is being held here. The membership ofthe organ
ization numbers about four thousand, good pro-
portion of which is present in representative
capacity. On Sunday the many that had arrived
in the city amused themselves by taking 'runs"
about the city and out on the suburbs, and in
their knee -breeches and other uniform presented
quite novel appearance. Yesterday business
meeting was held, and to-day procession on
Pennsylvania avenue and other streets took place
in which about 600 wheelmen appeared in line
and were reviewed at the White House by Presi-
dent Arthur. This afternoon races will be held
at Athletic Park and to night banquet will be
given at Willard Hall, to which President Arthur
and other prominent officials and citizens are in
vited.
The races of the National Jockey Club were
held at their course, at Ivy City, this place,
last week, to which very many Congressman gave
their time and attention while receiving pay from
the U. S. Government, but as the Government
business seemed to make more progress, especial
ly in the matter of pushing forward the appropri-
alton bills, than during any previous week of the
session, perhaps nothing was lost by their alb
sence.
As the stone that was sent by the Pope Of Rome
some years ago to be put into the Washington
Monument was broken to pieces and thrown into
the Potomac river by n vandal mob, it was feal ed
that the statue that is about to be unveiled to
Luther would meet with a similar fate from equal
~ vandal hands opposed to Professionalism, and
more especially as it is erected ON Government
reservation. But so far nothing disastrous has
happened to it. protest did appear in OFFS Of
the newspapers week or so ago against its cree
ton in public park as a recognition of sectari-
anism.
The last couple of weeks there has been quite a
growth in the feeling and sentiment, not only
here but throughout the country, in favor of the
nomination of President Arthur at Chicago, which
is owing no doubt to the action of the business
men of New York and elsewhere in not wanting
a change in the Presidency, and the prediction is
confidently made that he will receive the nomina-
ton. He is now acknowledged to be in the lead
in the number of delegates in his favor, and it is
said by far sighted ones who are studying the
situation every day that by the time the conven-
ton meets he will have enough delegates to nom
mate him on the first ballot, or on the second at
farthest. The most notable event in this or any
other campaign for Presidential nomination
that has ever taken place will be the meeting of
the business of New York, at the Cooper
Union, in that city, tonight to give expression to
their sentiment on the subject, and to show that
for the business prosperity of the country they do
not want change, and also that President Arthur
is the candidate that can most surely carry New
York State and which sentiment it is believed will
obtain everywhere before the convention meets.