The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-10-10
Mount Washineton hi @. r. R-Rev. R.

Mount Washington, N. @. r. R Key n.
L. McMurran, who has filled the pastorate OF the
Presbyterian church in this place for eight years.
rendered his resignation some three weeks ago,
which, having been accepted by the congregation,
the Rev. Mr. Jamison, of Wetheredvile, was depu-
ted by the Presbytery to declare the pulpit vacant
1t has not yet been decided who will be appointed
to fill the place. Mr.. McMurran will remove 10
Virginia about the middle of the present month,
but has not yet decided where he will permanent
ly locate.
The boarding season is over and most OF our
summer residents have left for the city, though
some still linger with US who wish to enjoy the
magnificent scenery and beautiful weather OF our
autumn. 1t seems strange that the city foiks
should flee the country at the very season when 1t
is most enjoyable. But few persons reared in a
city really enjoy country life They only leaye
home in summer to escape the miseries of city life
in the hot months. The beau ideal of domestic
life and happiness as portrayed by the pen Of
Divine inspiration, for every man to sit under his
own vine and fig tree, is something that few city
raised people can understand and appreciate
To them peace and quiet are irksome rather than
agreeable. They cannot enjoy life without the
noise and hubbub of the city around them any
more than the drunkard can without his stimu-
lants. Habit makes the uproar of the streets and
the confusion of the thronged highways an essen
tal feature in the life of the citizen, and the alb
sence of them in the country makes rural life to
him dull, lonely and insipid.
The equinox passed this year without the rain
storm that usually attends it. We have had some
good showers since, but the earth is still rather too
dry for farming operations in this section at least
Much seeding remains to be done and some have
not yet finished up their blowing, but the rain of
to-day Tuesday, will probably put the ground in
good working order.
AS winter approaches the noble army of tramps
increases as usual. On Sunday morning last a
party of about dozen came down the railroad
and on reaching this village sent off squads of
foragers through the town, while the main body
pushed on down cityward. Yesterday afternoon
I observed some ten or fifteen regularly encamped
near Tysons Mill They were engaged in cook
ing, washing and mending clothes, card playing,
pitching quoits, and having good time generally,
while every now and then one would come in with
bundle under his arm his pockets losdea, Nth
grub of mixed character. Frequent complaints
have been made to our county authorities about
this tramp nuisance yet still it appears to increase
passed through the crowd above spoken of and
there was not a man among them that was not
comfortably clad, and all looked as if they had
but recently taken to the road.
Quite an excitement now prevails in this region
and all through the southwestern portion of our
county among the policy holders of the defunct
Howard and Anne Arundel Fire Insurance Com
pany, and these persons have been made to feel
the folly of giving notes into the hands of men
who have the power to assess them without limit
or regard to their face value. There is an old
proverb that "bought wit is the best if not bought
too DEAR" and the probability is that many will
feel they have paid heavily for their "wit' before
they get clear of this business The company was
placed in the hands of a receiver In july the d.
rectors published statement of its affairs, decar-
ing that Glow rates" and "indisposition to pay
assessments compelled the company to suspend.
This is the old, old story, and these the causes
that have carried hundreds of mutual companies
of various kinds to untimely graves. The receiver
of the Howard and Anne Arundel Company re-
Gently gave notice of levy of s per cent on the
premium notes of the policy holders, which, added
to the annual premium of per cent, makes quite
a snug sum to pay for about six months protec-
ton in an insolvent concern. It is said that a
majority of the insured are willing to pay this as
sessment if their notes are given up, but if not
they will suffer their cases to go to court. AN
other question that may also have to be decided
by the court is whether the company is not bound
for all losses occurring while the notes of the in
sured still in the hands of the receiver and the
accounts not finally adjusted. Some contend that
their policies must cover their property till they
are duly cancelled and their notes surrendered
and hence they refuse to insure in any other com.
pany till this is decided but the majority of the
policy holders, deeming it best to be on the safe
side, insured their property in other companies as
soon as they learned that receiver had been ap-
pointed. S.