The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-07-11
Correspondence Baltimore County Union
LETTER FROM PHILADELPHIA
The Great Military Encampment Gland
Fizzle-Prizes, but no Money to Pav
Them With-The Marriage
License Law, sc.
pu11AncIpuIA pa JuIv III loo


PHILADELPHIA, Pa. July 9TH, 1885
Editors Union Il promised you letter rela-
ting to the military encampment in Farnount
Park, this city, but the affair was hardly worth
the promise. 1t was military only in name It
seemed as though every man was disguised with
the management and did not care to try tomake
it success. When first projected it was minded
to have $4,000 troops in camp. These irures
dwindled down to something over $500. Ex.ctly
what was wrong nobody seemed to know. Gen.
Slocum, who was to take command, for some rea-
son best known to himself, refused to do so, al
though he was in the city nearly all the week.
One of the srangest features of the affair was that
it was started by Philadelphians but not a nan
of the Pennsylvania militia was in camp. great
deal of dissatisfaction arose from the fact of the
management charging admission to the camp and
drill ground. Some commands refused to parici-
pate on account of this, saying that they had no
idea they were to be used for "show purposes
The city of Philadelphia invited them to visit
their city and then charged them for the damage
done to their park. That was what it amounted
to in the minds of the majority. The prize drill
ing was only fair and exceedingly militia like in
character. The following are the prize companies
in the order of merit: Houston Light Guards
Texas, $4,000; Montgomery Grays, Ala, 5000
Lomax Rifles, Mobile, Ala, $4,000; indianapolis
Light Infantry, 81 900; Branch Guards, St. Louis
$780, Co. A. First Kentucky regiment, 5000 ,
Alexandria Light Infantry, $500. Special prize
of 81 800 was awarded to the Busch Zouaves. Ar
tillery commands received money prizes from ST.
600 to 5000 in the following order: Washington
Artillery, New Orleans; Indianapolis Light Artil-
lery, Louisiana Field Artillery, New Orleans !;
Richmond Howitzers, and Battery A, First Ken
lucky. You see the Southern commands carried
off not only the highest but most of the honors in
both infantry and artillery. Besides the cash
prizes, stands of colors, flags, guidons and medaI
were awarded The cash prizes have not yet been
paid. Ex-GOv. Underwood, who had the man.
agement of the encampment, promised the COM
mands their money within thirty days. Lack of
funds was the cause of the delay. He says the
Philadelphia merchants have been datory 10
paying their subscriptions. That is not saying
much for the people of Philadelphia.
They broke camp Monday with very little
good feeling, on account of the many Notifying
occurrences which had transpired. 1t is safe to
say that but few will care to visit this city again
Not only the people but the press of the oity
seemed to try to make the visitors uncomfortable
There was an immense attendance on the Fouth,
and walking through the crowd l was surprised
to hear ridiculous sentiments finding such
frequent utterance. Remarks like "they should
not be allowed to come up here with their rebel
uniforms" were heard. OF course these only ena
mated from old fossilated specimens of humanity,
but still all helped to swell the discomfort
In my last letter 1 referred to the marriage
license law in this State. Some of the people,
principally ministers, are trying to get law
passed requiring marriages to be published three
months before the ceremony is to take place
They want this announcement to be made through
the public press or from the pulpit This is with
a view to prevent runaway matches. Will they
succeed? Where there is will there is way.
PLANETES.