The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-12-08
CORRESPOND NOE.
Letter from Baltimore, Md
DECEMBER 1st, 1886.


MeSSrs. EGitorS,-Curiosity has been
mathematical as an irksome, agonizing
care, superstitious industry about un
profitable things an itching humor to see
what is not to be seen, and to be doing
what signifies nothing when it is DONE
l believe that l am, in good measure, ex
empt from this well-denounced vice and
yet [ confess to temperate spirit of in
quisitiveness since l have been in this
goodly city. If had any desire for city
life and could crafty it, l think l would
move to Baltimore. 1t has enough OF
the Southern type of manners and social
customs spiced with Yankee push and
energy to make it congenial to progres
sive Virginian. have, however, no
taste for the incessant press and din, rush
and crush of the busy theatres of COM
merce. Apparently every one you meet
has for his motto, Every man for him
self and the Devil take the hindmost,"
and is straining to the utmost with the
most assiduous and strenuous competi
ton, to accomplish his ideal of position,
pleasure, and wealth. At first sight one
might imagine the city given up to mann
mon, The tormenting tumult, everlast-
ing haste, stir, and motion, eager, intent
and calculating faces, the innumerons in
struments and agencies of trade, and pa
iatial residences seem to tell one tale,
utter the one sentiment that pleasure and
money are the engrossing and single sub
iscts OF men 8 thoughts and efforts. The
appearances and superficial indications
of city are, however, very deceiving.
The casual and temporary observer OF
these impetuous currents Of life will be
almost sure to misjudge and misrepresent
the actual condition of the community.
Absorbed with these obtrusive and brawl-
ing streams of mammon he will overlook
the great eddies where are gathered and
prepared for active diffusion through
these turbulent waters the moral forces
and ingredients which are guiding and
restraining, and coloring and charging the
mighty flood. He fails to see and appre-
ciate and measure the under currents
the less obtrusive movements-the .nu-
merous and, when com bined, tremendous
elements of moral and spiritual good
which are impressing modifying, and ez-
altiDg the COMMUNICATIVE thousand salt
springs upon the bottom of the great
ocean which are preventing it's corrup-
tion and conserving It's purity. There
can be seen at every turn the indices OF
this silent, pervasive power IN the numer.
Gus institutions designed for the instruc-
ton of the ignorant, the security of the
idle, the restraint and reformation of the
vicious the amelioration of the condition
of the poor, and the mitigation of the
agonies Of the sufferer. The Young Men s
Christian Association building, the Enooh
Pratt and Peabody Libraries, museums
of art, homes for invalids and incurables.
hospitals for every species of disease, and
organizations for assisting the poor, and
all these presided over by patient, gra.
cious, gentle, and seltdenying apostles Of
mercy, demonstrate the existence Of a
ministry Of love, and great storehouse,
in the heart of the people, of operative
sympathy and benevoence. There is
unquestionably great wickedness in cities,
but there Is antagonizng it a tremendous,
il not proportionate, power for good. The
churches are numerous, and doubt not
contain great army of earnest Christian
men and women who are giving literally,
as we estimate liberality, of time and
money to objects of benevolence, and es-
pecially the maintenance and propaga-
tion Of the gospel l do not know what
the Church would do without the cities
They undoubtedly furnish a very large
part of its sinews of war. And yet /
doubt whether, in proportion to income,