The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-09-11
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
The Closing of Summer-The Government
on a Pic Nic-Dun Times-A Badly
Afflicted City-Poltics and the
Earthquake.

WASHINGTON, u. u, september otn, 1000.
Editors Union AS the summer, SO far as the
months are concerned, has passed away, it can
safely be predicted that the "out- of-town" people
will now begin to return to their domicies in the
city, and that those who remained in the city by
stress of circumstances, over which they had no
control, but did not wish that fact to be known,
will be able to open their front window shutters
and sit on their front door stoops and talk as ghoy
about where they have (not) been as those who
really did go away. However, it is to be hoped
that these latter have received as much benefit
from their imaginary trips" as the former from
their real ones, and have "returned home"-from
behind their window slats-in as good state OF
health as any who went to the seaside, the noun
tains or fishing.
Congress remained in session till very late
date, which kept the administration and the gov
eminent officials here pretty generally, it being
impossible for them to get away while that body
was still here But no sooner had Congress ad-
journed and they could get their things packed up
than off rushed the whole government, from the
President down. some going to their homes IN the
different states on visits to their friends and rela
tives some to the different seaside or mountain
resorts, and some to places in the country wnere
they could spend few weeks with their famliies
at small cost and recuperate their energies, broken
down by the past years severe toll. So far as the
administration is concerned Secretary Bayard was
an exception to this rule, he having stayed IN
town. presumably to watch the Mexlcans Tor rear
thew would break across the border during his abb
sepce and capture all the editors OF the United
States and there would be nobody left to run our
newspapers. believe Secretary Bayard has not
been out of the city this summer. The subordi-
nate clerks in the departments have felt less fear Of
losing their positions than they did last year, and
consequently have pretty generally availed them
selves of the opportunity of taking their annual
leaves of thirty davis absence. Some OF the higher
divisions, who are Democrats, perhaps have not
vet taken their leaves and may not do so till 0cto-
Der or November, when they will go home and tell
their fellow Democrats how successfully they have
run the administration Of the government and re-
ceive their congratulations. Also, there may be
some matters ofimportance in the making up of the
annual reports, to be prepared between now and
the first of next December for the meeting of Con-
gress again, that may detain them till later.
The President has been absent from the city,
with Mrs. Cleveland, ever since Congress adjourn
ed. He has been spending his time fishing up in
the Adirondack mountains, in the State of New
York, and at last accounts he had gone into the
heart of the mountain forests, to shoot deer If he
meets with as much success in that as he did in
fishing it may be affirmed that he will be fit can
didate for another Presidential term. But oh
what would be the effect if during the time he is
buried in the forests and away from all mail and
telegraphic communication with the rest of the
country the Mexicans should capture all the news
paper editors. But Mr.. Bayard is left behind to
protect them President Arthur was good fish
erman and no doubt would have made good
President second term, and undoubtedly this is
true also of President Cleveland
Business has been extremely dull in this city in
every line for the last two months, but now the
people are returning home and their minds are
turning in the direction of what they will want for
fall and winter necessities and comforts, the
chants of every class beginning to look brighter
and no doubt business will shortly be in motion
with its usual blast.
This city was afflicted in an unusual manner
this summer with pest other than the myriads
of English sparrows, which were useless to try
to destroy, namely, an unheard of number of
caterpilars that infested the young shade trees in
the parks and along the streets, weaving their
webs on the branches and destroying the leaves
till many trees were entirely denuded of their foil
age. When probably too late the park commits
sioners attempted to make destructive raid upon
them, but were unsuccessful in accomplishing
much. So numerous were the pests that not only
the trees were covered with them destroying their
foliage but every post and iron railing fence was
covered with them and they even invaded the
houses so that the people had to sweep them out
and destroy them with brooms. The park COM
missoners' employees are still working to destroy
the second brood of these pests that have already
are trimming off as best they the branches of
the trees in the parks on which the webs are
woven. Some trees are thus trimmed until there
is not many of the limbs left. Some kinds of
trees are effected by these pests than Others
The beauty and usefulness of some of the shade
trees, for this season at least, have been greatly
marred by them.
A call at both the Republican and Democratic
campaign headquarters does not show much work
done as yet, but no doubt both committees are
their ammunition ready for the fight. From all that
could be learned the Democratic committee is
little in advance of the Republican committee in
preparation, but that does not indicate how the
battle is going to come out. Both sides appear
confident of holding their own, but the Republic
cans seem to be hopeful of making some gains to
their side in the next House. There seems to be
considerable interest felt with regard to the Mary
land delegation, principally as to the return Of
Mr.. McComas from the Sixth district. which the
Republicans certainly claim whether Mr.. L. Victor
Bauehman, president of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal is his opponent or not, and also ms to
Mr. Findlay, in the Fourth district and whether
Mr.. Talbot will be the nominee of the Democrats
in the Second district instead of DR.. Shaw, the
present Representative.
The recent earthquake shock was more percep-
tible here than was felt by the inhabitants
before. 1t was so pronounced and continued so
long, jarrng houses, rafting windows and chan
deers, and rocking chairs, bureaus, beds, tables,
&C., that many of the people became frightened
and rushed out of their houses into the streets At
one of the theatres great fright took place and the
audience made wild effort to get into the street.
number of ladies tainted and the men were as
panic stricken as the women. twas the first real
earthquake sensation your correspondent ever ex-
perienced but it was too decided for him to be de-
ceived The bed to which he had just retired
swayed to and fro as though some one was under
it lifting it up and rocking it. This regular oscil
minute when he arose and lighted the gas to see
what was the matter, but could discover nothing
After he had again retired the same oscillating
motion, regular as the waves of water, continued
and the next morning he learned he had gone
through the experience of an earthquake. Much
sympathy is felt in this city for the Charleston
neonle AMY