New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-11
TILE OYSTER K1R

To look at the COOL calm, unruffed oyster as
he rests in half his natural shell on your plate.
ready to have three drops of lemon juice squeezed
on him, and pass TO that undiscovered country
which is fatal TO oysters-tO look at HIM under
these conditions, no one would suppose that he
could be the cause of the fercest annual war
which harrows up our country. But the oyster
with lemon juice on him and the one with the
wild waves OF Chesapeake Bay breaking over
him are different moluslIs though, after all, they
may really be the same oyster in different states
of his existence. In the case, at the very
worst, he does nothing beyond helping in a humble
way TO incite the harmless after-dinner speech,
but in the other he calls out large number Of
sea-faring men, who stand on the decks of their
vessels and shoot at one another and use language
which, though far from elegant, is nevertheless
direct and forcbe, and apt to convey the idea
to the nearer that the speaker means what he says.
From Baltimore dispatches it is gathered that
the usual Chesapeake oyster war is at its height.
Indeed, il would seem to be worse than usual as
the Governors of Maryland and Virginia have
been drawn into it, and making remarks to
each other differing widely from the historical
observations which passed between the Executives
of the States Immediately to the south. But
this is mere incident of the campaign, and the
real warfare is out on the rolling pillows between
the State naves and the pirate dredgers, who go
about raking up other peoples oysters and other
wise making themselves disagreeabe.
The close student of current events will recall
the case of Captain Bridges Of the Maryland Navy,
who, last year, had musliet balls fired through
his chin whiskers by the pirates. The Tribune
noted the fact several weeks ago that Captain
Bridges was again ready to sail from Baltimore
that, in fact, the poet sings, his boat was on
the shore and his other sailing implements on the
sea. We also mentioned that the Captain still
refrained from shaving, and had announced his
intention of wagging his beard in the very faces
of the pirates. even if they shot grape and can
mister through it. We knew the Captain was
brave man, as he had not quailed last year when
the wild bullets sang their ominous refrain
through his hirsute adornment, and naturally we
predicted that he would make it hot for the
pirates. We confidently warned the country to
Keep ats eye on Captain Bridgess whskersS
But what have we heard from the Captain?
Nothing. He is out among the pirates, but it is
not reported that he is going about as he did last
year with his chin whiskers gently waving in the
soft Potomac breeze, fairly inviting the pirates
to shoot. The Captain does not comb the buck
shot out of his beard at night, he did last year
pirates fire, while the other vessels of the navy
ran them down, as we expected he would, he re-
mains down in the cabin drinking champagne and
playing poker with the first mate. Thus we
see the baleful influence of the general Navy ex-
tending to the Maryland oyster navy. The next
thing the country hears will probably be that
Captain Bridges and his navy have sailed away TO
Europe as q squadron of evolution, leaving the
pirates to reap where they have not sown and
otherwise menace the peace and dignity of
Maryland.
We had hoped that the enervating in
duences Of a too high state of civilization
would not creep into the Maryland navy, and that
it would continue to hang out its whskers on the
port bow, but it. seems it Is not to be. The
next thing this country hears will be that the
men in the back counties of Kentucky are carrying
but one pistol apiece and taking of their boots
when they go to bed.