Year: 1868

At last the Sun smiles upon us in all his


brilliancy, raising the hope high in our


breasts that Spring has come. Everyone S


face seems brighter for the chang of


weather and there is but little doubt that


beneficial influence is exercised over the


hearts of mankind by the genial breath of


the vernal season. You, who dwell near


er the fields, and woods, and babbling


brooks, can speak more knowingly than [,


ofthe garb that nature has assumed to well


come the advent of the long desired visitor


But If nature has not aroused herself to do
proper honor to the event, the feminine


portion of the good citizens of Baltimore,


ever aware the great responsibility upon


it's fair shoulders, has come forward, and


with unanimity of purpose, attired itself in


spring habiliments to that extent of beauty


that must do credit to any cause, and


which reminds US, of the sterner sex, how


unworthy we are to do aught but bow in


devotional admiration, offer up our praises,


and pay its bills. Last Sunday afforded a


sight that was truly refreshing after the


sombre shades of winter and the miserable


clouds of the past month. The streets


were literally thronged, and after church


service in the morning and during the


pleasanter part of the afternoon the fashion


able promenade was crowded with the


youth and beauty of the ton of this city,


so noted for the beauty of it's women


Together with the coming of the spring


weather there is some appearance ofawake-


ming among the male portion of our COM
munity who delight in athletic sports.
The baseball men are beginning to look
to their grounds in preparation for the
spring campaign. The boat-clubs are dis
playing some animation, and already one
of the clubs has had out several crews in
anticipation of making a selection for
race crew. in the event of spring regat-
ia, Although we were disappointed last
year, we have hopes of getting up an ex-
citing. and interesting race this season. 1t
is pity that the members of the different
clubs have taken so little interest for the
last year in aquatic sports.


AS for the turf, Ga subject that know
interests a number of your readers)
we have every encouragement to anticipate
a good trotting season. The track is yet
heavy in consequence of the recent rains,
but few days such as we are having will
put it in good condition. There will un-
doubtedly be some trials of speed before
long, and we hope the coming year may
chronicle some trotting worthy the palmy
days of the turf in this city-the days gone
by, when some of the "lcviathans of the
turf" were still among us and patronized
with a generous open-handedness the sport
for which our English origin has given us
a special taste. We expect to see brought
out during this spring some horses that
will do credit to their stock and training.


1t is known fact that no charitable en-
terprise can ever succeed without the help
of the ladies', and, also, wherever any good
work is projected they are the first to come
forward offering helping hand, backed
by our earnest will, to promote it's accom-
plishmcnt. In their active brains are gen.
orally conceived the most expedient plans
for the attainment of the desired object.
and their refined tastes combined with the |
most indefatigable exertions, almost inva-
riably enable them to execute with satisfac- |
lion to all, that which they have previous
ly planned.


observe by your columns that the Ia
dies of Middletown are about to give Sc
ries of Tableaux Vivants for the benefit of
the Episcopal Sunday School library. I
witnessing a similar exhibition
in your. town last fall, (and for a similar
purpose, if / mistake not) and recall with
plcasurable emotion my impressions at the
lime. The manner in which they were
gotten up reflected great credit upon the
designers and displayed a refinement of
,aste and artistic talent of no ordinary de-
gree. Besides, you have the material to
work on, as was shown, beyond doubt,
by the number of beautiful faces and grace
'ul forms on the stage that evening. The
cause is good one, and the Tableaux will
undoubtedly be beautiful and deserving of
Ill success.


On Thursday and Friday evenings of
asst week we had exhibitions of tableaux.
n Baltimore, at the Concordia Opera
iouse, for the benefit of "The Society for
he education of Southern Female chfl-
lren." Both representations were emf
lently successful pecuniarily, almost every
eat having been sold the first days Of
'pening the box-sheet. and the tableaux
we're produced in a style of grandeur and
legance heretofore unequalled in this city.
The actors we're selected from among the.
highest circles of society and spared no
.ains nor expense in getting up their cos
umes and scenery. We are to be favored
y another exhibition of them on Saturday
fternoon next, and from the interest al
eady displayed there is every promise of
crowded house.


The joint standing committee Of the City
'ouncil of ways and means. this evening
eturned their financial budget for the cur
ent year together with the proposed tax
eyy. The proposed City tax amounts in
he aggregate to one dollar !, and twenty
ents on the hundred dollars, which, with
he State tax, Highways and Bridges, &c.
t least ffty-four cents additional, amounts |
o the neat little sum of one and three
uarter per cent. IA


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