New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-11-30
PHILADELPHIA IN SLICES.
Site Vim WI,sAHiccos. Tat FALLS
AyD LAUREL HILL.


c,psbiog the .oul with ts vast msgnhcence and forc
blv recalling man 70 contemplation Of bis OWE little
pes, But - type Of the fresh, the silent and tie
tic,uresaue there Is perhaps nothing in America TO
surosssit Although unlike 10 its details from Trenton
Falls set our fret Visit reminded us Al every step Of
that sacred and spirit hssn,ed retreat Yet the Wsss
hiccou ha. no dizzy precipices nor yawning chssms-
no white ROBBED cascades leaplng msd.y INTO ioamy
abysses simple little stream, clambering awkwsrdly
down primitive dam above which leans against the
hillside an Old disabed mill lows silent aud deep as
dreamlcss s.umber a'ong rocky and wal.liSe bank
thickly covered with t9ees and gradually recedng TO
steep slope on the western side while the stream
pands into a narrow lake In whose bosom the unmov
ing images Of the trees lose and multiply Themselves
The other bank is level for few rods and then mounts
an abrupt and steep ascent corresponding TO the oher
face Of the ravne The underground on the eastern
bank has been cleared away leaving nothing but large
aud noble trees 90 the branches Of which rude swings
have been attached primitive log cabin and long
open she'd for TIE accommodation Of visiiers aad their
horses are the only other signs Of civilization which
the place ofords-f we except half dozen rowboats
the largest covered with an awning which Die quietly
With their in the grass waiting the pressure Of
pretty feet end the persuasion Of the oar 20 steal azy
out INTO the stream.
such is Wissahiccon-ono Of the iavortc summer
resorts Of Philadelphia and the most soothing peace i'm
parting and heart strengthening retreat into whose
blessed shadows circumstance have ever he'd the
honor of conducting W. Here even the sage Of Mich
gan himself would not ind noise and confusion enough
t, proven, him being distinctly heard any public
question 10 the discussion Of which he might choose -
bring the powers Of his vast mind. And ia case Of
D.. uertf
hccou to the attention of the great defeated place
where he reflections viii b undisurbed by the Earring
noise Of political strife and warfare
During week days this charming spot is greatly ire
quouicd by citizens and their Families who derive from
ts pleasant broczes dancing over the cool water that
refreshing aud wholesome inspiration which the pure
breath Of Nature alone impart to the human frame
Here may be seen in the sutry afternoon Of car
rages. pcturcsquey disposed under the trees while
the plump nurses and pretty ladies and prettier chill
drcn wandering in delighted Abandonment through
the thick shaded pathways among the woods Or hoat
ing merry on the placid stream. The numerous swings
too are occupied with adventurous urchins timd
little msidcus and the whole scene IS one Of unmarried
rustcity whose contemplation drives sadness from the
invalid restores thrill Of youth to the aged aud re-
news the lease Of life upon the most accommodating
rms 10 iNt most ul-toLupltfu ' AZ 'ois"l
tabernacle strangers who visit Philadelphia and neg
lect the Wissahiccon have been court without see
ing tue king and are very likely to make the whole
journey Of life without psusing to regae their senses
upon the rare and precious flowers tina, border the
rough way.
portion Of the company. however, who visit the
Wissahiccon by corresponds with the charac
tor OF the place Philadelphia is embelished-Or al
dicted, the case may be-with pretty extensive
assortment Of bloods who are not especially cele
brated tor brains or breeding and upon whom the
choicest beauties of Nature s.e expended very much
the purpose certain pearls which the old prov
erb maker threw before number of swine with double
the proportion Of legs These harem.scarum fellows
70 to the wissshccon simply because they must have
mewhere to 60 and show OF their flashing rings and
guard ehans their fine clothes and rowdy sweetheaus
They love to adulierse the pure ait OF Wissahiccon
with the fumes OF abominsble cigars OF to dehle the
gentle stream with the disgusting approximations OF half
eaten tobacco. They generally bring too, bottle OF
brandy with them and appear nothing in all the
dear beautiful place but uncommon natural advantages
for drinking smoking, swearing and telling bawdy
stories Their avOrito day OF all the week s of course
the Sabbath because a great majority of them are
closely confined during the rest OF the week and only
boil over on Sundays some few rich young men,
however Of vulgar minds and premsurely depraved
hearts NAV be seen here on other days accompanied
by women of notorious character, or young grs
whom they are attempting to seduce from the path OF
virtue Philadelphia Ike every large city possesses
class OF this kind of young men, who are the scourge
of society the disgrace of humanity and the systematic
destroyers of female nnocencen short the prostitute
makers Tor deprayed community Tolerated in fash
onable and even respectable circles (by means in all
cases synonymous on account Of their wealth their
DAYS and nights are assduousy devoted to the three
great monster crimes Of Observation-Disclosures
Gambling and Seduction. few years Of this horrible
life are generally sufficient to empty the purse destroy
the constitution degrade the reputation and corrupt
the heart few are saved either by their own
strength Of character or the interference OF friends
but at least nine tenths OF the young 5loods who
are to-day nourishing Wissahceon, drinking at the
Falls or racing in Broad street will 10 few years be
ruined miserable, diseased and despised beings to
whom death will be blessing and Orgciiulness boon
About three quarters Of mile this side of The Log
Cabin at the Wissshiccon the Falls Of Schuy lk-
no great shakes OF cataract be sure, but widely
celebrated for the Catfish and Coffee served there
bv Evans and John Nisell Their tavcrns situated ON
the bank of dusty mscadamized road, offer no very
strong external induce bat they are much IRE
oucntcd for the frcshcsught catfish, coffee and wsies
for which they are SO well known. To the excellence
of the catfish and the plain and sayOy manner OF serv
ing them up We are bound to bear testimony The
WALES too are OF the genuine old coinage, and they
81 Keep bringing of en- hot and tempting, until yon
can no more The Falls is the great stopping place Tor
those who visit the Wissshiccon and not 10 have had
catfish and coffee a, Nisclls Evsnss is positive and
breach of the etiquette OF the road
In going to the Wissahiccon or if yoa prefer H. In
returning you can pass Laurel HUI Cemetery-one OF
the mos, cxquisitely beautiful gardens OF the dead
which ever the heart Of affection conceived or the hand
Of taste olnbelishcd In ihis ndescrbaby lovely spot
whose great aud varied natural advantages have oeen
enbsnoed and absolutely sloridcd by the genius ana
love of the living who there make beautiful the resting
place OF the beloved dead lies peacefully mngins the
dust Of the eminent aud the humble the Old the young
the pure the wse-whilc over the little mounds "neh
rise ike motioaess waves OF the OF death. springs
a world Of aowcrs wrosihns the white grSve-'toncs
aud climbing the sculpturod monuments 10 pour IneiI
wealth of perfume upon the AIT. The narrow apart
ments of the dead are grouped ia family homes each
household enclosed in rich aud costly iron railing ana
furnished with iron chairs where the living may come