New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-12-28
PHILADELPHIA IN SLICES.



arsocratc and lovely Philadelphia is airing Is gen.
uity beneath the serene spendor OF this glorious sep
tember evening We feel that We are approaching
delicate subject and trust 10 the proyerbal ioroear
anco and good nature of the ladies ID should blum
der into anything not entirely agreeable 10 their
proper as buckley spanker says. We will make
peace beforehand however, by declaring-Hhat is
really the truth-that the average standard Of female
beauty in Chestnut street is decidedly CHER than In
any other city or any other street in Amerca-and Of
course n the world There is perhaps not 30 great
variety 10 the types OF beauty here as in Broadway.
Wholesome exquisitely coored placdity Of countc-
nance roundness and regularity Of features, well.
developed yet not overcharged contour of form. aud
II confident uncOncerned carriage are the character
istcs of Philadelphia beauty There Is wealth OF
charms but perceptble oxuberancc Of passion and
expression The severe selfschooiug of the Quakers,
which converts the face into shsdowess dial has ina.
parted peryadng tone and expression To the OUtof
doors aspect OF our society which, however the snow
may melt beneath the genial rays Of friendship and
social intercourse strikes nameess chill to the mere
lookeron Many are beautiial-very beautiful but
they pass by like troops Of fair inhabitants from some
other planet a holiday and seem quite unconscious
tina, they have any other destiny this earth than 10
glide quietly aud comfortably through it
The fashion OF out door female dress in Philadelphia
is much gsyer aud more diversified than IA New iork
Within ten minutes you will pass every variety Of
i0de1c from the gray travelling dress 10 the dsshng
pearcoored silk. which elsewhere would presume to
make Us appearance only in the drawing.rOom In
fine weather threequarers of the fashionable promsn-
aders in Chesnutsreet appear in evening dresses and
lace capes and short sleeves with the and shou
ders covered only with the sheefest barege that
be had for love money Coored boots and notawsys
corresponding with the dress rarity and low
slippers lust defining the swelling limits of the ifsep
slope are seductvely plenty Gay scarfs and bright
colored bounets are almost universally worn
ladies' very particular about adapting their costume
to the season II not at all uncommon to see Win
ter shawl surmounted by the most daphonous OF sum
iner hate and dress of the genuine cob web texture
compressed into shspelessness beneath some heavy
coored cisue or mantlla. T0WrHUe Is not 50 much
regarded with our ladies in New York ana Boston.
and from this cause the general effect OF some very
beautiful women is come shor, Of However, we may
cay with Pope (slighty improved .
should something be smiss with skirt or shawl,
Look in her face and you'll forget II all
The equipages seen in Chesnutstreet are compare
lively few and usually Of An unpretending and simple
knd-the majority Of them being sort OF TRANSPORTED
claims to style or that appearance Of luxury which has
become so common with the massive and Joyously
appointed carriages in Broadway. There is with us
always lust room enough--but to spare and our
vehicles have evidently been constructed with tender
regard for horse hosh which is the highest compliment
10 the humanity OF their owners. Liveries are very
rarely seen in Chesnutstreet, and IT, occasionally
some heavy and ostentstous machine, surmounted BY
drab capes and yellow hat bands goes numbering along
over the quiet Russ pavement it occasions general
stare aud shrug of commserstion at the tate OF the
poor horses who are obliged to draw IT,
Among the most notable things in Cbesnutstreet are
the multtudnous daguerreotype establishments with
the walls of the entrances and the passage ways suc
coed with these transfxed reflections Of substantial
Aesh and blood. The daguerreotypc art we believe
has been brought to high state here in any other
place and the male portraits are generally very su-
thentc ind acceptable lkenesses Of the originals But
with the ladies the case is different We profess that
we have never yet seen daguerreoiype OF lady
which gave US any sort OF satisfaction The shadows
and the strong points OF the face alone seem to stick to
the magic plate while the false focus OF the arms and
hands always presents those indispensable elements Of
female grace in an enlarged and awkward shape
While the exquisite and indescribable sotness and
grace of the features invariably lost the hands ana
arms as constantly appear if they had been cooked
and had sveued in boiling II we were pretty woman
,hev sboua take our life sooner than our dsguorrco
TYNE The delicate and sensitive ivory b'ushing into
beauty beneath the pencil Of the artist Is still the only
worthy recipient Of the pictured treasures OF woman
loveiness These daguerreoiype saloons are however
constantly crowded by ladies-chieHy from the country
who 20 away happy, with miniature OF their pre-
ciops selves safely slowed in their work bags, and
which was painted in minute and cost dollar
The architectural appearance OF Chestnut street Is
very fne and is improving very rspidy-noi less in"n
half dozen splendid buildings having gone up WITHIN
tho mast year upon the sites OF old and crumone rat
tran. The new Bank Of North America, with the me
aud spacious buildings adjoining II on either SIDE ana
the range OF stores on the corner oil seventh
stree, are specimens OF architecture of which any
.tree, might be proud They are all Of the Connecuca
free stone so popular in New-iork, ana me use oi
which ia fast extending and becoming general IN ihnA
delphs Asa relief to the monotony OF red ofeAs '''
use e hshlv conmendsbe while considering It's dufa
bity and ndesruciibiiy by FIRE, II is doubtless 'ie
most economical material for building purposes yet
discovered The classic and massive GreciSn Temple
bull. by tbs United States Bank and now occupied as
the Custom House has been for many years ceieoSeo
as one of the fnest the continent NeA'
below Il is the hybrid building OF the In"aue i"i'
Bsnk-a disagreeabe and unnatural mixture Oh shop
and temple recently rendered ludicrousy gfo'e'aue
By the addition OF bright green windowshusiers 10 me
pilAsiered and Grecsn front OF white marble. The
farther addition OF few blazing To signs, after the
| manner OF your Hall OF Records, would render the
Joke complete. The upper part Of Chestnut street Is
occupied almost exclusively BY dwelling houses-all
plain and unosientstous but many Of them very rich
ard substantial furnished with white marble steps and
Mate glass windows The sidewalks, which pune.
,pay subjected TO triweekly securing that ruos the
kn of the face Of the bricks snd lays bare their erin
.op iu,eguments. are frequently ornamen,ed with
voppy vigorous trees rich with vcrdure and scattering
an incense of shady GOODNESS around Their whisper
in, branches are responded to by nnumersoe garden
v.Ss slled with a luxuriAnt growth OF srape-vnes'
c,ms and seringss which keep the atmosphere pure
and sweet embalmed in precious doors Tbs glorious
sxuberapce of yerdure is common Throughout the city
and "a one of its chefest attractions and blessings Inc
egec, of so many esfy branches in the midst OF 'he
thickly peoped city is indescrbsbe and IneoneeSOs
you must remember also that oar trees are trees anu
no, those poor, wind-dried, dustchAiked aSofnon'
vho,e skeletons sway and creak over the heads OF me