Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-02-01
From Philadelphia.

&c.
In olden times Philadelphia was called the "City
of Brotherly Love- but the spirit of rowdyisfn
and riot became so predominant that this name
was only applied to her in derision. Within the
past few weeks, however, she has been doing much
to regain her old reputation, by the prompt and
generous liberality with which her citizens have
responded to the appeal made to them behalf
of the suffering poor. Brayely have they battled
with the fend-poverty, and if they have not
bound up all the wounds his poignant arrows have
inflicted, and provided ANECDOTES against his sharp
strings in many quarters, where but for this time
ly aid they would have inflicted terrible, if not IA
tai pangs.
Some time ago the National Government adj
vertise1 for proposals for site for the erection of
post Office and q. S. court buildings In this city,
and the bids are published in one of our morn
ing papers, from which tolerably fair idea may
be formed Of the price at which real estate in good
business locality is held. The rates ranged from
$6 up to $50 per square foot ofground- COM
petitors generally demanding $1Oa12.
The trial of our late County Treasurer. Robert
G. Simpson, for the embezzlement of the funds of
concluded, to the surprise and amazement Of al
most every body, by a verdict of 50 not guilty.'-
The case was very clearly and strongly made out
in manner, that it was supposed, under the
isting laws of our State, would have insured con-
viction- Tho plea of the defence consisted mainly
in an affirmation of his utter ignorance of what
transpiring in the Office he was elected to dis
charge the dutis of, and an attempt to throw all
responsibility upon his subordinates.
We had slight fall of snow here on Thursday
night which excited lively hopes of sleighing, and
actually enticed some few individuals into trial
of it, but they were served almost as shabbly as
poor Cinderella when her brilliant coach horses
were converted into mice, for few stray geaIns
OF the sun and the multitude of wheeled vehicles
traversng the streets, transformed the pure white
drapery into dingy slushy mud by an early hour,
and they were left to find their way home the
rough stones as best they could.
Old independence Hall, around which richly
cluster many memories dear to the American
heart, has recently undergone thorough process
of renovation. The room in which the Declare
ton of Independence signed, has been hand
somely furnished, and its walls adorned with the
portraits Of a number of the heroes aud sages of
our Revolutionary era. 1t also contains variety
of interesting relics, prominent among which is
the old bell, cast nearly a hundred years since,
which first announced the birth of the Nation, and
lrhich was with such remarkable appositeness in
scribed with the words .' Proclaim liberty to all
the land, and all the inhabitants thereof,n The
second story has been elegantly arranged as a
place for the meeting of our City Councils, which
now forms body quite large, if not very ss re-
spectacle" The steeple or cupola is under
going process of repanting, and the ever pres
ent business committee of idlers which consre-
gates around labores when there is the slightest
novelty in their proceedings, has been eagerly ga
zng at the busy workncn who are perched so
high up in the air that their size appears quite
diminutive.
A couple of our young (milk and water) bloods
recently concluded to enjoy the unusual in this
locality luxury of duel. Like nearly all SINH
lar eifairs in this region, it partook far of
comic than a tragic character. The belligcrent
spirit of people seems to find its avenue for
development, principally if not entirely in riots
or street fights, renconters of a more or less
bloody and fatal character, while the passions
were in full activity and the original cause of
quarrel still held in keen remembrance but either
because time coos their rage or causes their cous-
age to ooze out, or on account of the strong
public sentiment here in opposition to dueling it
has become an utterly obsolete idea, SO far
CARDS bona fde meetings, where both parties seri-
ously entertain deadly intents upon each other,
and in the public mind the idea of a duel is al
most inseparately connected with that of a farce.
The two gentlemen who have just made their
first and presume last appearance in the comic
duello characters are both in the spring tide of
youth-say about eighteen. An alteration en-
sued between them on some exciting topic, lady,
presume, when Mr.. A. called Mr.. b. "a cow
ard,'' whereupon Mr.. b. duly sent him a chal-
lenge, which accepted. A grove, near Cam
den, was the scene of action. Fire." after the
words Sc one, two, three"-the signal for the COM
I mencement of the action. The parties were
prompt to their appointment, and both'paled with
fear while the seconds were enjoying the scene
| hugely, for you must understand that they had
been very careful to take the humane precaution
of loading the pistols with nothing but powder
/ At the word s one'' Mr.. A. observed to trem-
Bile violently, the word sstwo his teeth chattered
his knees beat reville upon each other; at the
word three'' his superintendent instinct of self
preservation obtained complete mastery over all
other considerations, and he incontinently fred
1t is somewhat doubtful whether he will ever
apply the epithet coward' to ais associates
| again.
! A funny affair took place in the outer part of
our city few days ago. You may recollect that
| a short time since, the young wife of a commits
.;<x, ,,,orol,,o+ :, Noxv York eloned from that