Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-03-09
Correspondence of the American.
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Correspondence of the American.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 21.
Mr.. EDIToR;--After spending sever
al very pleasant days in Washington.
l left en- route to Philadelphia. Tar
rying short time in Baltimore, l was
attracted by the neatness and density
Of the city--the industry and energy
with which business was dispatched,
and the hospitable, moral and reli-
gious tone that seemed to character
ize her citizens. Her situation is not
SO handsome and inviting as Washing
ton or Philadelphia. Baltimore is
world -renouned for being the great de-
pot of fine Oysters; and her ports arc
alive with boats bringing hither the
hard-shelled luxuries. Unfortunately
n heavy storm swept over the Bay dur
ing the night Of my sojourn there,
producing terrible wrecks. burying
many an oyster to its no small Joy in
a watery grave.
Passing up through the rural dis
tricts Of Maryland and! Della are. a
Hoosier cannot escape being forcibly
struck with the great cantrast between
that country and the White Water
Valley. One of farmer Gordon's or
Hanley's big hogs would frighten the
natives of those pigmy regions, tho
they can beat the west raising sand
flies, from the appearance Of their soil.
Arriving at Philadelphia, where /
have now been number Of weeks at
tending to the counsels ssof the great
mother Of American Science and art,
which is beautiful for situation, math-
ematical in design. tasty. in execution,
remarkable as the theatre of import
ant historical events, provcrbial for
good order. social, moral and religious
habits. Dense in population, but very
much relieved by..many tasty and
balmy parks, as oases in desert, in
which sport the light and life Of the
forest shade; the red mans deer
and spotted fawn.
Wealth and luxury seem to crowd
the portals of her Golfers. Her iron,
sculptured marble, and granite build
ings, stereotype the science and praise
of her architects. Her streets daz-
zle with rich merchandise, purple and
fine linens. Her markets extend for
miles. lined with vegetables. poultry,
fish and other flesh; though her dietic
bazarrs cannot compare in quality
with those Of Cincinnati; and her ports
are crowded with ships, briggs and
schooners, which empty into her marts
n current of bullion from the different
parts of the earth.
In the midst of all these, the cries
Of her poor, and the condition of her
needy, arenot forgotten. The church
es and many other benevolent and re-
lief Societies are in active operation to
succor the distressed. There is an
association called the "Soup Society, -
which fills many an empty stomache
with good warm broth. This is at il
should be. "pure and undefled."
Many places are here to attract the
gaze, and interest the mind Of the OBJ
serving stranger. But none more
sacredly identi6ed.with the true Amer
lean, than old Independence Hall.
AS years lapse away into the sea Of
oblivion, and distance lends enchant-
ment to scenes and incidents of our
National history, it is gratifying to
witness the growing reverence for that
sacred spot,-that consecrated temple
where was created and published that
great charter Of American liberty. and
protest of oppression,-the Declara-
tion of Independence. The denizer
of the remotest corner Of our wide.
spread territory-reaching from zone
to zone, and from sea to sea, anxious
ly turns from his path of business OF
pleasure, to stand for while benea.l
the roof that sheltered the honoret
heads of those who, in the midst O