Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-30
LETTER FROM PHILADELPHIA.
MOUNT VERNON House, July 81, 1856.

| MOUNT ' ERN0N HOUSE, July Il, 1896.
| Friend Ro,c Il presume that ere you re-
ceiye this letter, You will have seen a detailed
account of the circumstances connected with
the late horrible catastrophe on the North
| Pennsylvania Railroad, near this city, which
exceeds, III its frightful features, even the
burning of the steamboat New Jersey. 1t has
spread gloomy pail over the entire city, and
since its occurrence but little else has been
thought of or talked about. A large amount
of money has been subscribed, for the relief
of the sufferers-the sick, the wounded, the
widow, and the fatherless. The guests, boar
ders and employees of the Mount Vernon
House made a very handsome donation, for
which manifestation of their sympathy they
deserve great credit. (We were not contrib
utor, and can thus speak of it, as it deserves,
without being charged with egotism.) BY the
way, both the Mount Vernon and its accom-
modating proprietor are in a highly prosper
Gus condition, and notwithstanding the op-
prcssivc heat, the house is we'll filled with
guests. 1t would be impossible to stop with
more obliging, clever fellow, or at house
where you will be better waited upon and at
tended to. The people of Clearfield manifest
the Mount Vernon. We had rather singular
accident here last night. A man, some sixty
or seventy years of age, employed for making
fires, &,e., has been in the habit, during tho
warm weather, of sleeping upon the top of the
house-on the fiat. Last night, whilst asleep.
he either rolled or walked of, and was precip-
itated head-loDg TO the ground, from a build
ing five stories and half high! Yet, singu-
lar to say, the only injuries he has apparently
sustained are flesh wound on one arm, and
few bruises the back. He is doing well,
and is expected to recover.
Business here is very dull, of course, and
the weather is intensely hot. Last Friday, tho
mercury was up to 104! Sherry cobblers, ice
cream and soda water, are going doocn in about
the same ratio that the mercury rises, and ev-
cry body seems TO be busily engaged trying to
keep cool. Dreams of Kamskatchka and the
Arctic Regions, of sea bathing and mountain
| breezes, utterly fail to keep up the animal
spirits as high as the mercury, and one is al
most led to believe that the clerk of the wealth
cr, overcome by the heat, has fsilen to sleep,
and the thermometer gone on a spree.
The political battle wages hot, and Buchan-
an stock is decidedly below par. \ frequent
| topic of conversation, is the exceedingly low
schedule of prices which the Judiciary of the
District of Columbia have prepared, to foster
that important brv nch of business. For ex-
ample, at the low price of $500, one may now
beat Senator almost TO death, and stain the
floor of the Senate-house with his blood, for
words spoken in debate. The maintenance of
such rufiiansm has become one of the new
| Democratic doctrines, and should that party
succeed, they will doubtless turn the Senate
chamber into a gladiatorial amphitheatre.
The opposition to the present Administra-
tien, in this city, might be expected, is de-
cidcdly for Fillmore. This is easily account
ed for by their affinitics to Southern trade,
though there arc many of them, doubtless, ac-
tuated by more patriotic motives.
1t seems that Mr.. Van Buren is about to
learn something that he ought to have known
long ago: that it is very easy for man to lead
large party astray, but not SO easy to drive
them back again, or in other words, that, not
withstanding the late coup d. efaf from Kinder
hook, the Democratic Free Soilers of New
York refuse to follow the old ssbell wether''
and have called State Convention, TO meet
on the 24th inst, from which Mr.. Buchanan
and his party may anticipate some startling
results.
The Wing State Convention OF Virginia,
which has just adjourned. has called Nation
al Old Line Whig Convention at Baltimore on
the third Wednesday of September. Tho
Virginia Convention supports Fillmore, as
Wing, and the movement at Baltimore is des-
tined TO exert an important influence on tho
result of the contest.
see s'your neighbor'' don't like one Of tho
speeches delivered recently at the exhibition
of the Academy. From the statements made
in regard to Col. Fremont's gastronomic ac-
complishments, if he is elected. the sapient
editor, should he visit Washington, had better
keep away from the Presidents levee, for it
is limited that. among other things, the Col. is
addicted TO eating poodles, jackasses, and such
like cattle. If his choice is made from the
length of the ears, very much fear ssyour
neighbor" would be in danger.
Yours, ".
DEcENcY is a matter of latitude. In Turkey