The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-18

GIRARD HOUSE,

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GIRARD HOUSE,
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. s, 1858 7
City Inpropements-Shops and Shopping-SHu AnoAev
Nc,o Hotel-The Opera and the Theatres, dc.
Under the most favorable circumstances Philadelphia
little slow to New Yorker It's docks only
like places where ferry boats have landings and its Ex-
change the depot for great number Of musty looking
omnibuses la which rides. But will not answer
to trust first impressions about Cities any more than
about women, and Philadelphia though really slow il
some matters, has yet many things which go far 70
confirm tie absurd opinion which its people have u
their own consequence. Up to q recent period thcy
have been like the Chinese in their jealousy o(
outside barbarans but railways have broken this dowa
and there is prospec-cerainy remote one, but STILL
prospec-that Philadelphia will be cheerful place q
these days
just now your correspondent the place rather
unfavorable aspects II is very wet very dirty, and
rather cold Chestnut street looks as if some had
spilled great jug Of ink over It, and as il it were ia
brown study to whether or not it would pay TO bring
suit for libel against the spiler There are somelpoli
clans Of the Douglas stripe, including Kansas martyr,
weather bound at tho hotels but they not lively ~
any The arrival OF the New York papers and the
dinner hour the only brilliant periods Of the day All
the rest is a dreary waste.
Under these antiquarian researches have
heretofore served TO fill up portion Of the time but
that resource denied Formerly could sit
the Grard House paror and gaze with affection at the
board fence which circumscbed the the old theatre
opposite. Men from the West and the East sharp New
Workers and brisk Jeseymen with an eye to the Dimes
affected to wonder that this land, in the best business
part Of the city, not improved. But relic a
other days. therefore sacred Here ls4O the
Burton opened theatre, with grand c0mbinatiea
of artists. There Charlotte Cushman, without
United States stocks and Susannot then the wife u
Clergyman of the Established Church; likewise Rchngg
the ponderous and the polished Pacide whose surname
is Thomas, and whose weakness meersehaum Think e
it, o. fathers OF families who jacketed cubs
Chcy wore jackets, them boys did think Of the young
women in the troop Of the Naiad Qeen for here was thai
remarkable dramatic opportunity for the display 0f
feminine supporters first represented But, the
toneers say must not dwell After Burton the
deluge the circus which is about the thing. o.
course the circus was burned nightthey always
and since that time about five the site has been
un0ccuped by the sports of the Philadelphia youth
learned to love the board fence and presumed ii would
stand long the Hall of Independence remained Juss
the other side OF Chestnut street. and the "a
Eighth street, was another nice old othe Butler mansion
occupying it. There were horse chestnuts and things
around IT, and the sidewalk was good place
| to lounge in the summer evenings. Well sir,
what do you think? These have been swept away,
and their places covered with wdenesses of brick
BILE and mortar Let mo hasten to exonerate the Pha-
dclphians from any such acts OF Vandalism. An limo
waiting Bostonianone Fetrdge-cast his speculative eye
upon the Butler lot years ago. and with THAI
eminent publican, Paran Stevens-he of many and ex-
celent hverns-conspred TO erect upon it what the Now
York correspondents of the country papers call pats
hotel The Legislature passed act incorporating tho
Hotel Company, but the original prcja postponed.
Fetrdge built grand dry goods shop for Levy who il
called the Philadelphia Stcwarjust as II there could be
two suns to shine upon the crinoline world. This
| shop is the finest mercantile building in Phiadei-
| phia, solid and substantial Within it is vast hall,
lighted from the top and surrounded by substantial
galleries. The persons who sell the goods young
women comedy to look upon, believe, though such
ties not for Next to Levy's there has beea
erected white marble building in the style Of Tinys
and occupied by Bailey 4 Co. ewery shop AS Mr..
Grimscom said about the elephants is wery putty and
VERY neat" These buildings fill the major part the
Butler lot, and have caused the Hotel Company 70
| ing, under the superintendent OF Mr.. John Rice, q
/ hotel which will accommodate a thousand guests Tha
lot has fronts Chestnut Ninth and Sansome Streets
and IS, ! should judge, OF about the same area
| as the land occupied by the ST. Nicholas Hotel,
| which the new house will much resemble. 1t is to be
opened before January 1860 under the OF Mr.
Stevens aforesaid who will then have hotels in Boston,
New York. Philadelphia and Mobile. He s benefactOr
OF his species and magnificent feeder Of extensive cara
is Stevens. Now people Of o utilitaran turn az
mind may say that all these things great improve
mens and so on, and that Ferdge Rice Stevens Levy.
Bailey and company deserve credit but went TO Phia
delphia agreeable rural resort repeated the
Georges under the horse chestnus Now people buy
sell things there. Well, few natural regrets and fal,
back upon Boston or Providence. They have buildings
enough there TO last until they divert from New
York. Philadelphia needs the hotel the Girard and La
pierre being continually crowded in the busy
The Philadclphans are enjoying the Metropolitan
luxury OF the opera vouchsafcd by the amiabc Stra
kosch The artists much liked, particularly Mime de
wilhorst who always has been great favorite here
don't think that Strakosch will make his eternal for
tune" they say the East but he has announced
new operas In advance, quite natural TO suppose that
the people waiting for them before they dsburse their
dollars The theatres Arch and Walnut are playing old
pieces 10 poor houses. The managers here afflicted
with chronic egotsm which excessively amusing and
when they ought 10 bring out new pieces they produce
only themselves II Is case Of too much partridge,
| for this public, which stands great deal
Il