The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1868-08-11
COMMUNICATIONS.
PHILADELPHIA, PENN
August 4th, 1868.

FRIDAY morning we lett the mountains
for this city, arriving here after run OF I
ten and half hours
Most people are quite willing to grant
that car riding is not source Of the
highest happiness. The hustle, noise,
smoke, cinders and numberless annoyan
ces attending it arc any thing but agree
able. Still, though man be permeated
by coal dust, showed, banged, and tramp
eled under foot by the crowd, and in
suited by every petty road official which
is never the case on the 2. Central }, not
outstanding all this, if he do not enjoy
a ride over this road he has nothing
lovely in his constitution and will do to
avoid
In crossing the mountains two, three,
and sometimes four engines are required
in ascending, descending every brake is
down The road follows the line of
the Connomoyh on the west, and the Ju-
inata on the east. The entire route from
Steubenville to harrisburg is one mag
nificent panorama, unfolding to the trav-
those rivers mentioned above tie JUN
alta is most attractive. Rising in the
Allegheny, fed by mountain springs as
it flows, piercing Jack Mts. and Blue
Ridge, then mingling its waters with the
Susquehannah, still on it runs cutting
through the very heart OF Blue Noun
tains and hieing saway to the distant
sea- Down this river valley we come
last Friday. Through forest and field,
by bare rock, and over deep gorge,
rushing madly in subterraneous passage
dark as Erebus, darting again in the
sunlight, over bridge, chasm, glen, pass
ing with shrek and roar trains bound
westward, whizzing by farms, houses and
villages. on every side of us granduer
and beauty, varied each moment as we
roll onward, twas q ride ever to be re
membered with rapture and delight
This road will be rivalled only by the
great Pacific now building. Excursion
lists do not fail to try it!
A stranger in the Getty of Brotherly
ceptabIe 10 the ssuninitia:ed' at least
Dwellings mostly built of pressed brick
and look half century old the moment
they are finished. Marble easements
and white opaque, or rather solid, win
dow shutters are universally used.
Doors and windows closed day and
night, one can hardly rid himself of the
impression that he is in a deserted city
lance from the business precincts. The
city is plain almost to positive ngliness
but proverbial for neatness-streets
clean, no smoke no dust But though
home be plain the women are not 1t
is said that no where in America are the
fair sex so handsome; except Richmond,
Indiana, / echo.
The people are wide awake both rs re-
Colfax clubs are stirring the voting popu
ulation vigorously, and if the city does
not do tie thing up nobly this fall, twill
not be for lack of energy among the Re-
publicans.
The city at this time is unusually quiet.
Sportsmen, gamblers and the flashy pop
ulation gen orally have left the lace, and
seek victims, recreation, d. at the M any
summer resorts along the coast and
elsewhere. The Press informs us that
the police have nothing to do but to
pocket their salary--poor fellows!
By way Of amusement there are thea
1 tres and excursions. Black Crook and
/ Can Can are the role at present. The
| former is practiced by a first class thea
! latter is exhibited in a den and is largely
attended. AS you are aware it is de-
signed to represent famous French
! dance-a favorite of the den,i monde
j The dancing and the gaudy scenery is
the most there is about it. Having G
slight curiosity to see Philadelphia in hel
various phases, found myself at the
n. American Theatre Saturday evening
last, spectator Of the Can Can. Tn.
house was full from dress circle to gal
ley--and such crowd Half dozer
ladies all told, the rest were males.
smoking, jeering, drinking class, lovely
to contemplate! Everybody smoked
everybody chewed, everybody drank
And the gaudy yulgarity of the troup'
threw them into raptures which discov
cred itself in boisterous applause.
thought it were we'll enough if the cit,
which prides itself SO on its morality
would occasionally examine its machine
= ry, and see if it could not detect som
slight inconsistencies. These license,
displays are great evil, and should b
eradicated. They become the NOR