Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-06-09

| THE REAL AND SIDE ISSUES OF THE PRESBYTERIAN
AssEMBLY-How THE VISITORS PUT IN THEIR
LEISURE HouRs-TuE ENDING OF THE DRAMATIC
SEASON.
Special correspondence Of he Commercial.
PHILADELPHIA, June 2.--Such Of the country
members, delegates to the Presbyterian assem-
bly,, who have read Great Expectations" have
undoubtedly said often to themselves and others
| recently" wot larlss !" From my acquain-
tance with those gentlemen, am afraid that not
all Of them have read the story of Pip and Joe,
but such as have indubitably have remarked,
over and over, "wot larks !" And indeed they
have given vent not without cause. Such junket-
ings and high jinks generally do not often fall
to the lot of convention delegates, whether in the
church or out of it. The religious community
has fairly given itself up to the one matter of
pleasantly entertaining its visitors and as might
be supposed, the result has been highly gratify-
ing. Tho country delegates are heard to de-
clare loudly, at all hours and places that they
never had such good times, and that they had
not believed until now that there was so much
fun a-going The great festival and banquet at
the Academy of Music few nights ago, filed
their minds with awe. Most of them, of course,
had never been in a Theatre before, and that to
begin with made the occasion one of interest
The supper was something stupendous. Imagine
220O preachers pegging away at Holsters and
coffee at midnight! The idea takes away ones
breath, but it is the sober truth l am telling
you--22O0 preachers ut supper-at late sup
per :--now then, they can tell us what
they please in the papers, for one will believe
everything. The amount Of headaches and gene
raj lassitudes next day has not been 30 carefully
reported, but We will hope it was not very large.
At all events the ministers, could not as body,
have been seriously injured for day or 30 after
this enormous feed, we hear Of the whole party
going philandering down to Cape May. Comical
Interior who had read in tho course of their pro-
fessional studies, about going down to the sea in
ships, but who had never, with their own eyes
beheld the ocean,-of their wandering benignly
up and down the beach, and stuffing their alpaca
overcoats with CLAIMS and mussel shells, thinking
them valuable marine curiosties. Some illbal-
anced people may smile at this. but must think
that the well conditioned cannot but approve.
Speaking by comparison, too, | would rather
see clergyman peacefully gathering clam
shells at the sea shore than behold him taking
supper at midnight in theatre. II is matter
of taste, but that is the way look at it, You
will be glad to learn that the delegates heartily
approved of the sea. They did not get much sun
burned or freckled, for if the truth must be told
it rained the whole time, but they came back full
Of enthusiasm and feeling that they could now
talk about the men who go down to the sea in
ships (does this mean launching ships, by the
byD with more power and point than ever.
Last night still another grand entertainment
was given to the delegates, in the shape of
performance of the oratorio of the Messiah"
by the Handel and Haydn Society. 1t was an
occasion of great and unaoyed pleasure. II
seems to me that all this must make about as
pleasant reading as your subscribers often see.
/ take it all (do not smirk my facetious friend-
it does not become you-yes, Feed and alb as
being the most genial thing in the way Of re-
gious celebrations that has hereabouts befallen.
There has been an era of good feeling, and the
proof that the union of the two divisions of the
church IL not only one in name, but in feeling
and in fact, is great and satisfying. The good
that will grow ont of this hearty fellowship can
not be measured. The whole city seems suffused
with it. 1t makes everybody generous and warm
hearted, and disposes men and women to unusual
demonstrations of affection and hospitality.
Good COMMERCIAL, that all sects and all churches
could come together SO! Then it would be
world worth living ill.,. But-an uneasy thought
intrudes where should we find the building in
which to feast all the preachers! But that is an
unworthy, not to say an absurd notion-and it
shall pass. Way would doubtless be provided.
Speaking OF theatres ,reminds. one that our
dramatic season is just closing. A few reflections
may be IN season. Dispute the 81 Star attactions
at the Walnut street." the arch" has again
proved itself our best playhouse 1t is pleasant
to be able to note that the average business at
the 4" Arch" has been very good 1t is the best
season Mrs. Drew has had since she became
manager OF the theatre. AS Col. Fitzgerald
says in the lien, every week. Mrs. Drew is awon-
derful woman, and the fact is. she is. The Col.
for once has hit it. Murphy, BOX office Murphy
declares that what Mrs. Drew don't know about
both acting and managing isn't OF any particu-
lar value Murphy has what some of his friends
call an insane veneration for Mrs. Drew, but |
am inclined to think it perfectly reasonable mas
much as she has done not little towards build
ing up his fortune
1t was amusing to hear Joseph compare
Laura Keene and Mrs. Drew, when the for
mer lady essayed to run the Chestnut y but
the story of the Chestnut is long one. and
deserves chapter by itself. Barton Hill re-
turns to play Mrs. Drews leading business, next
fall. Mr.. Cathcart has not answered to the
hopes the management had of him. Not that he
is failure, but that he has not provoked any
thusiasm. He is very Intelligent man, and the
actors swear by him, but lie lacks that personal
magnetism which is even more than intelligence
in the players vocation. Mr.. Cathcart, Iunder
stand, will return to England.
The season at the "Walnut," if not so good as
that at the Arch, has also been very satisfac-
| tory. No changes of importance will be made
| for next season. Mr.. Clarke will play long
engagement commencing in September. One of
the funny mans novelties will be Mr. Stockton b
'' Fox Us Goose" produced in London, and recent
| ly acted at Booths, New York. The author is a
Philadelphan, and there will be great desire to
see one Of our few highly successful native plays.
L asked that question above,of course because
was in doubt. But suppose il a gentleman
| can be engaged in his own store, there is no
reason why manager should not be engaged by
| the management of his own theatre. After all,
nobody cares how it is, and that makes it COM
Portable all around INDEX.