Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-08-03

mer Amusements.
PHILADELPHIA, August 2,
| Special Correspondence of Me Commercial:
No matter how Senator Summers labored ren.
egadism may be received in other quarters, it is
certain that here it has fallen very flat indeed.
The learned fulminator appears to have made
one vital mistake, viz in supposing that the
colored people do not read and think for them
selves. In some sections it may be true that
| they simply do as they are told by those they
| consider their friends but not hereabouts nor,
1t is fair to presume from what is seen of the
race in this neghborhood, to any extent in any
of the Northern States. There is no material
| difference should say between the average
intelligence of the blacks and whites of Phila.
delphia, although many advantages of education
ETC., are to be credited to the latter class But
! should be wrong in this, and even il the black
man is less intelligent than his white brother,
the negro has more than enough brains to take
newly found allies at their true value
l have held this view from the start and
talk | had to-day with a well-known col
orod citizen only confirmed me in it, All men
about town, and good many others who do MOI
come under that category have heard of Mr. J.
w. Price the famous TestduFdtetu. He is rich
respectable, and person Of great weight among
the people of his race. He expressed indigna.
ton that Mr.. Sumner should think 10 poorly of
coofed men AZ to endeavor to caiole them into
the ranks of their tiercest enemies. Against MIR
Greeley, he was free to say, he could advance
nothing for he had always known him to be
friend of the black man, but against the Demo.
Gratis who were the real acting power in the
movement, he could say a good deal What
difference would it make"-said this intelligent
person whom MIR. Summer thought to pull by
the nose-" if with Mr. Greeley President anu
with promise of equal rights, the Executive
were supported by Congress Democratic from
head to foot? The President could do nothing.
and can SEQ that principal plank in this Dem
ocratic bargain il that they shall have the Con-
6ressmen, not to speak of the major share of
the Offices of the country Rather shrewd
wasn't it-for black man " But is this the
ground taken l asked, by your people gener-
ally "Assuredly it is, he replied, - there are
very few colored men of my acquaintance who
think otherwise" Generalities are fine things
occasionally, but here we come down to some
thing practical. and have no question that il
any man would institute such an inquiry among
his colored acquaintance lac would lind the same
result.
Uniformed you at the time the idea was first
broached OF the intention of putting Independ-
ence Hall in proper visiting trim by the opening
OF the Centennial Exposition. Rightly enough
the persons having charge Of the matter have
not delayed until that far off season, and the
work OF renovation is now in progress The de
sign il to restore the old Hall as nearly to the
condition it was in on the 4th of July 177G, as
possible A platform has been built to cores.
pond to the Presidents raised seat as it then
stood some Of the original chairs and other fur
niture will b. restored to the room, and other
articles will be carefully made to match The
bell, the block of marble the pictures (except
portraits of Presidents) and the whole host Of
misc' llaneous articles presented from time to
time to the city, have been removed, aud a very
successful effort Is being made to give the Ha
u venerable and cooked hat appearance. jus,
now however, and III tH transition state it is MOI
a very attractive place. The room il full OF
tcalfOldlug, used by workmen in restoring the
ceiling and cOrniees, and the visitor must have
rather strong imagination who can get any clear
idea out OF the chaos. let it was into this samo
chaos that the Japanese Embassy entered the
other day, the members declaring themselves
thoroughly delighted. The Japanese are polite
people Atterwards,o on being given the orthodox
drive and supper at Belmont, they praised the
Park, ,eayiug they had no doubt that it was much
finer than the New York Park, of which they had
heard 70 much, but which they had not yet seen.
Perhaps when they got to New York they said
the same thing With variations.
The Ledger. yesterday in its money article
raised quite commotlon in business circles by
some sharp criticism OF the National Railway
Company. This il project to secure a short
air line between Philadelphia and New York, by
way of AtteborO, Bucks Co., to the State line
near Vaudeville thence to connect with New
lord roads The LedJer expressed strong doubts
Of the legality Of the mortgage held by the com
| pany and said in language more forcible than
| courteous that the scheme was intended wholly
to raise money, and without any present or fu
| ture intention of constructing the road,-in
| short that the National Railway Co. was next
| door to myth. The fact of its speaking 80
strongly, however, was very clear proof that it
had some feeling in the matter. 1t can be no
secret to any one who reads this column of the
Ledger that the paper is deeply enlisted in the
service of the Pennsylvania Co. If the National
Railway ever becomes a fact it will be at the ex-
| pense of Col. Scotts little arrangement, and
/ hence these tears. Regarding the legality of
| the Companys mortgages. Nessrs. Charles
| Gibbons, and VIM. NJ Meredith, two very dis
| tiuguished lawyers settle the matter very decid
| edly i'll the Affirmative. This will be mighty
/ pretty quarrel before it is over, but I'll wager
| you that Col. Scott wins if he keeps his health.
| The clidens Excursions have had good
send.off. On Saturday last the first party of
| happy yougsteis were conveyed to Rockland, in
the upper Park on Tuesday large picnic was
| taken TO Penusgrove, N. j. on Wednesday a
colored excursion went to Rockland and to-
morrow a second white picnic goes to the same
| place Next week several river eXursions will be
| given. The committees are on the right tack in
| hurrying this business through with while the
hot weather lasts. With to-morrow's party
four excursions will have beeu given in one
| the present month the really hot weather. when
| tile excursions are much of a necessity, will
be over. The New York plan has rarely included
more than two excursions a week. and generally
but one Meanwhile funds continue to pour III
here the amount now subscribed being nearly
sll, 900. A pleasant rivalry has been noted be-
tween the Union and Market street railways.
| You remember that there ID rather Il bitter feud
betweeen these roads. The other day the Union
subscribed 1900 car tickets to the chidrens fund,
upon hearing of which act, MIR Morton of the
Market Street Co. saw MIR Ridgway's 1900 and
went him 400 better. 1t wouldn't be a bad
thing if all gentlemen would put their knowledge
of "poker" in practice in this way. There has
been some very unnecessary complaint that the
children upon these EXCURSIONS do not appear at
entirely wIetchcd as was expected. They are III
fact as a rule, decently dressed, cleanly and well
behaved. There is something pathetic in the
evidences given by poor parents of desire tc
have their children appear to advantage among
their companions, nor Is it proof that Ii tile ont
does not need rOmp in the fresh air becaust
she has on clean frock and smart bit OF RIB
bon. Besides that utterly given-oyer class Will
which New York swatms does not abound here
We should thank God for that, instead of com
planning of 1t.
Great are statistics Figures can't lie and i
s satisfactorily proven by figures that the montl
lust past is tine hottest July on record in thii
palt of the world. The average temperature o
the month was S23l degrees, the hottest pre-
/, yious July being that Of 1888 when the ayerdg,
was 81 degrees, 1t ii notable, too, that th'
great average was occasoned by the heat OF thu
aN