Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-03-30
PHILADELPHIA.
OUR sATURD LETTER,

ital from Harrisburg to Philadelphia. has become
moving one in the newspapers, though il has
not yet struck very deep root in the public
There are some curious facts in this re-
lation of People. Sometimes the first
gets it's cue from the last-and then 1t
is Uioe Uersd, 1t is next to impossi-
BILE to wake the thunders of the journals on
some important occasion where the people have
been long since reused, and then again the
papers will try in vain to rouse popular interest
in some pressing matter. The capital removal
belongs to the latter class of problems. The
run of people talk very little about it and think
less. This should be regarded as significant
The people don't care and although the papers
may possibly bring thom up with a short turn
before they have done with them, yet it is
already plain that there is no very great enthu
siasm felt or likely to be shown in the matter.
After giving newspaper and individual thought
due attention l have, "for my own poor part" ar
rived at two opinions. The first Of these is that
Philadelphia is, naturally and of course, the best
place for the capital. The notion that the seat
of government must be in the geographical CEN
ire of the State is exploded in these Railway
and Telegraph days. 1t is practically as easy
to get to Philadelphia from any part of the
State, as it is to reach Harrisburg. That point
is easily disposed of and there can be as little
objection to the propositions that this city is
much more comfortable dwelling place than
Harrisburg, that Legislator and all parties
having business with the State government can
be much better Accommodated here, and that the
thousand and one matters of reference, OF legal
consultation, of study, of social pleasure and
the like have here much greater opportunity.
ttal 10
moved Tomorrow at least soon as con-
venient. But on the other side stand the rights,
not overly respected, of the Country Districts.
There is already too much Of disposition to
drain the rural sections for the profit of the cities
and the jealousy and distrust of the country is
easily to be understood. Now the having of the
State Capital is undoubtedly matter Of pride
and comfort to the rural sections. 1t gives them
an honorable sense of their importance and they
may fairly claim that inasmuch as cities do mo-
nopolize 30 much Of the wealth and consequence
of a State that the capital might be left with
them. The fairest thing would be, if it were
possible, to submit the question TO a vote Of the
whole people, and yet there would be danger
there too for many men would vote simply ac-
cording to theirprejudices, and the country far
outweghs the city decision might be made
that would be opposed to the true interests of
the whole commonwealth. But whatever is done
will be done slowly.
The vital statistics, as they are called, for the
year 1871, were published this week. They are
melancholy tables, but the public pores over
them with strange fascination. up and down
the people go, AZ the Laureate says, sure
enough and it is only by giving attention to such
concentrated facts of existence that we fully
realize that it ID a world of oomings aud goings.
Reading of mortality massed in thousands we
lose the sense of anguish that is attached to
each individual case, and see only the broad
manifestation of the law. The number of births
registered were in round numbers 18,30O an
increase of HOO of marriages $780, an increase
of 400 of deaths H. 900, an increase of 250 The
proof of citys or States growth,i is the increas-
ing number Of births and marriages, and the
decreasing number of deaths. The furious rage
of the smallpox is answerable for the unfavora-
ble showing in our death report. The first nine
months showed a decrease of nearly 1900 from
the corresponding term in 1870, bnt the deaths
from smallpox in October, November, and
December, overcame this gain. The smallpox
cases for the year were 8,114 and the deaths
1879. This is more than three times the number
in any year in the history OF the city. And yet,
to show how we lose our dread of an ever pres
ent danger, these tables show that consumption
was much more deadly than smallpox, 2,237
persons dying of diseased lungs. 1t is true this
number was about evenly divided over the year,
while the great bulk of the suffering from small
pox was endured in three months,-whlch added
to the panic. But further, and beyond all other
considerations, smallpox is contagious,i is loath-
some, and renders the victim liable to carry with
him through life, unpleasant evidences of his
affliction. That is why we dread it, but facts
prove that il is not as deadly as consumption.
The Japanese Embassy had another busy and
we will trust, instructive week. The members
visited number of Government and industrial
establishments, the principal Of them being the
Brdesburg Arsenal the Navy Yard, the Mint, the
Gloucester Print Works, League Island, &c.
They expressed especial interest in our calico
works at Gloucester. You must know that those
works are very extensive, quite as large as some
of the Yankee mills, though we do not brag
about them 30 much. At all events the Japs
have not been to Lowell yet and they thought
the Gloucester works were about the greatest
things they had ever seen. The Embassy at this
writing is investigating the mysteries of coal
mining, but it will return to Philadelphia after
visiting other places. By-the-way, let me observe
that while the tricks of the types do not ordinar
lily disturb me, one thing you made me say last
week gave me slight turn. was not greatly
shocked by Mr.. Tameyossi Hidas appearance.
Nothing OF the sort. was struck l was shocked
when saw the Commercial, but l was struck
with Mr.. Hida. But never mind.
The Sewage Utilization Company is our scape
goat lust at present and truth to say it merits a
great many of the severe things said about it,
The condition of our streets could not well be
worse and the Company, instead of going reso-
lutely to work to straighten up matters, gives
whatever energy it has to political maneuvering
| and having its already too great powers for ag-
| grandisement still further extended. A back
| handed attempt to procure supplement to the
| charter, giving the company among other things
the right to increase its capital stock 100000,
/ has created considerable indignation. The Com
pany is doing positively nothing towards cleaning
| the Streets which naturally grow worse daily.
What will be the end, no can tell, but it will
i be next to miracle if we do not graduate from
/ small pox into cholera.
| The Arch" and - Chestnut Street" theatres
have been doing fairly with new pieces this week,
drama of Mr. BARLEY Campbell, "a rising young
play wright of Pittsburg, entitled " Through
| Fire" being produced at the former theatre, aud
| a moral drama of the " Drunkard" order, called
"a Dream OF Life, holding the boards at Mr.,
| Davenport's house. Mr.. Booth at the walnut
has varied his usual round of parts by playing on
successive evenings the three leading roles in
Julius Cmsar" OF the three, the "Cas-
| sius was the best, the " Antony" of the next
value, and the Brutus" the worst and ever
| the best of them was nothing extraordinary
The fact is that Booths range is not GREATS OIL
the contrary very limited. In parts OF gloomy
vengeful or sardonie sort, such as Il" Iago,
"Pescara," or Richard Ill, he is admirable
but he lays these too sober coloIs on all his dra
matte pictures. His " Hamlet" regard as the
most overrated piece of acting of the time. L
is to certain extent picturesque, but he hal
sacrificed everything to grace. 1t is too hnnicky
and would be much better If IL were less pretty
and more full of nerve.
/ had intended mentiening before this very
promising debut lately made at the Walnut
Mr.. John A. Lane is the new conner, and bet
ter first appearance has not been for some tint
chronicled After playing a slight, but import
ant part, in " On the jury" Mr.. Lane was en-
trusted with - Marc Antony" on Mr.. Booth
first night The part had been cast to Mr.. Nei