Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-01-13

Lne 'Walnutt &C.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. IL.
Special Correspondence Of a.e Commercial;
President Grant has paid Philadelphia quite
long visit since 1 wrote you last, and from all
accounts he must have had very agreeable
time of IT, Receptions dinner parties, PARTS du
Theatre, and drives over our wintry and frozen,
yet still beautiful suburbs, occupied the tired
President exclusively. He gave himself over to
unrestrained hilarity and for four days not an
office seeker was permitted to come within
block of him. The whole success of the Presi-
dents vacation depended on this latter move, and
to that old sea-dog Bor e belongs all the credit.
The President was ''Rude Borie-as'" guest, and
IL place hunter came within gun shot Of the
house. q mean the ship,) then this g blustering
raer wonld give vent and scare that preBum-
ing interloper into the tuffrail or something 1t
is astonishing, by the way, how little old Borie
looks like the Tarry Top you are led TO expect.
His is the art to conceal art and he gives you very
little indication of what mighty navigator he is.
II is said that Dan Dougherty has made a ten
strike on General Grant-in a social way of
course. The President thinks Dan is about the
best company almost that he ever got into He
is especially found OF those theatrical anecdotes
which Dougherty, perhaps, better than any man
Of his generation, can get OIL with the proper
amount OF humor. There Is one story that Dan
tells about Forrest rehearsing the Indian
Music in Metdnord, (the Old Man, you know
understands az much about music as cow) and
the President found it so exasperatingly funny
that he nearly swallowed Regalia before he got
over it. / have this from an eye witness. II
would pay some Of your leading people to ask
Dan down to dinner some time in order to hear
his stories.
The selection of Philadelphia as the place for
holding the next Republican National Conven-
ton is just now the theme of general and well
al 10 ftu aniO ma rad ad
vantages for such meeting, in its spacious
Academy of Music, it's hotel accommodations,
and it's railway connections. More even than
this is the character our community has through
out the country for solidty and unostentatious
wealth and enterprise. The first Republican
Oonvention--that Of 1856 which nominated FIRE.
mont-was held here, and it is little curious
that Generals Taylor and Harrison, the only can
didates of the old Wing Party who were elected,
were nominated in this State, the Taylor conven-
ton being held here and the body that nominated
General Harrison having convened in Harris
burg. The fifth of June is the date fixed for the
coming Convention, and as the important pre-
liminaTies are now adjusted we may expect the
interim to be busy one in political circles.
There will probably be no opposition whatever
to the nomination OF President Grant, but the
struggle over the Vice President may be fierce
and may cause the sittings Of the Convention to
extend over several days.
The complimentary banquet to Ex-Mayor Fox,
rendered by citizens irrespective OF party, was
tumultuous success. There seemed to be very
general desire to show Mr. Fox that personally
he was favorite with Philadelphians. Mayor
Stokely was present, together with a number of
the E1-Magistrate's bitterest political opponents
but warmest personal we'll wishers. 1t was
somewhat significant occasion, and we may all
hope that it opens new in our political dis
putes and reconciliations. AS the evening grew
on, Mr.. Fox received some noisy but harmless
banter upon his model Police with that good
nature which il one of his distinguishing charac-
teristics, and allowed Mr.. Frank Wells to poke a
variety of fun at him without turning feather
or once getting mad,
This has been railway week" nearly all Of
| the roads centreing in Philadelphia having held
| their annual meetings and presented their re-
ports of operations for the year. These reports
| are Of great interest to numbers OF people. The
most important meeting however, that of the
Pennsylvania Company, has not yet been held.
| Some Of the City Passenger Railways have also
| held their annual meetings, aud all show graft
| flying financial exhibits The Banks have also
held their elections for officers and directors for
| the coming year and with ii all you can see
| that those lucky people whe think the last page
of the Ledger the best reading in the world have
| been kept agog.
| A person has at last arisen who shows pro-
/ per amount of faith in Philadelphia;-not a half
way believer, but one who goes right straight
| through to the centre Of things. This party's
| name is Dsturnel and strange to say, he is a
member Of the New York Association for the
Advancement of Science and Art" Anyhow, he
/
| advocates it as q semi-cdpitdl Of the nation.
i Washington is not to be disturbed and it does
| not appear what business second capital, only
| 140 miles from Headquarters, is going to trans
act NEVERTHELESS Mr.. Disturnell is quite clear
| that this is the proper thing for Philadelphia to
/ do, or for tho country to do for Philadelphia.
| There is a smack Of the Stephen Pearl Andrews
| philosophy about this,yet as grave body as the
i Board OF Trade gave Mr.. DisturneI its careful
attention. 1 will let you know when the little
| affair comes off.
Two official designations to which an unusual
/ sort of interest attaches, were announced to-day
that of Mr. Jas. O.. Hand President of the
Academy of Music, and Mr.. Caleb Cope, Pres-
i dent of the Academy of Fine Arts. Mr.. Cope
has been Director Of the last named institution
! for thirty years. and in his letter of resignation
/ he says that OF all the gentlemen with whom he
was associated at the time of his entrance in the
i Board there is not now survivor. His farewell
i greatly touched his fellow Directors. Mr.. Jas.
i L. Claghorn was elected to the vacancy. Mr..
i Hand was one Of the projectors OF the Academy
/ of Music and has been its President for twelve
i years. His resignation is greatly regretted.
i Hon. Henry M. Phillips was chosen hissuccersor.
Amusements are much the same as usual
i no better and no worse" as Sam Weller says
| though for the matter Of that anybody might
have said it as well as Samuel there is that sort
i of bore about quotation often. The ''Arch"
| is running the Lancashire Lass" a ratherish
| good piece of its kind. The critics have been
sailing pretty vigorously into the performance OF
| " La Bayadere," at the chestnut" have not
seen it, but il the papers are to be belieYed-and
i of course they are-it must be blood-curdling
sort OF performance. Susie Cations enterprise
| at the 7thSt. Opera House has come to an un-
timely end, owing to the sudden disaffection and
it is said the disappearance of Mr.. Dietrich, the
musical conductor, and who was also it is under
stood, the responsible party Miss Galton, (AIrs.
Kelleher) is to Join forces with Craig in his new
| 7th-St Theatre. This esteem fortunate move
for both, and with reasonably good management
| that house should now be made to go bravely.
| There has been an interregnum at the Walnut"
| the Stock filling in the time until Dundreary
Southern puts in his anxiously awaited appear
ance on Monday night.
A little bit of gossip relative to the walnut"
is exciting theatrical circles. The position of
Stage Manager was offered at the beginning of
the present season to Mr. Thos. A. Hall, the vet
eran Chapman retiring from the cares Of the
office. 1t soon transpired that there was want
ing between Mr.. Hall and Mr.. Hemphill, the
Bueiness Manager, that harmony that is desira-
BILE in all vocations but which is quite essential
| in theatrical management The quarrel has
finally reached that pitch that the front and rear
| of the house are as widely divided rs though the
ocean rolled between them nor can anything
be done until Mr.. Clarke arrives from England
| whence he is expected shortly. Hall is from
Baltimore where he was Stage Manager at one
or another of Mr.. Ford's theatres for number
Of years. He is a good executive officer and
clever actor in certain old men parts, although