Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-03-09

The overture Of the grand Centennial Exhbi-
tion is now playing the opening notes have
been sounded, and all the instruments =" the
ear-piercing Hfe," " flute, violin, bassoon," and
all the rest, are wrestling with that sweet fury
whioh is the way with orchestras. So far there
has been nothing but harmony. There was
little struggle for the Presidency, which was ma
tural when the past was one of such distinction,
but the Commission and public alike are salts
fed with the election Of Gov, Hawley, Of Con-
nectcut to the Office. The Commissioners meet
daily in the Chamber of Common Councils which
has been formally handed over to their use, and
they have settled down to work with an earnest
ness and dignity which proves that they mean
business. The address Of Gen. Hawley upon ac-
ceptng the Presidency was solid and convin-
cling. The Senator addresses not the few men
around him only, but the country, and 30 Gen.
Hawley standing in municipal hall spoke not
only to the Commission and to Philadelphia, but
to the people of all the States. The earnestness
Of his demand that the Centennial be made
truly National work. and his pledging of the
entire energies of the Commission to that end
were received with the liveest enthusiasm. Mr.
Lewis Vain Smith, of Philadelphia, has been
elected Secretary OF the Commission, he already
having seat in that body as alternate delegate
from Georgia 1t was altogether proper that
this city should have one of the appointments
and the choice of Mr.. Smith s good a one as
could be made. He is wei fitted for the duties
of the place, is lawyer of talent and good
writer. He is especially happy in newspaper
work-to which good part of the time of the
Secretary must be given-having been at
one time one of the Editors OF the Fee
ming Telegraph. 1t must not be forgotten, by
the way, what we owe to Mr. John l.. Shoema-
ker in the Centennial matter He was the
Councilman who first proposed the celebration
and through whose Efforts the endorsement Of
the general government was obtained.
The fire at DIR. Jaynes building made great
excitement, one Indeed that has not yet entirely
died away, a stream of pilgrims from all parts
continuing to visit the noble wreck and to Look
upon the marvellous ice effects on Carters Alley.
These latter glories have commenced TO pale. but
on Tuesday and Wednesday they were worth
coming good ways to see, and really excused
the telegraph operator whose exuberant excite
ment you rather made fun of. At the time this
building was erected it was the talk OF the coun-
try, nor has any business structure been built
here since approaching it in size or complete
ness that is why the fire had an exceptional
interest Six months however will see everything
restored to its old footing. The beautiful and
massive front is uniniured and, except portion
of the upper stories at the back the walls are all
sound. The insurances were largely in excess
of the losses the Jayne estate being the only
loser. Some surprise has been expressed that
building that cost quarter Of million should
have been insured for only $1,000, but it must
be remembered that it was supposed to be alb
s2lats Sc Eb SR9 Pfhe 5 that 4 had one
of fires ever devised. There tank at the
top of the building holding water enough to flood
the whole structure and there was abundant hose
on every door and powerful forcing apparatus
in the basement. Why was there a fire then
Exactly so - that is what everybody is
asking. Because at the critical moment
when all those things provided with so much
care aud at such cost, were needed, they we're
from stupidity, or Ignorance, or frght-not used
That is the sort of thing calculated to dishearten
an enterprising holder of real estate aud make
him vow to let things in the future take their
chances. II was matter for which the watch
men and overseers of the building alone could
be blamed and not the Fire Department, which
knew nothing Of the arrangements, and had no
time on the spur of the moment to investigate
them. The Department, all hands are agreed,
came out strong. 1t is the finest piece of work
the men have done, and they undoubtedly saved
large portion OF the most valuable section of
| the city from destruction.
The Methodist Conference, now in session, is
attracting great deal Of attention, not only in
the Methodist connection, but in all quarters.
| Ii is notable, though scarcely strange, that
| the Methodists are increasing more rapidly than
| any other sect. The simplicity of their faith
| gives it strong hold on homey folks. Bishop
| Ames in addressing the newly made Deacons,
i to-day, said that both his grandparents were
ministers. one OF them being an Episcopalian
| and the other Congregationalist for himself,
| he said he chose the best parts OF each belief
/ and became a Methodist. l don't know whether
| that has ever boen said before but it struck me
that whether the Bishop has dug out new idea
| or no, that there was good deal of truth in it.
| An especial interest is given TO this Conference
from the fact That it elects, for the first tim g
| lay delegates to the General Conference TO be
I H.. -. 4En NarV us.R1a
The subject of lay delegation is one that has
disturbed the Methodiss for years, and the COM
ing General Conference ID expected to settle it.
was in hopes should be able to send you the
names of the lay delegates, who are now being
chosen, but the contest is close and promises to
be prolonged beyond the time allowed for the
closing OF my letter.
Some exciting scenes may bo looked for in the
| Conference next week when actionis taken upor
| the Iest lntiOus offered by Rev. Anthony Atwood
They fell like a sort of ecclesiastical bolnbshel
among the preachers. There is, it appears,
great deal OF dissaris faction on some hands con
cerning the present status Of the Presiding Ell
ders Ministers think they ''put ON airs, 80 Il
speak, and consider themselves Bishops, whel
they are in reality no better than other people
| MIR. Atwood proposes to curtail their jurisdiction
very considerably and also to render them incl
! igiGle for longer time than four years, afte
! which they are to retire and make room 70
others who may deserve the distinction. Ther
are other points of interest in tho resolutions
4 | and Mr. Atwood has proved in offerngthem tina
1 | he is the same vigorous leader as of old.
The severely cold weather of the past wee
: was very remarkable for tho time OF year. 1
. | March 1868 there were two days which wer
\ colder than any day this week, but there hay
been M fOur days in March in which the ayerag
Of the temperature has been as low as it was til
first four days Of this week for many years.
long at least as the Pennsylvania Hospital ha
u kept its weather report. So call 1t remarkabl,
a and if it is strong expression cannot help i
Did You ever know Of anybody being muc
h fonder OF place than General Grant is of Phi
N adelphia He said recently that he liked I'll
a city, and he liked the people, and it il plain th
N he meant what he said, as he generally does +
)! is here twice as much as he is in New York
anywhere away from tho Capital, aud he Rppea
TO have a very real regard for Philadelphia s
ciety. Such man would naturally be mo
attracted to this city than 10 either New York
ar Boston, The tone of the place suits him. +
e. is domestic person, he appreciates our hon
1t life, and is coTTespondingly annoyed by the ru
ie hubbub and emptiness OF the 'metropolls.n - /
comes and goes in quiet way, no fulsome ce
emony is made-a thing he especially detests
IL but we all feel comfortable and glad when he
th here and shows that he likes the old town
well as he docs. -
q The sharp game Of the Union Passenger Ra
N, way Co., is reprehended on all sides but app
W emily to no purpose, The Objectionable bi
~ giving the company the right to run its cars
| Market street. only waits the signature of /
)t- Governor to become law. The papers are CO
at | ing on Nh. GeaTy to veto il, but no one W