Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1872-02-24
PHILADELPHIA.
OUR SATURDAY. LETTER.

| IoaL,
Especial Correspondence of the Commercially
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 23rd.
1t seems as il we were at last getting the Gem
tennal Celebration into some shape An act
has been prepared by the Committee OF Councils
which, il it shall be approved by that body, will
be sent to the Legislature asking for certain
sum Of money direct, and power to raise another
sum, the total amount being S4, ,50O, 900. The
Legislature is requested to consider the matter
by the 4th Of March and IL really looks as if bus
/ mess was intended. II is admitted that the
action is taken none too soon and not little dis
satisfaction has been expressed at the delay in
| getting the enterprise into working order. II
these projected measures pass Councils and the
Legislature, however, there will be organization
[ and work at once.
/ BY the provisions OF the act the city and State
| are asked to contribute each $3.50. .OOO But this
half million is only small portion of the sum to
be raised. Authority is asked for the creation of
/ the " Centennial International Exhibition cor
poration, which shall have power to issue capital
/ stock to the amount of "a 900 000 to be divided
into 400 900 shares of $40 each This stock is to
/ be subscribed for like any other, and great or
/ small amounts may remain In the hands of any
/ individual. although for the sake of creating
i widespread interest in the scheme.-for where
4
i 1t s desirable that the stock shall be scattered
| az much as possible. Subscriptions to the Gem
| tennial fund may turn out to be very good in-
vestment and there can be no great loss in any
/ case The buildings to be erected with this
money will be rented at several Thousand per
| cent advance on the cost, and the amount of
their sale, together with all the admission fees
| to the great Exposition will be turned over TO
| balance the account. The stock will have also
the indirect benefit of all other State contribu-
| tions, and of the governmental subsidies the
| total amount of which will certainly be large
Funds received from whatever source, will be
applied to the beautifymg of the grounds and
buildings, and in other ways towards making tue
Exhibition a success. The greater that success
is, the greater will be the return which amounts
TO the whole country paying dividend on Phila-
delphia stock. There must be money in it. and
[ can't say but what l shall take share at the
proper time.
The birthday of tho popular Father Of His
Country was more of a holiday than usual. The
day was fine, "a little cold but none the worse
for that;) crowds and good humor were univer-
sal the stores were closed the military was
abundant and resplendent ;-and altogether the
day was enjoyed. 1t is good sign that we are
making more account of our holidays do not
propose to dilate at any length upon Georges
natal day, but an incident of the festivities may
entertain you. Following the fine military pro-
cesson down Chestnut street rode singular
figure, sort of cross between Fdgin and
" George Munday,' with long red hair falling on
his shoulders and with simple kind of grin
upon his face. He was decidedly shabby in his
attire. was mounted on a poor old white horse
and carried banner on which was inscribed.
(evidently by himself,) these words - mas
much as ye have done it unto the least of thes @
ye have done it unto me-" The meaning of the
strange exhibition was at once clear. The rider
was poor demented creature who imagined
himself the Prince of Peace. He had his white
horse and all complete and appropriately fol-
lowed up the mon Of blood with his home made
banner. He was not treated in the least rever-
emily by the boys In the crowd but he kept up
his character well never turning upon them, but
pushing patiently onward Twice | his
beautiful banner trailing in the dust but he only
quietly raised it again and like veritable mau
of peace took no heed of his tormentors.
If the Republican 'come cutters" against the
Administration can gather any comfort from
Col. Forney's disaffection after the 1emonstra-
| ton of last night are welcome to it. Where they
are to find it, however L do not exactly see.
| The President took the trouble to come ON from
Washington expressly to attend the Collectors
| r,cepton and the whole town knew this morn
| ing as every voter in the county will know in
| day or two, that there is no division of the Re-
publican Party in this State. Nor must your
| readers suppose that place toe much stress
| upon the attitude of a single man in this case.
| Ii is not Col Forney as an individual who ID
considered, but Col. Forney as the editor of
| leading newspaper and as the representative of
| political opinion. In that fact lies the sgnih-
| canoe of the situation. Our newly found Dem
ocratic allies, who are lying in wait for every
| chance to demoralize our forces, are oonfounded
by the latest turn of affairs and we use no better
evidence that everything is Just should be. The
| President has not for long time employed "a
hours more proftably than in this flying visit to
| Philadelphia. The very first men of the city and
surrounding sections met him last evening, and
| he received the most gratifying assurances of
| their continued admiration and confidence.
If the rogues who find their profit in trading
| upon the well earned reputation of the medical
school of Philadelphia not soon brought TO
iuatipe thRra ia m pf prOprafv lpft in tba
| Legislature. That body has clearly but one
thing to do in the matter, and that is to rescind
| the charters of the quack concerns. The harm
| that has been done our schools has been great
| and nothing remains but to take away the power
of doing mischief in the future The number
/ of students from distance who have been in
| duced to enter New York colleges owing entirely
| to the bad odor. the quacks have got us into,
| is too large to be contemplated calmly, and the
| so-called " School" must be squelched OF we
may expect to lose still more heavily. The
| testimony given before the State Senate Inves-
/ tigating Committee is of blasting sort and
| almost passes belief. Rogueries by the Pine
| st. and 9Th st. concerns of the most unblu sh-
/ ing character were exposed sales of diplomas
/ were proved instances disclosed in which per-
/ mission to practice was given to children and
| dead men--nameA being simply presented to the
9 faculties and acted on without further inves-
/ tigation. There has been in fact no limit to the
| reign of license enjoyed by the quacks and we
| have either to annihilate them here and now or
| centre of the country.
The annual meeting OF the Penna. Railroad
/ Company was one of the events of the week, and
| gave Mr.. John Hume his regular opportunity of
sailing into the management of the compaly's
affairs in general and into the " fast line con-
| tracts in particular. Mr. Cuyler, the Solicitor of
the Company, in defending the latter policy, said
that the connections of the Road were so exten-
siye that it would be next to impossible for any
on econcern to furnish moving power and rolling
stock sufficient for the entire 'terrtory covered.
| He further said that the company got better
rates and made more money by these carrying
contracts than it could demand under the law.
! Mr.. Hume was silenced, if not convinced. You
will not expect me to give any idea of the report
submitted at the meeting. 1t is a tremendously
extensive document showing the affairs of the
Company to be more prosperous than at any
| previous time.
Business continues good at most of the places
of amusements The 'Arch" has not been overly
successful with "Ours. which is no great wonder
for there was not much in the piece to start with
and the "Arch" has done it to death. "Divorce"
| at the walnut" and Peril" at the Chestnut, "
have drawn good houees. The Opera has been
making lots of money and earning great ap-
plause. This sucoess, in view of the Lenton
season, Ia little remarkable. Mr.. Sankey's ap-
pearance has been the great feature and he has
more than made good the impression he pro-
duced in concert. He is thought to be not much
OF an actor, however, although the Bulletin CON
tends that he is, stoutly opposing all the rest Of