Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-01-18
CORRESPONDENCE.
Letter from Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA, January 10, 1873.

Friend JVilrert:
Since my last we've passed through the
holiday season, and have had some severe,
and very peculiar weather. The day after
Christmas we were visited by one of the
heaviest snow storms known for very ma
ny years. With us it is very rare thing
TO have more than one days good sleighing
in the city, and seldom more than q week
in the vicinity. This time it lasted in the
city, in splendid condition, over week,
and now remains excellent outside of the
city. 1t seemed to be of the depth of Is or
20 inches, and completely blocked up all
railroads, and was source Of great incon-
venience to those having to use the streets.
On Friday the Sd, we had another weather
phenomenon-av very singular thing indeed
1t was mild day, and tho snow melting
fast, and dense fog overhanging the city,
SO dense that lights or buildings were not
dscernablc at the distance ofa square. One
had to wait on the street corners for the
street cars in a worse state than at night,
| for usually at night their lights can be seen,
and one knows of their drawing nigh. ln
this case patient waiting, in uncertainty,
was the only thing to be done. The day
before having had occasion 10 so to Will
mington, Delaware, | noticed how full the
Delaware was OF ice, and not vessel to be
seen. 1t has been q great draw back to
our commerce this winter, and bitterly
complained of by our merchants. Mea-
sures are being taken to provide more etfi-
cient ice-boats. One clear day intervening
and then We had one Of the heaviest rains,
OH Sunday, have ever noticed in winter.
Since then il has been mild, and many out
door businesses have revived, but last
night old Jack Frost paid US q visit, and
to-day we have one OF those clear, biting,
cold days. A much mooted question, now
days is, have our seasons changed ?
Thunder and lightning, as we had in De-
cember, and dense fogs in January, seem
better adapted to Summer and Fall.
Christmas is the Philadelphia Holiday rs
New Years is that of New York, and, us q
consequence, more generally observed, and
vice versa in New York. Here, on New
Years day, business, except in Banks, &C.,
seemed TO move rs usual, till noon, but on
Christmas day, only those were open who
were interested as venders of Holiday pre-
sents. Our city is not given much to the
New Year calling, for which we may be
thankful /; still there is more of it than is
well. i was particularly disgusted at one
case coming under my notice passing along
the street--a well-dressed man leaving q
: door, fell fiat. Is il any wonder our peo
pie become more and more Incorporate
year by year, when to the fatal fascination
of the tempting bowl, fair women add theil
charms as bar-tenders 1t is vile, and
hope our fair city will not adopt the custom
any more generally than she has, and tina
r year by year the good sense of her people
may Danish it entirely.
: The great railroad, the Reading, made it
D employees a handsome present upon New
, Years day, to each new uniform. The,
kaI haf xuio oh
ing them 10 be so, the Company generousl,
donated them their first suit. 1t seem
more like fair dealing than is the case will
9 many other roads, which require their mel
: to provide themselves out OF their meagr
/ earnings-probably taking the very brea'
and butter. from their, families !. or, as al
employee of such road onea said to me
''compel their poor brakemeu to go on tw
e meals day."
Our various military and other organiza
tions are preparing for the Governors in
: auguration, which promises fair to be on
of the grandest ever held. The State wi
y, breathe freer with the hero of Fort Stead
u man at its helm. The present occupan
n seems to be pervaded with too much of
!, lookout" nature-that is, look out 70
!. himself His last pardon, turning loos
such notorious scoundrel as Bob Liste
Smith, of this city, has been the "hair tina
has broken the Cancels back" of the pa
,f tience of the people. As the Bulletin says
: "-The State is greatly puzzled with
q An agitating query
,r Geary has pardoned Lister Smith,
J. But who can pardon Geary"
J; New Years day, that friend of the bus
It ness man, "fhe Public Ledger, !" again pr,
le ssnted them with an Almanac, for the yes
Is 1873, almost as invaluable as the paps
70 ITSELF For the present must close.
q Yours,