Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-03-22
CORRESPONDENCE.
Letter from Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA, March 1S, 1873

Friend Wilcen:-
'Tis n pleasant, spring-like day that
makes one wish to be in the country to
hear the blue birds sing-one of those
charming days that you can almost hear
the grass grow 1t has SO far been very
peculiar March, very little real March
weather, such rs we usually anticipate hav-
ing this month. 1t has been very dry and
bustery, as n consequence soon dried up
the mud and now sends it in ones eyes in
clouds of dust. Old weather prophets pre-
diet three months Of dry weather, which,
if so, will materially affect the price of hay,
and be apt to cause Il scarcity in the sup
ply for the next year. This year, how
ever, the springs are well filled, and we
will not have a repittion of last years
trouble-.dry, hot weather and a scarcity
of water.
st. Patrick's Day greeted us with fine
weather. the opposite of what usually is
the case. The wind was high, and hats
were ottener flying through the air or along
the pavements than upon the heads Of the
owners. For some time our Irish citizens
of Roman Catholic belief had been prepar-
ing to celebrate the day of Irelan6's Patron
Saint with more than usual earnestness.
AS a consequence, yesterday, from early
were crowded with people in every desert
bable style of green bad ges, green uniforms,
&c. About II O'Clock the procession
moved, and, with many others, was
greatly astonished at its fine appearance,
and what fine looking set of men they
were in most cases. Where usually we eX-
pect to see, in fact may say have seen, n
rough, staggering, staggering crowd, here
was well dressed, orderly, sober body Of
men. 1t was, as | said, II great astonsh-
ment, and freely expressed as such upon
the sidewalks, and was wonderment to
many who knew not the cause. 1t is, We
all know, Il second nature for an lrishman
to love whiskey. 1t has been their bane,
and had well nigh ruined them as Il people,
and rendering, day by day, the hopes for
their restoration as nation futile and inn
possible; and we may well ask the ques-
ton, "What has caused the chauge?n for
change there has been, evidently. 1t is
simply again the old story of their devo-
tion-more justly might be called oppres-
sion, except in this case where the result
was good--to the dictates of their religious
faith as expounded by their priests. To
one Of them be the honor, as it is certainly
due for great good done. Father Burke,
as your readers wei! know, came over from
Ireland last year, and seeing the danger to
his countrymen from the demon Drink,
told them plainly and forcibly whittier
their steps were tending. And his noble
words in behalf of Temperance seem to
have been productive of much good. Many
Of the organizations he started then were
yesterday in the procession, 500, 600 and
800 strong, and the greater part of the
whole parade was composed of the Total
Abstinence Beneficial Societies connected
with the various Catholic Churches. y
gentleman remarked to me that in one
ward OF the city alone he had been sur
prised to find the influence so great rs to
compel the closing of over sixty of those
pests of morality, the low groggeries, from
want Of custom. To my mind ii explained
the fact | had noticed of so many such
places being advertised daily ia the col
umns of the Ledger for sale cheap. May
it continue is the anxious wish Of us all,
have no doubt The day ended without
any disturbance and without being fol-
lowed by night made hIdeous by drunken
brawls, and SO mote it be after all such oc-
casions No doubt many Il poor Protes-
tant went with cold dinner, or without
any, and madam had to do without her
ride. rs coachmen, cooks and horses were
and all business was more or less stopped.
Our city seems to be about receiving its
Just dues from the government. AS you
know, commission sometime ago chose II
location at Ninth and Chestnut, extending
to Market street, in all half square, with
fronts on three principal streets, viz: Mar
ket, Ninth and Chestnut, for the site Of a
new Postofllce aud United States Court
Rooms, and through the eXertions of our
Congressman an appropriation made to
commence the same. TO obtain it we had
to fight the balance of the country, though
the need was pressing and acknowledged,
far more so than in many other sections
long ago furnished herewith. 1t, together
with the Public Buildings, Academy of
Fine Arts, Girard Avenue Bridge, y. Y.
Mutual Life Building, mt Tenth and Chest
nut streets, and another Trust Com
pany, the name of which have forgotten,
but know the efficient Superintendent Of
Adams Express Company, Il. Coleman, TO
be one of the Board Of Directors, are about
building up in fine style the present site of
the Adams Express office, on Chestnut be-
tween Third and Fourth streets, all these
with others not now in my mind, will eX-
peLd an immense amount of money among
US, which will benefit all, more particular
ly builders and dealers in building mer-
chandize.
The Masonic Temple is about completed
and is grand work-massive, elegant,
improving and growing in beauty the more
one looks at it, 1t was built without fatal
accident, except in one case, and that Of a
man who was shoveling snow Off the roof
during the past winter, falling to the
ground and being instantly killed.
Yours, OCCASIONAL.