Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-09-13
FIRST EDITION.
PHILADELPHIA.
our SATURDAY LETTER.

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Have you observed on their 'rounds's few
remarks rendered Philadelphia by Chicago, re.
lative to the Centennial business ? The Tribune
or the latter city is the spokesman, and although
the matter IL treated In semi-hippant way that
some earnest patriots do not admire, what is said
is the simple truth. The argument In brief ID
that Chicago is too busily concerned in her own
Affairs to get mp much Of an enthusiasm about
question so distant in point of time and rela-
tive TO something In which her citizens have not
great deal Of immediate concern. Chicago, In
view Of her still recent calamity, has q better
excuse than most communities for self-occupa-
tion, yet the same rule applies with greater or
less force to all sections not in the direct neigh
borhood of Philadelphia. The Western metro
polls says 1t will, after while, do something for
the Centennial, and so it doubtless will but delay
and uncertainty does not suit our purposes. We
should know at once what we can expect from
the country at large, and it is quite impossible
TO get that assurance for reasons which have
before dwelt upon, and which this outspoken
utterance of Chicago only emphasizes. No. the
work will never be done Gas it should be done,
mean, and literally enough to make the Centen-
nial rank with other Worlds Fairs) il dependence
is placed in the present policy. National and
State Appropriations are all that can save u.s.
At meeting of the Dairymen's Association
this week the question OF settling fixed prices
for milk and cream was debated but no c0nclu-
sion was reached. This is q matter Of interest
to all housekeepers and there has been q hope
that some uniformity of ratos could be fixed by
the association. AS the business is now mana
ged, dealers make the best bargains with the
Dairymen they can, and retail accordingly. The
temptation to adulterate is thereby enhanced
for when retailer pays higher for his supply
than his neigbbor he must be quite an upright
sort Of person il he does not add water and
chalk to increase bis store. This is the greatest
evil, another s that the average price OF good
milk u admitted to be too high. The Dairymen
have it in their power by selling to dealers so
as to allow them to retail at say, seven ots q
quart, to dispose Of greater quantity of the pro-
duct and In the end make better profit One
OF the questions brought before the recent meet
ing was how to dispose of the bulk OF surplus
milk which periodically accumulatos in the
Dairies Lower prices would solve this difficult
ty at once, for 1t is we'll known that thousands of
the people Of the poorer class cannot afford to
buy Delaware co. and Montgomery Co, milk at
ten cents a quart. At seven or eight cents a
quart these people, who now buy the wretched
''swill" milk sold at the groceries, would pur-
chase Of the dairymen's SCENTS and the surplus
would melt slowly away Some frightful reve-
lAtions have been made Of the extent Of the pro-
country people can alone hslp uA and they Gen
do It sfsscfuslly ssths ssale time THAT they ben
eft themselves.
Phiadelphia's Exceptional Military organiza-
tion during tho late unpleasantness" was the
Anderson Cavalry" 1t was recruited at the
very outset OF the war, when the "gallant Major
Anderson" was the hero OF the hour Many an
other regiment raised here saw more service and
got more glory, yet a peculiar distinction hung
about this corps aud still attaches to it despite
great deal of bad management. The reason for
this is to be found in the high character and 30
cial standing of the officers andmen. 1t was q
troop OF gentlemen. and 1t is doubtful il such a
body (for active military servce) was ever raised
before, either here or elsewhere. The crack mil
ita regiments OF the large cities are often COM
posed OF choice material, though even in these
cases while the officers are known in Society the
men are chosen simply for their soldierly appe4r-
ance But the Anderson was fighting body
and at the same time was composed of the very
first youth-in point of standing, Intelligence and
wealth--in tho city, 1t was also largely made up
from the Quaker Element. the Hcksite branch
of Friends either foregoing for this occasion on
ly their testimony upon war, or blandly winking
at the same and pretending not to observe it.
Perhaps the trouble with the Anderson" was
that it was too respectable;-but the men never
shirked work, and whatever may be the matter
with tue record is the fault of the rank and not
of the file. / cannot doubt but many of your
readers in their recollection Of those fierce days
have corner in their memory for these fine boys
who gave up home and family and social ad-
yancement on a most uncertain quest. That
was very different from enlistlng under the pres
sure of heavy bounty or the fear OF a draft,
and the enlistment OF snch man as l bave de-
scibed cannot be compared with The enlisting of
waits who have nothing to lose by war and who
make the bulk of all armies. have been thus
led rather further than intended in noticing
that society of ex-members of the Regiment
Ohe 18th PennsYlvania s its official title) has
been formed ito preserve the friendships form
Aurnfaa kla.au 7
understand for a large membership.
The pardons OF the gamblers Siner and Marks
caused q little breeze here on Tuesday, which
did not, however increase to q gale, owing to
the judicious course pursued by the newspapers.
The theory was, the thing could not be helped
and that it was no use to get into worry about
it. There was i'll some quarters disposition at
first to use the Governor hardly but that feeling
died out when it was found that the pardons
had only been issued after the receipt of numer-
Gus weighty petitions of respectable citizens.
Still, there il something singular about this case
and it should do no harm to have its eccentrici-
ties gone over. H. is alleged in the first place
that Siner was got out under cover OF Marks.
The story is that Marks, (whose original busi-
ness was that of a news agent and periodical
dealer), secured the influence of the newspaper
proprietors and other influential folks, they be-
lieving that youth and indiscretion had more to
do with his fault than ingram cussedness When
petitions to this effect were presented, however.
the authorities stated that they could not be
considered unless the prayer included the case
Of Siner, the gambling Councilman, ss we'll.
BY some hocus pocus the sgners were made
to see this, but hotU l give up. Per
Contra, it would seem clear that the
politicians were the real moving power in the
game, and they had no interest at all In poor lit
tie Marks, but good deal in Siner. 1t results
from this that either the newspaper men were
badly sold, or else that they knew the colored
person was in the wood pile all the time. An
other singular Circumstance, is that the Grand
Jury only week ago demanded that Mr. VIM,
M. Bunn's forfeited bail bond for the original
escape Of Siner should be pressed. Judge Lud-
lows energy in that matter will now, l suppose,
be all wasted. Siner and Marks had not served,
half their terms. An example has Ibeen made,
to certain extent, but the effect OF the release
of the convicted men before completing their
terms of punishment must be bad.
The Base Ball Season may be said to be at the
fag-end. This is the best weather Of the year
for playing but interest in the game in this yicn-
ty from variety of causes, died away early in
the season, and it has been found impossible to
revive it. The most evident, though not prob
ably the real reason for this decadebce was the
easily seen superiority of the Philadelphia Club
which deprived the contests of that close
ness without which they are not enjoyable to
many people. From the very start, the now
club had it all it's own way and by the 4th Of July
the championship question was decided. Still
there is a rear ON benind this for the decline OF
interest in base ball, for to say that club should
not be permitted to organize the strongest nine