Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-07-05


powder burning holidays which have heretofore
been inictions rather than true festivals. Citi-
zens and visitors feel this alike and congratula-
tions are general that havo finally celebration
of tho day worthy of it and of ourselves.
The leading feature of the Festival Is of
course the transfer by the city of the proposed
site of the Centennial Exhibition. to the Nation
al Commission. These ceremonies were very i'm
preasve. The entire Park was filed with people,
and m tho vicinity of Lansdowne which was the
centre of attraction, presented a scene seldom
witnessed and long to be remembered. The mil
itary display was very fine, and the thrOngs of
people something extraordinary. The only dis
appointment felt was in the absence of the Pres
dent who in view of his recent affection was
unable to be present. Numbers of distinguished
men were there, however. from all parts OF the
country These invited guests, heads of city
government &c, took carriages at Independence
Square, and were escorted by military to the
Park. The formal transfer on the part of the
city was made by Hon. Morton MchIicbael, and
Genl. Hawley, President Of the Centennial Com
mission received the gift on behalf of the gov
ernnIent.
In addition to the the grand feature of the
day there have been numerous other events to
attract public attention. Prominent among
these were the military procesbions the meeting
of veteran soldiers of 1912 the inspection OF
the new National Museum" and the opening
of the Fairmount Art Gallery, of which will say
more in another place. The military display was
one of the finest that has been seen here since
Itle uelnOHHtThtlOn NJ tHe GlDbb Vi tttb
General good order prevailed, and there have SO
far been no fires of consequence. This IL a
Fourth" to be genuinely proud OF, At the
Park there were many Senators, Representatives.
Governors of States and army and civil officers OF
high rauk.
Fading all, this evening, there will be an ex-
hibtiOn of fireworks, which ii is promised shall
suTpass everything in that line yet seen in these
parts. 1t will be given at Lemon Hill good
place for such a purpose, it being go elevated
and unobatructed. One of our traditions here is
the fireworks exhibition on Smiths Island at
the close of the Mexican War. 1t was thought
in those prmeyal times, when Paramount meant
only the ground around the reservoirs, that the
Delaware front was the only place to enjoy an
uuobstructed show of fireworks. The effect on
the river might have been fine, but the discom-
forts of seeing tho thing through, from the
wharves and warehouses OF that quarter. must
been considerable At the demonstration to-
night all tho river effects Of the other display can
had, with the most satisfactory surroundings.
The set pieces prepared are OF huge propor-
tions, and together with the colored lights and
rockets fired from boats or the river will turn
Fairmount into theatrical fairy land-that is,
Ii 1t don I rain
The National Museum to which referred has
boen established in the old Court Of Common
Pleas room on the opposite side of the yestlbule
from Independence Hall in tho State House
Building. 1t il proposed to devote this room to
the permanent storing and exhibition of Revo-
lutiOnaTy and other relics. and it will be an ad-
immediate vicinity. Tho National Museum is
the idea and work of Committee of American
women. and the result is every way creditable to
them. A number Of especit ally valuable souven-
irs of Washington are in the collection and
visit to the museum will hereafter be a natural
close to tour Of Independence Hall The
Park Art Gallery was intended primarily as
place of exhibition of Rothermels painting Of
the Battle of Gettysburg, the property Of the
State. 1t was afterwards concluded to erect
larger building to accommodate not only the
Rothermel picture, but also general collection
of choice works of art The building is unpre-
tentious in its appearance but is we'll lighted and
adapted to its purpose. A number of valuable
pictures including the "Gettysburg' are hung
on the walls and the building was to-day first
opened, 1t is to remain free to all citizens,
You have discovered by this time that Judge
Woodward is one of the utter irl leconcllables of
the Constitutional Convention, His hand is
against every man, and il every mans hand is not
against him, he thinks such is the case and
grows correspondingly i'll tempered under the
supposItion. From the very commencement OF
the Convention he has given more tros Bile than
any other two members lie has chronic rri
liability of temperament which would make him
highly undesirable companion on do 5ert island
and which even in the fulness OF comfort of the
convention renders his room preferable to his
company. One of his pet detestatlons is the
newspaper. He has much the same opinion of
the press that was entertained by the late Dr.
Rush, and on various occasions has taken oppOr-
him to all the reputation he has ever en-
jOyed. Some pork will bile 10. This
week, however, he counted beyond his
his host He made one of his attacks upon tn.
newspapers" declaring they reported the con-
yention unfairly, aud altogether worked himself
into fit of passion highly imprndent during the
dog-days. For this he has fairly been laughed
out OF town. The Press, IeLgrdph, ,S!dr and
Bulletin made such savage fun of tho poor Judge
that on Monday ha offered his resignation a
member of the convention. That body "father-
ed the joke by refusing to accept the resigna-
ton but allowing Woodward leave of ABSENCE
the implication being that he needed something
to recuperate his energies. No charge could be
more unjust than that the newspapers have re-
fused adequate space and care in reporting
the Convention proceedings. They have on tho
contrary been lavish in these respects. For
months the Convention has been prominent in
all the papers every day. and the debates,
amendments offered, &c, as reported by these
miserable newspapers" (Judge Woodward's
Words,) would fill several Ilarge volumes.
Despite the hot weather, this has been busy
week in financial circles, and Jan interesting one
among almost all classes OF business men, owing
to the partnership changes always occurring on
the lst of July. The money activity was owing
to the compsnion fact that many of the railway
and other corporations paid their semi-annual
dividends this week. Interest was also paid on
U. s. Bonds. Bankers and Brokers have had
busy time of it even if other trade remained dull.
The partnership changes are rather numerous,
although not 80 much so as generally at the first
of the year. | may note among these changes
the following Mr.. T. ID. Mehl retires from the
dry goods firm of Amos B. Little Il 90 the firm
of Gowperthwait u Co. book publishers has been
reorganized, some members retiring and other
gentlemen being admitted; he firm Of Wallace
q Keene, stockholders, is dissolved VIM, Is.
Phillips is associated with Mr.. Saml. d. Phillips
in the manufactory of harness, &c.
Two of the Children's Free Excursions have
been already given and third will proceed to-
morrow to Rockland, which seems TO offer all
the requirements for the purpose. The parties
| might go further and fare worse. 1900 tickets
were issued and used for the two excursions and
| the same number have been given ont for to-
| morrow's picnic. The excursions have been sue
cessful in every way and the far-seeing persons
who devise this charity have their reward IN the
blessing of the poor. There is abundant evidence
| that the excursions have been the means of saw
ing children from disease and death, and their
| effect in raising the tone of many humble fami-
lies much moro than repays all the money and
| trouble they have cost. Indeed, they have been
no trouble to the noble men and women who
have taken the enterprise in charge; "the labor
we delight in physics pain" INDEX