The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-11-13
Quuaker civ Corres pondence.
PHrLAp.. Nov. 10Th, 1873.
PARAMOUNT


Mr.. EDIToR: To persons living IN
the country, 'Fairmount Park, " might
not strike them as being a place of
much importance. But to Philadel-
phians who have not the opportunity
Vt visiting the country it is of consid-
erable Importance. 1t is The place of
all places to them. They all go to
Fairmount, from the boot-blae to the
millionaire. Tired of the endless ar
ray of brick and stone. the din and
clstter OF vehicles of every description
over these barbarous cobble-stone
pavements, it is quite a treat to have
the privilege of going to this, really
beautiful, and comparatively qaiet re-
treat. And now where is it? and
what is it? The first may be able to
answer, but the second would require
more space than you, Mr.. Editor,
would be willing to give, even if I
were able to furnish a complete ae-
count of what it is. It lies on both
sides of the Schuylkill in the North
western portion of the city. And
consists of tract of naturally wild
and rough country. 1t was obtained
partly by purchase and partly by do
nation and contains 2991 acres. 1t is
the largest park in the United States,
being over three times as large as
Central Park, in New York, which
b.14
three larger in the world viz: wind
sor Forest" and 'sEpping Forest"
England, and the "Prater Park" of
Vienna, Austria. 1t is tastefully laid
out in walks and drives. And besid-
es, there are two small steamers on
the Schuylkill plying between the
water works and the t'Falls, "a distance
of seven miles. The longest drive is
from the screen, st. gate to the west
ern end of the park, distance of seven
and half miles. On the south side
of the river is tract of IS acres, set
apart for the Geological Gardens. At
present there are but few animals on
exhibition. A shipload is now on
the way from Africa, and by the first
of May they expect to be able to boast
of the largest and finest collection of
animals in this country. On the same
side of the river with the Geological
Gardens, and about mile beyond are
the grounds to be used for the Cen
tennial Exposition. The ground for
the main building is now being brok-
en- preparatory to the erection of the
building, which is to cover eighty-tive
acres and is to be built principally of
iron. The Commiss oners intend to
put five thousand men upon The work
next spring as soon as the weather
will permit.
But to return to the Park. just to
the right of the main entrance stands
large stone building. This is the
Art Gallery, aud it cOntainins
some of the greatest paintings by the
most noted American Artists. Here
is "Rothermel's" greatest work, ''The
battle of Getteysburg" and Mons
trous thing it is, twenty teet long by
twelve in width, mounted in mas
sive gilt frame and occupying the
whole end of the building. At the
opposite end is "Benjamin Vests
"Christ Rejected" a painting that
person can stand and study by the
hour. The painter has told the story
better than mortal lips ever told it.
To the left of this hangs, "The Christ
ians in the Coliseum" by Rothermel,
and hundred others which if seen by
themselves would be considered ex-
cellent, but here are shrouded by the
splendor of the greater works. And,
in conclusion, permit me to add that
it is well worth visitors time to visit
the park for the sake of seeing these
paintings if for nothing else.
@. ACRE.