Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1874-10-22
PHILADELPHIA.
OUR sATuR RDAY LETTE

GREAT SUCCESS OF InE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE ix
HIBTIIoN--rnE REVIVAL or rRApE--1ilE SEy
THEATRE PRoJECT--AprEARANcE OF MIR. TooLls
THE pNGLIsH COMEDIAN -opEsISa or THE MEDI
CAL DEPARTMENT OF THE UNIvERsITy-EERrASr
dAL1sM IN HIGH rLAoEs-ErC, ETC.
Special Correspondence Of dhe Commercial.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. l6.
The Franklin Institute Exhibition has beei
even unexpectedly successful. The display il
now thoroughly organized and s one wortl
coming many mile to see. Expressions Of
delight and satisfaction are general, and it il
evident that the speople fully appreeiatf
the Exhibition ~ q prelude to the Centennial
A great many persona have now the first ceai
idea OF what it il possible to accomplish in the
! great Exposition, for seeing how readily Phia
delpha has filled this large building, even OK.
Gliding by necessity many who would have
| liked to contribute, they can readily understand
what the Centennial may be made with the
| whole country to contribute, to say nothing OF
the outside world. The Institute Exhibition has
had very noticeable effect upon business
Of all kinds. The streets are bustling
and cheerful trade moves, advertising IL good.
and the cloahers give us rest. The Exhibition
~ not, 10 be sure, to be credited with the whole
| OF this pleasant reaction There il trade be-
cause il is natural there should be trade be-
cause the public has wants which must be sup
piled and because the panicky feeling which 40
30 long oppressed business men has practically
subsidized. Doubtless, however, the Exhibition
has helped along the good work.
The Medical Department of the University of
Pennsylvania was opened this week, but the
arrangements FOR the event wore so bungled that
little attention was attracted to the Inauguration.
The ceremonies at the Wonan's Medical College
the week previous were made much more i'm
preBBive, and yet the University in the leading
school of thu cOuntry. IT. ia oltp,afhnr prel-
stable to tho management of tho trustees and
Faculty, that circumstance that might have
been made properly imposing was allowed to
lapse into insgnificance, after great expenditure,
and when it il realizod or professed to he real
lied, that the widest knowledge OF the claims OF
the institution is desirable. With such an oppor.
tuhity, New York would have had q different
story TO tell. However,the University schools are
now all organized, and the work is completed.
The Ross libel suit terminated in Il not unex-
pected and yet in sufficiently painful manner.
With tho Libel law as it stands, and with the un-
answerable evidence IN this case verdict of
guilty was scarcely to be escaped, but the fact Is
not the less distressing that worthy men should
be so sey rely dealt with for an unintentional
wrong and one for which they stroye to make
every repalation. Mr.. Ross ID said to he de-
ranged by his troubles and the fact no doubt
had its effect on the decision of the case. but it
is more likely that reason gave way under tile
stress of anxiety aud grief than from the tran
sparent falsehoods in the Reading Eagle story.
However, the thumbscrew has been put en- TO
the last turn, while powerful and influential pa
pcrs like the n. Y. Herald, Which published the
same rumors have been allowed TO escape.
There is much sympathy FOR Mr. Ross, but pub
lie opinion goes hardly with his friends who have
pushed the Eagle 30 cruelty to the wall.
slight awakening in politics il oted, but We
are yet in the main apathetic. Even the stirring
news from the West fails to rouse us from u letl-
aigy growing out of the reversal of oli-tirne
ru.tDlus lI boyp m {lntpInr plpr-
ton, why should we have an October worry
Sufficient unto the day, &c. Bat we hai rat
ting meeting recently, a foretaste Of what is to
come.
A project has taken liual shape this week for
the erection OF AZ, additional lir-t-oass theatre.
II is TO be built al the of Broad and Cherry
St5.. facing the new building Of the Academy Of
Fine Arts, nov neariy completed, and is to be
called "rhe Ceutre Square THEATRE, in COM
memnration of the historic site OF Philadclphia's
first Water Works, to be occupied in the future
by our palatial Public Buildings. A few wears
ago the selection of such position for II thea
tire woula have been thought very hazardous,
but the changing ways of the great city
last generation never dreamed The town
is now gay, at night, on Broad street and
beyond, aud the neighborhoods which We're
thought essential for such purposes in the times
Of g the Chestnut and the gala days of :, tie
Arch are now so generally gwen over to Whole
sale trade as to be comparatively quiet and retir-
ed after night fall The new theatre is designed
especially to meet the wants of the Centennial
year. and as great deal of the interest of that
time will centre on Broad street and in the Pub
lie Buildings, the propinquty OF the new
Play House Herewith Will certainly be to its ad-
vantage. Having the start the Centennial will give
1t it must be a success if it Is well managed, and
is really the lirst class estsb ishment promised.
The 'Centre SQUARE is a private enterprise.
Some erroneous statements have been made re-
garding it, TO the effect that it is to be stock
concern, aud reduced Academy of Music, not
opened with regular company, but to be let by
the night or week. 1t is, in fact to resemble
the Academy in design (and there could be no
better modeD but apart from the style of build
ing, there will be no resemblance to the Opera
House. The Theatre ia to be opened in the
regular manner, and it is understood it will be
devoted principally to the ''Society Drama
it prevails at the "FiftlI Ave-
nue. and the 90 Union Square" in New York.
That species OF entertainment seems to pay bet
ter than the comedy line az oxempliiied at "Wal-
lacks" The company is to be the best that can
be obtained but genuine comedy troupe we
all know to be the most dllcnlt of all TO get to-
gether and possibly with Wallack in the Geld it
could not be had The ''Centre Square" owners
are four young business men of Philadelphia,
of equal means and taste, and with All entlnsl
asm in the matter Of having this city compare in
the most favorable way with other leading COM
munities. One Of these parties is n Mr.. Gem
of the great tewelry house, though wheth-
er member of tho firm | can
not say These gentlemen do not go
into theatrcals to make money, although OF
course they would rather make than lose. But
their intent is to found perfect Play House
and to give the Centennial City an added at
traction. Il is to be hoped mistake will not
he made of making the house too small. Hints
OF a capacity of 1900, which have been made,
are rather alarming. A theatre smaller than the
"Walnut' cannot pay, and it might be thought
that experience had proved it sufficiently. The
people must be got i'll OF the best enterprise will
lapgush, and on 15nn basis the prices would
have to he so high, in order to cover the OK
penses of such an establishment. ~ to place q
decided barrier in the way of success. Bad
Judgment on this point woud be every way de-
plorable.
MIR. i. l.. TooIe the English player has reach
ed Philadelphia III the process OF fulfilling Ills
benevolent mission Of teuchng the Yankees
something about colnic acting. But tits evident
that MIR. Toole has nothing to teach country
which has produced numerous truer comedians
than himself. He ID Il hard and rather unsym-
pathetic actor, not as funny az Clarke and Owens,
without tle rare delicacy which distinguishes
Warren, and wholly wanting i'll that sweetness
of hunor which il the characteristic of Jeh'er-
son. In brief, he has the exceliences of the
routine actor-perhaps has more than an aver
age share Of thembut Is i'll no wise TO be called Il
man of genius. Mr. Howard, the stock come
dian at the SWaluut, has more real humorous Ca
pacity than Mr.. Toole. That London should have
been content to accept this actor for years as its
| ideal of Commedian is one more proof OF the
| fact, of which travelled men have often assured
| us, that American actors are better than those
| of England and entirely explains the fspOfe en-
| cited in London by Mr. Clarke. Nothing will com
! pensate in comInediun for ability to make MS
| laugli-not boisterously, necessarily, tpr quiet
! laughter is often the best-yet still to liush.
| Mr. Toole does not seem to have of himself a
| true sense of humor and he consequently fails
to humolousiy Impress his auditors.
Servant-gaisnl had startling Illustration in
Court to-day. member in the noble army OF
" Bddies " brought suit Of assault and battery
against Recorder of Deeds Walton, AMI the case
has excited no end of comment This is one OF
the matters which come home to every man wlc
has feelings of his own. Every citizen ahu IL
outraged by his '' help C7o called talking uyei
the back fence about family affairs o. by hel
going ont to her COUSIN on Saturday
afternoon, and not returning until the washing
is well out of the way on Monday or by auN
other of the innumerable pleasantfIes with wlticl
Eousekeepers are familiar, will sympatbi2e witt
cur Recorder. HIS Bridget WAS requested to re
an carly breakfast, and thereupon becam'
abusively impertipent she was Ordcret
to leave the house, and instead o
doing so poked her head out of window am
fcreamed murder r. Mr.. Walton then deyote
himself to the pralseworthy task of putting he
out, and his Bridget sizes him for assault. Whu
; Poor Leach puzzled over the question in Pane
for years and it is no nearer solution tlon eyel
linden
, The Next House Of Representatives
.ta.