Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-10-24
FIRST EDITION.
philadelphia.
OUR sATuR DAY LETTER.


WEEK, ETC, ETC.
Special Correspondence of he Commercial.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 23.
Are the Times really hard2 There is re-
markable diversity of opinion on the subject, II
not always expressed in words yet shown in
more significant action. Everybody is willing
to contend OH general principles that
the times are hard, yet If we cate
chize the grumblers we shall find matters
are not 10 bad after all. The times are made
for one thing, an excuse by debtors for not
closing up their accounts. The grumblng is
severer there than anywhere else The man to
whom money is owing has the chorus droned in
to his ears with frightful unanimity, but he who
from an outside place simply views the current
of business does not see any very marked differ
ence between this season and other seasons. To
be sure there has not been a full Fall Trade but
that has happened in times of no financial
depression. 1t has been fair trade and
it keeps up well. Taking dry goods
az whole the demand has been very nearly up
to expectation. In some lines OF Phiadelphia
made goods it has been very good indeed and has
more than answered the hopes of manufacturers.
In carpets the report is not quito favorable
but the cheaper grades have sold we'll. The
white goods trade has been as active as it often
is in the liyeliest seasons. In word, we must
not go altogether by the report of disappointed
collectors but from the actual state of trade
we see it. Men who are doing fair business
will often pull a long face when asked for money
and make the presumed state OF affairs pre-
text for delay. Without contending that any
great things are doing in the wey OF trade, we
are still very far removed from stagnation.
1t is hard to believe from the general aspect
of affairs that there is anything unusual in the
social atmosphere. Things move briskly in the
stores, the express Offices, the Railway depots
and with the newspapers. Advertising, though
not great, must be called good. The little adver-
tisers seem frightened off, but the more sensible
ones know that the harder the fight, the sterner
must be the effort There is well known class
of heavy advertisers in Philadelphia. as else
where, and they are spending as much
money this Fall as ever, knowing from
experience that return is in exact proper
ton to outlay. Amusements are extraordinarily
good all things considered. Some people con-
tend that amusements are no test Of prosperity,
inasmuch as the more worried men are the great
er is their impulse to divert their minds by pop
ular entertainments but it is more rational to
hold that when money is very scarce prudent
people will feel that they cannot afford this di-
version. Besides, some OF the entertainments
which have been most successful, such as lee
lures and concerts, are not Of the intoxicating
sort which care-worn public would rush
to for relief. Neither is the Franklin
Institute Exhibition such, with its es-
tmated daily attendance OF 10000 or 10, 900
people. 1t is not likely that all this money
would be spent on pleasure if it was realized, or
| even suspected Ludb inc entll6 DODUOm WNh prcB-
emily to fall out of things, leaving sellers with
out customers and workers of all kinds without
employment. This last is the cry of the ex-
| tremiSts and it is time it was hushed with a
| strong hand. 1t is senseless and injurious
cry senseess because false, and injurious be-
cause many people are weak enough to believe
| all they hear without Investigating for them
selves. There is as much money as ever the
| needs Of the people are various and great as
| ever nothing stands in the way of fully re-
| n-
| ic which IL should be the aim of men of will and
purpose to stamp out.
| The Centennial attracts renewed attention
| from the Franklin Institute impetus and the
encouraging progress made with the Exposition
| Buildings Memorial Hall and the Industrial or
main building are well under way, and the
crowds who go daily to the Park during this fine
weather begin to see in fact what they have been
30 long reading about. The energetic Dobbns
constantly grows in popular strength it be-
| comes more and more evident that he intends to
| make his contract fully good. The " Centennial
| Medal is finished and will soon be ready to is-
sue. 1t is in two forms, of bronze and silver, at
| the prices, respectively of one and two dollars.
| It does not seem a very dignihed method OF
| raising money for 30 great project
but money is sorely needed and every little
helps. Further to push along the good work
| the"IIades Committee has engaged Mr.. JAS Il.
Fields to deliver course of lectures on Litera-
/ ry subjects. A miscellaneous course would
have beon better than series OF six all
| by the same person, but the ladies' have
decided and We must submit. The tickets,
imagine, will be sold by individual So
licitation, for otherwise it would be hardly pos
sible for Mr. Fields, though he is refined schol-
ar aud a very pleasing speaker, to attract six
audiences insthe course of sing season. 1t il
strange 30 little tact should have been shown In
this matter. A miscellaneous course might
have been made much more attractive and profit
| able.
| Several homicide cases have been tried this
| week which excited rather more than the ordina-
ry attention, from the nature of the crimes and
the verdicts rendered. One was the case OF
Edward Snyder, charged with killing August
Pahnke in July last. The parties we're partners il
the sewing machine business on Race st. below
| 2nd, and in an alteration Pahnte was shot and
killed. There were no witnesses and Snyder wal
acquitted on his own version of the difficulty, thai
the shooting was done in sef-defence. An ever
stranger case was that of the trial of Francii
Carton for the murder of his wife / re
ferred to this crime at the time it wa
committed, and nothing more horribl,
brutal is known in our police annals. The
wretch, Carton, choked and kicked his poo
wife to death because in her sickly condition sh'
did rot get his supper rapidly enough to pleast
him. Hanging may be a mistake, but if if eve
it was deserved it was in this case. Yet th'
Jury found it murder in the second degree, TO
the astounding reason that no weapon was used
the murderer only employing his fists and feet
They further had the assurance to commend tn
villain to the mercy Of the court. 1t is a verde
which passes all comprehension and there is III
little indignation expressed over 1t.
The little interest which the public takes il
the local political campaign may be taken Il
mean that the issue is practically decided tina
the Republicans will continue in power, AM
that the dissatisfied ''outs" must wait an indie
finite spell longer before they are delighted witt
} the sweets OF power. A close contest is neve
prefaced by such season of dullness as we ar
now enjoying in political matters and the sign
a of Republican Victory are unfailing. An an
! nouncement of Importance is that Judge Kelly
shortly to deliver an address upon the propose
/ Reciprocity Treaty with Canada. This is a sub
I ject upon which people have been very apathe
TIC aud as there is no better Tariff authority tina
Judge Kelley speech may be expected of ma
:, tional importance.
The curious have been speculating who tn
: conscience-stricken Philadelphian can have bee
l who this week sent $1,000 to the appropriate de
: partment at Washington, for import dues o
clothing apparel of which he had defrauded til
:, Government 1t is known that there are fey
gentlemen in this city who are 80 very high
toned that they will not wear clothes made out
{ side of London. Even Paris il not good enoug
a for them. Their measures are kept on Regen
Q street and they send their orders Spring an
o FALL But such excessive gentility is rare. An
how could one Of these West Walnut street high
flyers be guilty of the littleness now exposed
Il is a strange story, however regarded.
| NJ manIa rho En0tiah madam has BlOWl