The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-03-31
For tho Register
From the Quaker CITY.
PnfLAnEfpIIIA. Mnrnh. 1874

PHILADELPHIA, mHrOn, 1919.
Mr.. Editor There arc timcs and
seasons in town us well es 10 country,
when there il a dearh Of news, local if
not general Such time sud season,
the present might be called hcreabouts
Under such circumstance, it may not be
inappropriate TO briefly speak Of the
weather and its effects. The past winter
has been very unusual one even 10 this
latitude there have been but few days
that have deserved the appelation OF
winter Philadelphia usually relies for
the greater proportion Of her ice from
the State of Maine. The Knickerbooker
Ice Company, the most extensive one IN
town, having large capital Invested 10
State in the trade. Some. however, IL
annually procured from the ScbuyIkill,
but OF an Inferior quality. have no.
ticed few truck loads passing through
the streets this winter, but it had the sp-
pearapce Of snow and water mixed and
suddenly cooled TO consistency that rem
dered it sufficiently tenacious to hold
together, and that was about all that
could be said iu its favor; mere apollo
gy for the glstening and sen-transparept
blocks brought from the Kennebec and
other rivers 10 the sunrise State. Spring
is again returning with its usual cUncoml.
tants, the whistliug and chipping OF the
returning featbered songsters is already
heard, intermiugliug their carols with the
sharp twittcripg of the little grey spar.
rows, that have remained at their posts
through the winter. while others fled to
the sunny South in search of a more
genial cline The buds Of the lilac and
other early shrubs arc swelling, and will
ere long unfold the tiny leaf.
The centennial appropriation seems yet
to hold fire in Congress. To fail to make
it an international exhibition now, after
what has heretofore been said By Con-
gress and the President, would seem like
the attempt Of a young orator of whom it
was taid. he scared aloft or undertook to
do so, and soon fell fat on dads wood.
pile" Philadelphia says with the aid OF
the state she can shoulder the load. and
carry it if necessary, but it would be dis
credtable to the country to allow it, with
such an object in view 1t should be the
pride Of every state and territory. to
assist and unite 10 commemorative the
one hundredth natal day of American
Independence, and American liberty.
Eastern nations at one hundred years of
age, had scarcely cast off their swaddling
clothes, but this nation is already gaut
and power that no monarch will ever
attempt to intimidate, neither will the
lntrigucs of diplomacy, or any cabinet
successfully attempt to seducc her from Il
republican form Of government. liza Sig
ter city may DO jealous OF II deserved
honor to Philadelphia, it seems scarcely
supposablc that the patriotism Of this
great country will withhold her aid in
assisting to commemorate the anniversary
of our escape from Britou's dictation aud
rule, which event has impoled ia onward
and upward, with 4 momentum unparal.
leled in the history of the world.
In addition to our stock Of elephants
VIC arc to have the accession of white
one. Mr. Adam Foreplugh, the great
showmao Of this city, has lately received
letter from the consulate of the United
States in Bangkos, Siam, stating that his
agent Mr.. Pgtey, left the latter place on
the 9Th of January last, taking with him
white elephant, the first that ever lett
the kingdom OF Sian, accompanied by
twelve natives to assist him ia bringing
the rare quadruped to this country. per
Dutch ship Oden. When Mr. Fore.
paugh's agent first undertook to negotiate
purcha,o Of TIE animal he was regard.
ed as a spy, aud was ordered to leave the
, country, bat he soon, as a matter OF poll.
cy, made pretcnse Of embracing the
Bndhi-t faith aud likewise using large
! Sums Of money among the Kings retain.
ers his Majesty at length consented to
part with Que Ct his white elephants u on
the following conditions First. The
, payment Of eighty thousand dollars in
gold, and an agreement to return the AMI
ina! to Bangkok Ut the expiration Of three
> years from his departure. Second. That
The elephant shonld be treated in the
same regal manner as il had been at
court, and in case Of its death, that its
= body should be burned ADD its ashes rc.
turned to the King accompanied with the
sum Of twenty thousand dollars. To
these terms the agent agreed, and the
4 sacred white elephant is now enroute to
this city from its royal quarters at Bang
. kok, to join Forcpaugh's Menagaric. A
= white elephant has never yet been seen in
: any civilized country, and only at rare
intervals 10 that distant land OF heather.
dom. Only four Of the white species are
known to exist, and they are Owned b.
y. barbaric kinga They are supposed tc
4 possess divinity, aud arc objects Of wor,
y ship and alteration By that benighted
4 people.
A few days since, tho stone mansion il
y. which Benjamin West, the great Amcri
', can landscape painter once lived, was de-
stroyed By fire. It was situated abou
- fifteen miles west Of the city, in the town
= ship OF Swarthmore, within a short distance
, Of the celebrated Quaker college bearing
that name.
St Pairick's day was celebrated by q
;, great turnout of the "sons of Erin. With
their trappiugs and equipage, they made
fuo display, headed by their bands 0
!. music and floating banners. Attached
|. 70 some Of their divisions were piperi
e dressed in Highland costume The
o soft music of the bag pipes noated through
= the air in such modified strains, that i
produced quite contrast to that of thu
c noisy post.horus and ophicleides.
y The unfortunate accident that occurre,
G on board the American company's steam
!, ship Pennsy lyania, on her last trip from
= Liverpool to this port has involved thu
d company in n suit at law. 1t will b,
Q recollecied that she encountered terrible
weather during her last inward boun'
,. trip. AS one tremendous sea struck her
d Capt. Bradburn, aud three Of his frs