Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-12-05
FIRST EDITION.
PHILADELPHIA.


READING RAIL ROAD cos LAST DEnAND-THE
PHILADA SKETCH cLuB-THE SUPERVISING ARcHI-
TEcT-FoRNEy 4 M'cLuRE-THE PEACE SOCIETY
-AMUeEMENTs, &o &c.
Special Correspondence Of he Commercial.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 4.
Tue Democrats have had their long expected
jolihcaton and tue victory may at last be con-
sidered solemnly ratified To be sure there was
not great deal said which could give any
assurance Of what the conquerors intend
to do with their victory but this might have
been owing to the very good reason that
the vlctorz themselves do not know. The de-
monstraton took the form Of banquet at the
Continental hotel and judging from the speech
on il was not very hilarious affair, despite all
the proyocaton to make 1t 30. The big guns,
such as Judge Black and other Senatorial aspi-
rants, whom the public would really like to hear
from at this time, e,were conspicuous only by their
absence. The usual strange spectacle at Demo-
cratic gatherings of here and there respectable
man being enylroned by ruilianly elements was
found at the Continental banquet in perfection.
Such men as ex-Mayor Fox and John o. James
were shouldered at the feast by Bill McMullins
and Sam Josephs. That there was mutual con-
straint is scarcely TO be wondered at.
The failure of another State Bank has at
tracted some attention but inasmuch as no one
seems likely to loose by the break but the stock
holders there has been no excitement. IL is
where the funds of Depostors and note holders
are in jeopardy that popular tumult arises
in the case OF a bank suspension. The concern
now in question is the "Citizens Bank" doing
business until lately at least, at 2nd and Race
Streets. On Wednesday, when the fact of
the Bank being In trouble was first made
known it was announced that the corporation
would ut once pay all its indebtedness and con-
tinue business as usual but by the fol-
lowing day other counsels prevailed and
it was determined to close up it's
affairs. In addition to regular Bank Business
the "Citizens' had Savings Fund Department.
and it is a singular fact-although no public
stress has been laid upon it-that all the Bank
failures that have occurred recently have been
in cases where this plan prevailed. The "Union"
at Fourth and Chestnut, WAS the first of these
Banks OF Issue combined with Saving Fund De-
partment to go, and the "Citizens" makes the
fourth or fifth Of the sort which has succumbed
The circumstance is singular and suggests the
doubt whether in such corporations the funds
are not used in irregular street operations or in
''shaving" as the expressive vernacuar puts Il ?
Ordinary bank discounting is very different
thing from loaning the money Of depoaitors
TO irresponsible parties for the sake of heavy
"mMgin." The Estate Banks" evidently re-
quire looking into.
The death Of Judge John NJ. Read, late Chief
Justice OF Pennsylvania, created a profound i'm
preston in legal circles and measurably upon
tho entire public. II the event had happened
ten Years ago, when the Chief Justice was more
closely connected with affairs than he WAS at the
close OF his career, the feeling would have been
still deeper, but even as II was the community
realized that 1t had lost one of its foremost ur-
ists, man whose personal honor was inexpressi-
bly, dear TO him, and whose honesty and in
tegrity were beyond suspicion. What a
legacy is this to leay,! Judge Read was
an old man aud had outlyed most
of his early cotemporaries, yet class of
younger professionals had grown up around him
to whom his reputation was very dear and with
whom 1t is now in the best of hands. The fu-
neral ceremonies were impressive and the law
yer4 meeting did not simply follow the formula
for such cases set and provided, but expressed
the sincere affection and respect of the entire
Bar Of this vicinity.
The Reading Railroad Co. seems to have ef-
fectually frightened the city authorities by its
threat TO remove its Delaware terminus to Ches-
ter unless greater land facilities were given
it, All, but 1t ia a grasping monster, this
many-armed Reading How much OF
this grasping nature il inevitable in great rail-
way IL might be interesting to have demonstrate
ed. With huge powers behind it pressing it on
1t is doubtless impossible often to keep "conhs-
cation" within limit but this general principle is
small comfort to the little people, property own
ers, employees or rival corporations. crushed in
It's fated march. bow many individual enter
prises OF one sort or another has the giant
/" Reading" absorbed Nobody knows, yet all
know that 1t is as far from being satisfied at
ever. As to this mammoth river ter
minus in the 25th ward it will dispossess to
carry its point Il great many owners and ten
ants who do not want to be dspossessed.
But that goes for nothing the little people
must get up and get. What right have they tc
stand in the way of the mighty "Reading' I
Aud il they don't leave, and If the city does moi
help foot the bill Heading" will walk away
to Chester. The Company knows very vel
that it has Tho inside track it merely states the
ultmation knowing that like tile old coon, we
will "cOme down" OF course we will the
road is q necessity but for all that are these
continual CONCESSIONS to great corporations any
the loss CALLING? Chester crowed too soon,-
but she had provocatiou. A Bill has passed the
survey committee of Councils allowing the de.
sired grant, and the matter may be considered
settled
The Philadelphia sketch club has grown from
small beginnings into one of the most important
art Institutions in this section. 1t is valuable
| adjunct of the Academy of Fine Arts, for al
| though it has no connection whatever therewitl
| it furthers the general interests Of the institu
| tion by training men in the practical details o.
art and by raising the whole tone Of these stu
dies, as well as by bringing results before the
| people in way not otherwise attainable. Tn,
sketch club has recently established iLif,
| Glass for the purpose OF drawing from the ''un
| adorned human figure. Difficulty at frs
| experienced in procuring desirable female model
| but that trouble has now been overcome and thu
| Life Glass IL likely to be an established feature
OF the clnb Ia this direction the club has mad
| good stroke OF policy IN engaging the serv1ce
| Of the well known dIaughtsman and hgur
painter Aiken, pupil OF Gerome and who ha
had charge of some of the French masters class
Go in Paris. Mr.. Aiken "poses" the model ant
then watches the progress of the work. suggest
| ing and criticising us the drawings grow to com
pleton About the lst Of the year the club vii
remove to its new rooms OH Penn Square in on
OF the buildings belonging to the Harrison Els
tate. IL will there have more convenient quar-
tere than as at present located, on Walnut stree
the series of lectures on art subjects for whicl
ample preparations have been made. Th
sketch club is aitIsethera decided credit to on
yonng meu of culture.
We are in good spirits here over the prospec
that Mr.. John Macarthur ia TO be made Snpervie
ing Architect in place Of the irrepressible Mu
lett. number Of things are needful to be don
In which il would be highly comfortable 10 hay
a friend at Court. Whatever the country ma
think OF Mullett, Philadelphia thought well o
him for he was our very good friend. But 70
Mullett 1t is safe 10 say, the New Post Offic
project would never have been carried through
and the many parties who made money by tina
transaction should make up purse for him /
his retirement or erect his statue /
tie Post Office Grounds But much Is y6
required in the matter of pushing apprC
pratons Nc and Philadelphia ST
pervsor would be very neat and prope
thing. Such one could not go back on US. Mo
Arthur has been offered the position and has rt
que-tcd few days consideration before maxim
known his decision. But he must be coquettin
with the honorable Secretary Of the Treasury
} for it In not possible he should refuse to accep
Should lie do so there would be an even loude
I -. 4.