The Cecil Whig., 1875-10-30
Letter from Darby, Pa.
DARBY, PENNSYLVANIA, Oct. 90. 1875


benefit of such knowledge.
Darby, which is quite promising town,
is situated five miles from the business part
of Philadelphia. The dividing line, how
ever, between Philadelphia and Delaware
county is only a stones throw from the
town, or in fact the town may be considered
on the line. We are informed that six or
eight years ago there were but two houses
where the centre of Darby now is; so we
conclude that the place has grown very
rapidly indeed, when we see so many beau
iiful houses adorning the spot. The land
generally around the place was bought by
Land Association, which, after surveying
and laying it off in lots, gave purchasers
the privilege of paying for their lots in the
Building Association, and by this means
many of the laboring class have purchased
lots, built comfortable houses and have a
home which they can call their own. The
houses, as general thing here, are built
of brick; not very large, but neat and
comfortable.
The steeple of the Presbyterian Church
in the central part of the town, lifts its
beautiful spire heavenward, making it ap-
pear the sentinel over all. There are two
Methodist Churches here, also, in which
there are at this time protracted meetings,
and these revivals are said to be the great
est since the churches have been built.
hauo hao I, i
with the churches and the work is still
going on. There are also great many
Friends in and around the town; but we
are told that the Catholics are the greatest
in number by odds. They have here as
pretty church and parsonage as we have
ever seen, and also a large convent and
school for young ladies near by.
The modes of travelling are ample indeed.
Beside the railroad on which there are from
twenty to thirty-five passenger trains each
day, the horse cars run from Philadelphia
out and back each half hour Notwith-
standing this there appears to be plenty of
travelling all the time by both routes. This
is no doubt owing to the low fare. Along
the pike or street where the horse cars run
is very nice pavement, which runs into
the city. Along this pike are toll gates
every mile or two, and whoever enters
with horse or wagon has so much to pay.
There are in the immediate neighbor-
hood, and within a few miles of Darby,
some eighteen or twenty cotton mills, the
most of them situated on stream of water
called Darby creek" just here l would
add that this creek is the line between the
city and county. Some of these mills work
day and night, while others work only dur
ing the day. They employ hundreds of
hands, men and women, girls and boys,
who either work by the piece, day or week,
and from what we can learn their compen-
sation in comparison with the work they
do is very small. Being SO close to the
great and over-crowded metropolis, they
get hands almost at their own figures
Numerous whistles seem to be blowing
continually, and are something pretty hard
for one used to the "rural districts' to
get used to.
To speak of the pretty houses and shaded
lawns on the suburbs surrounding Darby is
something we feel inadequate to do in
order to do them Justice.
The prettiest place of all which your
writer has had the pleasure Of seeing in
this part of the country is that of the we'll
known Hon. Thos. o. Scott, President of
the Pennsylvania Railroad. 1t is situated
one milo from Darby, on the road leading
from Philadelphia to Chester. The man.
sion stands about quarter of mile from
the road and at the entrance gate lives a
watchman, to see that none enter except
on business, or some one known to the
family. 1t was about eight o'clock in the
evening when We had occasion to call on
the honorable gentleman on important
business. His mansion was beautifully
Illuminated, and we ascertained he was
giving a sociable, nevertheless we solicited
his presence for moment, when he ap-
peared, invited us into his private office,
which, by the way, was elaborately fur
nished, and bade US be seated. Notwith-
standing the handsome furniture and bright
appearance Of things, an old time fire place,
in which blazed warm cracking fire,
served to heat his office. Having trans
acted our business, we bade the gentleman
good night and returned home.
The Delaware river lies to the southeast
of Darby four miles, and the Schuylkill to
the north about four miles. From this
place Darby the large grain elevator from
which are loaded European steamers, and
which is situated near the mouth of the
sohuylkill, can be very plainly seen, as well
as some of the church steeples and other
high buildings of the "Quaker City,
There is not even small village in the
four miles between here and the Delaware
and the land is very low and we'll adapted
to timothy hay, wheat and oats, as we'll as
gardening This section which covers hun
dred and thousands of aoros is what is
known here as "the Meadows"
(Our correspondent here gives quite a
long account of Sabbath breaking by gun
ming, fishing and ball playing in the neigh
borhood of Darby by large number of
persons, which we did not think of sufi-
cient interest Co our readers to printl
About drunkenness and intoxication l
might mention briefly what 1 have seen,
but l pass on. In justice to the people
here we would say that the most of those
We have mentioned in the foregoing are
persons from the most central parts of the
city. We find the people here clever soc-
able and kind, the most of them belonging
to Que Of the various churches.
My next will probably be something
about "Mount Moriah" Cemetery.
Very truly, ELECTRICAL.
Hiring Ministers.