New-York tribune., 1876-03-25
PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY.
THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CT UB-WHf SOCIETY
l. sMA.L-rUR GEoUP OF TOWNS FROM WHICH
TiIE CITY WAS FORIED.

THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CT UB-WBf SOCIETY
+ sMA.I-ruR GROUP OF TOWNS FROM WHICH
T,lE CITY WAS FORHED.
70 the EdttOr OT The Tribune.
SIR: In the article entitled "Philadelphla
society" AID Home and Club Life" OF saturday Feb. 20.
notice several inaccuracies which should be corrected
Its statements IN the correct, and it gives much
more nearly than usual in articles Of that Sort the true
characteristics OF the citys social life.
First: A TO the Union League. There has been
split In that body stated by your correspondent.
About a ago there some dissension among is
members growing out of the fact that small majority
represented by the management took an active part III
the mum cipa election of February 1872 in the interest
OF REFORM against the wishes o minority, composed In
Iarse measure OF active Republican politicians The
par,s IN the League present nearly balanced
that IL is q stion whether IL will again take any part
IN politics.
Ncxt ~ 10 the Reform Cub II was not organized in
consequence OF any split in the Union League. IL was
started by the Reform Associatona political organiza
ton with objects that purely municpa-for the
purpose OF assisting the reform OF the City Govern
m.ut activity is confined entirely to municipal elec
tious in which il takes active and influential part
such organization can ever do inc recent Victory
for the Ref0rn iucUnsdera he one-n the election
for Councmen Ia due in some measure to Its efforts As
o social club it has been very decided success, and
II promises even better things in that line The Social
toned all the features Of social club. clubhouse open
1T all hours, restaurant. sc.
Your correspondent allues TO the smallness OF the
soc ety. SO called OF Philadelphia. matter that has
escaped him | think will explain that alude to the
fact that down to within 20 years what we now call
Pbadelpha WAS a c0ngcres OF borougs and villages in
the Comfy Of Philadelphia. with Philadelphia proper
the county town. Philadelphia laid out by Penn eX
tended from river river mile in width, with Market
Al as s center Southwark mile south OF Penn Guy,
on the Delaware River, was originally settlement of
the Swedes kensingtOu mile or more north, Also on
the river, was II fishing and shpbuhiug settlement.
chnond still further north the river started
hy the Reading Railroad Compauys coal wharvcs CIR
mantown and Fr;inkord were, until very few years
AGO simply a line Of stores and hou5rs strung
along country roads five six miles away
from the County Courthouse. 50 with others
All these un lsji under tneir own separate char-
tered governments, and 10 corporate ands en-
nrcly independents. In that year all the rhabapts OF
Philadelphia County were by the act OF eonsoi,iton s
placed under municipal government and then Tor
the first time there large city called Phdheipnla
f course before the days OF hors cars, communication
bet ee the various lying borougis and tue county
tovu was much more dilct aud ufrequrnt, aud there
was very troug local feeling which continues down 10
thc day in One often sees ID the
sunday pauers which purely local even now, snch
expressons as be IL od resident OF SoutnNarR or
OF an old and respected Kensngion family All these
liesu What are called best families OF Phadelplt
are simply the families OF the old county town as ioundei
by z, n This In great measure accounts Tor le al
legged smaness of society in philadelphia, and Also Tor
the weight t attaches to birth rather than wealth
Philadsiph,d, March 10. 1879 PIIlLADELPHiESsIs-