Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-05-13

and honor. He has accepted and will
speak at Nashville next Thursday, the
18th inst.
LETTER FROM PHILADELPHIA.
To stranger visiting Philadelphia
for the first time, nothing can be more
oppressive than the long, straight, level
streets, on which the houses are mo-
notony itself. All the dwellings are
built up to the front line of the lot,
and are as true to straight line as any
surveyor could lay off on plotted
map. Every house on the block, and
perhaps as far as eye can reach, is the
exact counterpart of its neighbor. 1t
is the same height, the same number
ofwindows in front, the same unbroken
line of cornice, the same number of
steps to the front door, and even the
door bells, with their square pulls set
on silver shield, look as though they
were all cast in the same mould, and
finished by the same man-no variety,
no change in style of architecture, not
even bay window or a portico to
break this terrible monotony. Streets
long and narrow, houses tall and fiat,
giving to visitor from the South or
West sensation of something amount
ing almost to sufocation. But really
in this one thing only can you trace
the last lingering remains of the city's
Quaker origin-for in business enter
prise, educational facilities, public
parks and buildings, collections of
ancient and modern art, etc., Phila-
delphia is fully up to her younger
sister-and perhaps no city of the
Union can boast such noble line of
Church architecture as she does. De-
nominations vie with each other in the
number and magnifcence of their
churches. Take for instance the Bap-
tist-they have over fifty churches in
the city. some of the more modern of
which might almost be named cathe-
drals, while the interior decorations,
beautiful tracery, stained glass win
dows, powerful organs, etc., are the
finest that art can produce or money
supply.
But I suppose the all absorbing
topic that you are most anxious to hear
about is the coming
CENTENNIAL.
Well, can communicate but little |
that you cannot get through the me-
dunn of the Eastern press. The build |
ings are monsters-I can think of no
other word that will more ftly apply |
to their gigantic proportions-and yet
large as they are, all of them being de-
signated by the acre, they have been
found totally inadequate to the wants
of the number of articles already en-
tered for exhibition, and consequently
all the main buildings, including the
horticultural and agricultural halls,
are having extensive additions built to
them. Men are working on them by
the thousand, and by night as well as
by day. The preparations here to re-
ceive and accommodate strangers are
on a gigantic scale-new hotels are go
ing up in every direction, while num-
Der of buildings that were originally
intended for very different purposes
are being altered and pressed into the
service. Thus the old Masonic Tenn
Pile, which has been unoccupied since
the Masons moved into their present
home, is now open to the public, ION
the European plan" and even so hard
pushed are they for accommodations.
that they are altering and reftting the
Cancer Hospital as place of enter
,ainment for man and beast. One
strange feature of the present excite
nent is the number of dwellings for
'ent, furnished, which is explained by
he fact that people having large
circle of acquaintance (and a yankee
endency for saving the cents), all rent
d their houses and entered themselves 3
IS boArders, thereby getting rid of the
pleasure of entertaining their I
lear friends OF course there is a ter
ible cutlery here by those who expect /;
o make capital out of the Yisitors-at I
he exorbitant fares adopted by the !
ailroads. The Centennial commission
lave appointed committee to wait on
he three leading lines running in here
nd it is to be hoped that they will be !
BILE to get a more liberal tariff.
A few days since l found myself in f
part of the city which seemed entire 8
= devoted to founderies, rolling mills,
actories, ETC., amidst the smoke, dust !,
nd turmoil of which 1 found small =
tone monument. 1t was wedged into =
little nook between an old shed and =
be entrace to large iron works. On u
he monument was this inscription a
Erected on the spot where Penn
made his treaty with the Indians"
As | looked around on the busy .
Gene, and listened to the steam ham :
hers pounding away in all directions, Il
S I gazed on the monster factory I"
hose tall chimneys would tower above =
he tallest forest oak that ever stood =
4 this neighborhood, it was difficult ii
, realize that on this spot once stood
small band of peace-loving Quakers, NJ
lrrounded by tribes of copper colored 81
arriors, on whose countenances. in
oics as they were, could easily be 4
aced look of mingled wonder and "a
lmiration at the courage and temerity m