, 1876-09-09


to imply, amongst other things, staid.
ness of demeanor, an hahitual gravity of
countcnancp, and soberncss OF apparel.
Philadelphia may he n steady growing
town, as rule, and its inhabitants, on
ordinary occasions, may incline 10 hats
ot the low crowned and broad -brimmed
species, and habllmrnts of mostenta'
tious brown or dccorOus black. just
now, however, the chief city of Pennsyl
vania is far from quiet, is the reverse oil
dull, and the most imaginative person
could not truthIully declare that its gen
cral aspect is one of sedateness and un-
7 prctcnsion. 1t is II centre of gaiety and
pleasure--a city of testivity and rrloic'
ing. II its normal condition is one OF
demurness, it has demonstrated that 1t
can change from "grave to gay" and
play either part perfectly. The city is
positively radiant with colors, and over.
flowing with jubilation, for the Ccnten'
nary of Independence has come, and the
people of America commemorate the an
nj versary of their deliverance from
foreign rule
Having thus mnistered to the desires
those who like little wedge Of solid in
formation to begin with, will turn to
other topics. The first thing that at
tracted my attention on entering this
city was the enterprise its inhabitants
display in the matter of advertising
The shop fronts are nearly all signboards
Every deal wall is literally upholstered
with ptismatic posters; in many places
the pavement is sculptured into adver-
tiscments; kerbstones fare the same ;
and know of three rail wood fence,
miles in length, skiring one Of the sub
urban roads, almost every inch of which
is occupied with traders announcements
and invitations. This mural literature
takes n queer form. as rule. Readers
are courteously invited to "lay" that
"Bixby's Backing beats the world" to
"bet on Pitchers Pills being death to
diarrh9n," and so forth There is
another style of advertising equally Gu
rlous to the unsophisticated Englishman.
Many shopkeepers place outside their
stores colossal statutes Of Columbia, the
Last OF the Mohicans, General Washing.
ton, and so forth. Like the London
shopkeepcr, who, on the occasion of the
marriage of the Prince and Princess Of
Wales, displayed banner, with the
somewhat equivocal inscription, "A
sandwich and a glass OF beer for 3D. /;
God bless them both" the storekeepers
here combine patriotism with business.
Thus, Columbia with one hand holds
aloit the Stars and Stripes, or the Char
ter of Freedom, and with the other offers
you ten cent packet OF chewing to.
ba>co; Uncas OF Cbingacbgook wields
his tomahawlk with the right hand, of.
fering you a pot of Lager beer with the
left; and General Washington, with his
old benevolent smile, endeavors to in.
veigle you into purchasing tried CLANS"
or st'wed seraphms, or terrapins, or
something of the kind.
Our colored friends seem to have
taken nm especial fancy to Philadelphia,
for there are any number of them resi-
dent here. have it on the best author
ity that they are an admirably conducted
set of people. The only thing l object
to is their mode of conducting religious
services. Any one who has the least re-
spect for his auricular organs had better
shun negro revival service. a colored
gentleman, with voice Of massive con.
struction, expounds the Scriptures in a
highly original style, and his auditory
chime in, with suggestions and scraps OF
advice, as it suits their wayward fancy.
The negro imagination is proverbially
fertile, and consequently the preacher
receives the benefit of running fire Of
emendations and annotstians, all screech,
ed out at the very top OF the voice, and
generally received, ifdcemed appropriate,
with chorus Of appreciative " Ah'sr'