Middletown transcript., 1876-09-16
A Countryman's Views Of City Life
PHILADELPHIA, SEPT. 9th, 1876.


Although the FIRST day Of the month
was famed for intense heat. the ntIDos-
phere is now delightful, contracting mus
cles, bracing enervated nerves; and one
scents already the fall Of mist, and sees
through the vista of September the
coming Of October's forest-bannered
pride.
The represented horri6cation Of the
brutal prize fight at Pennsville is only
a polite tone Of the press, pandering
to curry favor with first circles, ospe-
cially with journals like the Item and
its ilk, for within the city limits affairs
equally outrageous occur with their full
cognizance.
The prosecution Of "bully" or the
hanging Of Mollie Mcguire avails
naught while the immoral teachings Of
such schools as Fattie Stuart's theatre
are in vogue, where the disgusting can
can is nightly witnessed, and markets
are searched hourly by rat-catchers in
tent on the game Of killing by trained
terriers.
A local feeling Of sel6shness is felt
in the tone Of the press in regard to the
regatta. We admit it requires a broad
philanthrophy to be charitable to an
Englishman, yet they are our guests
and the license of hospitality should be
liberal to the alien. especially when be
exhibits so sminently the perfection Of
his science Art might initiate by me-
chanism but surely could not surpass the
skill Of rowing as shown by our distin-
guished transatlantic cousins Not only
have they, but other competitors have,
shown our city men that dissipation does
not tend to promote success.
The Yankee soldiers are in town,
Many fae men are there among them,
yet some are rare specimens Of wooden
nutmeg makers -spindle-shanked and
cranium shaped, as copy for the deft
fingers Of those who are expert enough
to white the coveted commodity An
ticipating the cool weather, the tide Of
Of travel has set in. The city is filling
up with strangers, the cars are taxed to
their usual capacity. They come from
all parts, from the lakes to Northern
Texas, and old Independence Hall is
besieged from the opening until the
closing thereof As we stood, the other
day, in the room where that immortal
First Congress sat, one 'accosted us,
Scan you tell me where the First Con-
gress met ?" told him he was now
standing on the spot His speech for
sock him, while city sport in buckle
shoes and clock stockings laughed at
his countenance, SO childlike and blapd
did it become. Yet stand in the very
centre Of the principal street of this gay
metropolis and point skyward with your
cane for five minutes, and you will have
Eve hundred gaping in its direction in
the same space of time.
Now is the time for stock lovers to
sec sights worth seeing. The show
has begun. Lony, Of Ontario. brings
Royal Tom. standing 81 inches high at
the withers, and pulling down the beam
at 1900 pounds; a royal horse is he
One might wander through the Exposi-
ton grounds and wonder that he saw.
no crowd when 10000 we're there, so
ample are the accommodations, but now
the number is multiplied, you begin to
see the people. All shades are repre-
sented, all phases of society are here
at least one imagines so when he be-
holds woman, young, beautiful and
elegantly dressed, strolling with negro
black as midnight, arm linked, through
the Art Gallery.
At the corner Of Twelfth and Berks
streets is the Office of the Centennial
Christian Homes. Daily, hourly, are
the arrivals Polite directors are there
to pilot all who come to quiet resting
spot and places free from harm and
temptation while they are in the city.
Hundreds have thus found homes which
have made their visit delightful and
borne back with them memories only
pleasant Of this city called Quaker
but why is it misnomer.
Fruit, especially peaches, is scarce.
They are bringing good prices. Apples,
watermelons and canteloupes are worth
almost nothing. Peaches 60c. to So
per basket; apples Is and 25c.; grapes
6,to l0c. per pound; watermelons $4
to So per hundred; tomatoes 20 to 25c
per basket; white potatoes 75c. per bas-
ket: sweet potatoes, I5c. lima beans