The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1878-03-15
PHILADELPHIA.
PHILADELPHIA, March 4, 1873.

PHILADELPHIA, March 4, 1873.
Mr.. EDIToR:-If the old adage, "If
March comes in like lamb it will go
out like lion," should prove as incor-
rect as most of the predictions have in
relation to February, as well as the en-
entire winter, then indeed il will
prove to have been such winter sea-
son as the "oldest inhabitant" has
known not of. The official weather
guage here has ranged the entire win
ter above zero, and most of the time
largely above; only one slight snow
storm has occurred. The nuisance of
summer dust has been somewhat
prevalent, although in modified form !;
in short, nearly the entire winter has
been q reminder of opening spring.
Now that the Eastern war has subsi-
ded, and the Bland Silver bill has be-
come law of the land, two disturbing
elements are disposed of; and if the
wiseacres at Washington will let the
tariff question rest, possibly there may
be gradual improvement in the bust
iness of the country.
There have been some large failures
in this city recently; among them, the
extensive commission house of A. G..
Cattcll IL Co; likewise the immense
manufacturing concern of Scheppers
Brothers; they are rated as the largest
manufacturers of worsted goods in the
country, their annual production aver
aging S3,000,000. The firm has three
extensive mills, two in this city, and a
third at Seymour, Conn. Liabilities
over three-tourths of million dollars.
The ship Constitution,-oldI Ironsides,
has lately sailed from her pier at the
foot of Walnut Street, for IIavre, fully
loaded with exhibits for the Paris Ex-
hibition, and was obliged to leave two
hundred and fifty tons of "goods, wares
and merchandise" for a subsequent
vessel to take and forward. 1t is un-
derstood that the American department
at Paris is altogether too limited to
contain the exhibits being sent from
the "Ncw World"
The loss of the steamship Metropolis
produced such an appalling effect in
this community, that naturally enough,
considerable apprehension existed
among those that had friends on the
"Merccdita" for their safety during
such an extended voyage; but she has
lately been signalled, stcaming up the
Nhit"HOi iiNtl iiCdllN lOuT ullHtlIctl
miles above its mouth, safe and sound.
The third steamer, the "City of Rich
mond," bound for the interior of Brazil,
has been heard from at st. Thomas.
The funeral services commemorative
of the death of King Victor Emmanuel,
at the Italian church of "Santa Maria
Maddelina du Parrc" in this city, were
of an imposing character; admission
only by ticket; having no ticket, pro-
duccd voucher from the editor of the
Register as its accredited correspond
cnt, which Immediately gained me u
courteous admission. In the middle of
the aisle was catafalque, seventeen
feet in height above the base, that be-
ing five feet high; at the top were six
large funcreal plumes, one at each cor
ner, and one each side the center. Sur
mounting the center of the canopy was
an angel carved in marble, in the atti-
tude of prayer. Beneath the canopy
was tastefully trimmed coffin, on
which was placed sword in gold
scabbard, and richly gold-trimmed
crown; the church was heavily draped
i'll mourning. AT one end of the church
was the royal crest, and opposite the
coat of arms of the house of Savoy. The
coffin was draped in the national colors
of Italy. Twenty-four large Candida
bras were ranged on each side of the
catafalquc, and were lighted during the
service. a grand requiem and solemn
high mass was celebrated. The funeral
address was delivered in the Italian
language, which went little beyond
my classical comprehension. The day
after the death of the late Pope Plus
was announced, the bell at the same
church was tolled throughout the day,
and the Italian flag was raised at half
mast oh Columbus Hall for the death
of the late pontiff.
There are in Philadelphia forty-five
newspaper offices, and one hundred
and three job printing offices, whose
annual product is said to be nearly six
and half million dollars.
The public debt of the city is about
sevcnty-thrce millions, and the tax rate
2.25 OH the hundred dollars of assessed
valuation: real estate is assessed annu-
ally at fully two-thirds its intrinsic
value. p. VIC.