The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-28
PHILADELpnIA, SEEN ny A TRAMP.
Having Labor to Sell. he Found Himself Car.
ryinR Coni. to Newcastle.


To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: mr.
rived in Philadelphia on Wednesday like n
rocket that is by fasttrain on the PENNSYLVANIA
Railroad. main line. and departed thercfrom on
the following Monday. like n stick namely on
foot. by way Of tho Camden and Amboy Division
Of the aforesaid ralron1.
But although my stay was only limited. saw
great deal Of the town. for the reason that.
during the most oi the timo. was on a quest
which will probably drive human being to
more vigorous and protractcd action than any
other pursuit 1t wns this same quest that made
the timid and shrinking Oliver Twist present
himself before the awful potentnte of the paro-
chial" kitchen ms the mouthp piece of furnished
multitude. Unlike Oliver. however. my scnrch
WINS not for more" The great problem with
me wos to get any.
say saw Grcat deal Of the town. and, geo
graphically speaking there is certainly great
deal OF II TO see. II contains. as the gazetteer
would say. great diversity Of soil and" No.
twill hardly do to complete the sentence. for the
legion Of visitors to the Centennial Exposition
would unanimously reject the hypothesis OF "A
diversity of climate.
Like many other cities, PHILADELPHIA can
ment building. but, in addition to this common
possession She also glories in the skeleton ot u
projected city building. BY surrounding this
Iudicionsly fnrmcd out for advertising pur-
poses. tho city manages to secure sufflcicnt
money TO add about one stone n week to the
structure. and the more sanguine OF the inhab-
itants confidently predict that the second cen
tennial may witness its completion and dcdicn-
ton. Carping strangers might possibly object
10 the site of the ediilcc nterrupting rs II does
tho course OF the finest thoroughfare in the
and tho Masonic Temple. Bit il is their own
building. and | suppose they have placed II to
their own satisfaction.
Another structure struck mo-. II was the Lett
GER office. There is an mir 81 scdntc solidity
about the entire Ledger establishment. ana all
the employees, from the square-faced; resoluts
cditor-in- chief down 10 the midnight Johnny"
have nm expression OF grave dignity. which ut
once informs you that they are employed upon
the ancient and highly respectable clcgiac fam
ilv journal which Is the pride OF the City OF
Brotherly Love. Even the mansion Of the
gifted proprietor. rs | saw II In the light Of n
glowing September moon, had n strangely
mausoleum- like look. with It's marble walls and
the awe-stricken stranger could easily imagine
Gazcs pensively upon the presents made to
Gen; T., 5. Grant during. his foreign tour. sent
to @. W: Chlds. ESQ" and composes those
doleful rhymes that hive carried consolation to
SO many u brreaved household and have led
Tennyson and Lqngfellow to pay homage at the
Tho architectural peculiaritiea of Philadcl-
phia ut once impress nm outside barbarian. Tho
general use Of white shutters instead Of win
dow blinds and OF marble or limestone for door
steps produces an almost dazzling effect In the
bright sunlight. and entails upon the gcnilcr
scrubbinc. and in that Industry they secin 10
tAkc an almost nendish delight. Saturday is
the general cleaning day. and on that day tho
sidewalks become running streams and the un-
wary stranger Is exposed to untold risks. OF
course "A whole-sOled individual can magnan-
imously endure these imprOmptu fresheis hut
they hav. n most depressing effect upon ons tic
casing OF whose pedal cxtrcmities has begun to
feel the fret OF time and tide"
Philadelphia Is cmphntcally the paradise OF
building societies. and the fruits Of their labors
IN the shape OF almost endless rows of onc-s;ory
brick dwellings. abound in the central and
nor,hcastern parts of tho town. There is u uni
formity about these blocks OF dwellings that is
absolutely painful TO tho visitor. the street cor
ners being regular succession OF drug stores
groceries and dry goods. rendering the finding
OF your abode in the early hours OF the morn
ing after good fellowship and ito accompani-
mrnts have somewhat ohfuscated the vision n
task OF no little difficulty. Indeed. instances
are Of record in when an individual has quietly
gone 10 bed in the wrong block. only to be
aroused by the rightful occupant. who hap
peenned TO make little the longest night of It.
The city draws its water supply from both the
Schuylkll and the Delaware. With regard to
the Respective merits of tho rwo. the rustc's
opinion q two rondS leading to the same dcsti-
nation viii nuy apply: II " take either one.
We VI bo wishing niore We get far that ycd taken
the other" But "a Masseys vast ale brewery. 10
say nothing Of numerous manufactures Of
lager. is still in operation. the Inhabitants. in
ono way and another. get enough TO drink.
Thought, on nrst Inspect that the town pos
impartial trial Of the water from both rivers.
am inclined to modify my opinion.
ground OF which Philadelphia may be- proud
embracing, rs II does. the valley Of tine Wissa-
hickon. as picturesque and weird in it, way as
Is Watkins Glen. But the Exposition buildings
destroyed many shad" trees. and the ground
from which some Of tho buildings have been
removed is dreary waste.
One OF the great attractions OF Philadelphia IL
The Geological Garden. or the Zoo,' MS II Is
nppanty abbreviated. This is really n fine
collection Of animals. but the fee ~ twenty five
cents in these stringent times renders IL for
Hllirn ground 10 t4e poor, ana enables New
Workers 70 plume themselves upon their free
collection. such MS y il.
There Is certainly one thing in which New
York can copy Philadelphia 10 advantage.
namely. in tile regulation " street ear travel
For an addition Of cent or two to the stated
fare YOU may obtain n transfer from II lin"
running east and west TO one running north
and south. and the tickets OF each line for single
passage are good on any other line. But rapid
transit has not rs vet been mooted and "A
Journey say from 1900 South Second street to
300 North Second street consumes more time
than does trip 70 New York 10y the fast express
Philadelphia impressed me ms a desirable
place for n residence. in case you have entirely
wearied OF business cares, and desire To end
your days In peace. 4 STRAY BOHEMIAN.