Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-11-29

or DuStlc ana CONFUSION lLdIl Is IouHu III
many country store. Mr.. Smith, the
gentlemanly manager of the concern, in
formed me that the seasons business
had been very satisfactory, thougha lull,
peculiar to this season OF the year, is
prevailing now. An evidence of the i'm
mense wholesale trade that is being
transferred from the East to the West,
is cited in the circumstance that the
New York house of A. I. Stewart Il Co.
has recently consolidated its wholesale
and retail departments at the uptown
establishment, giving as a reason for
said action, the fact that their Western
branch had so cut into their wholesale
trade in New York as to practically
render it unnecessary to support sepa-
rate departments in that city.
The receipt of -four, grain, meats, pro-
visions and live stock, daily, in Chicago,
at the present time, show large in
crease over last year, and the shipments
are in like ratio. The receipts OF hogs
are especially heavy. We are told by
gentleman whose business makes him
conversant with the facts, that the num-
Der of live hogs received in Chicago last
week was greater than in any single
week of its previous history; much
larger than is usual even when the
packing season is fairly in progress.
But Chicago IL not wholly given over
to business and the accumulation OF
wealth. The theaters, concert halls, and
amusements of other kinds, are in full
operation, and are. generally, doing q
profitable business. 1t was our good
fortune to arrive in the city in time to
attend the closing performance of the
brilliant season of Italian opera, under
the management of Strakosh, at Nc
Vicker's Theatre, which has been de-
lighting the ears of lovers of the divine
art during the past fortnight. The OPP
era, on this occasion, was Ambrose
Thomas beautiful creation, "Mignon,'
with the American prima donna, Clara
Louise Kellogg, in the title role, and
the no less distinguished singer, Annie
Louise Carey, in the cast. To say that
the performance was satisfying in the
highest degree, is not enough. In the
enhancing vocalization of the principal
singers, the perfect training and harmo-
ny Of the large chorus, and the superb
performance of the grand orchestra, the
beautiful scenery and perfect appoint
ments of the stage, was realized per-
Torrance often read Of. but seldom en-
joyed, by Western people. The season
was most successful one, financially,
the theatre being crowded, nightly, with
delighted auditors, who showed their
genuine appreciation of fine music by
passing entertainments at the other the
aires, usually more acceptable to popu-
lar taste.
The next day being the Sabbath. we
attended service in the same place, the
officiating clergyman being Rev. David
Swing. The audience was larger, if pos
sible, than that which sat entranced in
the same seats with the ministry Of song
from the threats of Kellogg and Carey,
the night before. The spacious theatre
was crowded, from pit to dome, with
people who came to hear, and who evil
IDENTIFY were confident that they would
be offered something worth the hearing.
Except in the upper gallery, nearly all
the seats are reserved, by the regular
attendants upon DR.. Swing preaching,
at prices ranging from 10 to % cents
each, according to the eligibility of the
location. This arrangement makes it
inconvenient for strangers, who, it they
are so fortunate as to secure good
seat, owe it to the fact that some of the
regular congregation are absent; pre-
carious chance to depend on. The stage
is occupied by the preacher, the organ
list and the preeentor. or leader of the
singing, which is congregational. The
hymns of the service are printed on
slips, with the name of the tune attach
ed, and scattered through the audience.
The effect of the vast audience rising
and joining in one swelling tide of har-
mony, in the performance of some old
and familiar hymn, is peculiarly grand.
And now we hear some reader say, what
of the preacher? So much has been
said of DR.. Swing, his personality and
his peculiarities of style and expression
in the pulpit, that it would be superfu-
GUS in me to attempt to add to the sum
Of popular information on those points.
! can only give my personal Impressions
of the man and his powers upon this my
first hearing of him. ! must confess
that l was disappointed in his appear
ance, which is not imposing. and, until
the sermon was more than half through,
l was disposed to rebel against the pop
ular verdict of power and originality.
His style is neither cultivated or i'm
pressive, and it detracts much from the
effect of his sermons. 1t is only when
his thoughts are seen the next day in
print, that they seeM to rise above the
commonplace. That, at ieast, is how it
struck your correspondent, upon hearing
DR.. Swing the first time. His theme, on
this occasion. was intended to be appro.