The daily gazette., 1879-02-15
Our Fhil sdelphls Letter.


Progress-7he Political Pot that il
At,odys Boiling.
Special Correspondence Of the GAZETTE.
1t might easily be supposed from a
glance at my lette ers that one of the prin-
cipal subjects upon which my mind
dwells is the history of the variety thea
tres as shown in Philadelphia. can as
sure you Mr.. Editor, that l do think
about them quite often; not, however,
with an anxious fear lest they do not
succeed, but with an earnest hope that
they may meet with some misfortune.
Another mishap must be recorded this
week. The object of the majesty of the
law this time being no less than the
famous "Enoch's Varieties" on North
Eighth street. The building was former
ly in use by the congregation of the Sec
ond Presbyterian churchill recent times,
Bacchus with all his attendant horde of
evil deities, has been the only God wor-
shipped there. The police raided the
place last Saturday nigh, and arrested
the managers, performers, and all doubt
full characters found in the audience.
They were all marched to the Central,
and were all placed under various balls.
Among the prisoners were 10 boys, the
youngest about seven years old. The
terrible array Of convicts these boys in
time would become, as the result of their
training in EDoch's den, can
easily be imagined. Altogether SatIr-
day nights performance ON the boards
and behind the bars of the Central Po-
lice Station was the biggest "benefit, )" the
cause of humanity has had for long
time.
or course the big attraction in the
amusement line this week has been the
appearance of Her Msjesty's Opera at
,he Academy of Music. 1t will be re-
membered that at one time the prospects
for Philadelphians to invest money in
this troupe at three dollars head were
very dubious. Col. Mapleson justly de-
manded that the stockholders give up
the seas TO which they are entitled, and
which are the best in the house.
This, for time, they refused to do, and
its Colonel vowed Philadelphia should
not hear his Opera Company. The mat
ter was smoothed over, however, and
the Academy has nightly been filed by
an Enthusiastic audience to listen to the
delightful trills, &c, of Madame Gester
Minnie Hauk. or Marie Roze. Your
rprrpsnopIeut Ia N N m mi pal critic Givan
an empty hogshead and baseball bat,
and he might possib bly, tell something
about the wonderful power that music
has upon the soul. But when il comes
to criticizing performance given by Her
Majesty's Opera, the very name of which
Is awe-inspiring, he finds the pen trem-
BILE in his grasp. Suffice 1t to say that on
Tuesday nigh. when "Lucia di Lammer-
moor" was presented with Madame Ger
ster as Lucia" the audience almost to
man rose and cheered. This from q
Philadelphia audience is eulogy enough.
Like the small boy who was entreated by
his companion to enigrate to warmer
country, would simply say "Go there
yourselfr'
Colonel Forney has been successful In
his new venture, "The Progress" not
withstanding the anathema pronounced
against 10 by your, l have no doubt, es-
y
and Commercial. BY chance came across
the editorial criticism of "Progress" in
that paper and at once looked for the an
nouncement that our general Colonel had
determined to remove from these hostile
parts, sell all his journalistic implements,
give up his project, dismiss his employ
ees, and bury his head in sorrow and re-
morse for his presumption. But somehow
or other "Piogress" still appears, and
baf fan ~. I mn he ha h...
reached, its success is assured. 1t Is Just
the thing that has long been needed.
Colonel Forney's brain is such store
house of Information and culture 3, and he
j. assisted by such talented men all over
the country, that each number is wei
come visitor to its readers. Long liye
"Progress p
Next Tuesday will be election day for
Councilmen and School Directors. 1t
promises TO be exciting from the fact that
in several wards TAX Payers and Rent
ers' Associations" have been formed for
the purpose of electing men who, from
their position in the business portion OF
the community, must look after the inter
ests of those most likely to suffer from
ring legislation.
Your correspondent was all at sea in
his prognostical notes upon the political
situation last week. The slate now stands
as follows:
Ex-Governor Hartranft to be post
master in Snowden's place; Snowden to
Superin endent of the Mint, in EX-Gov-
ernor Pollock's place; Pollock to be Naval
Officer in j. II. Heistead's place, and
Hei,tead to find place for himself. All
have accepted except Hartranft and
Heistead. The former will probably soon
do so, and the latter still sooner, from
force of circumstances. The Times has
nominated Hartrantt for Sheriff, 1t heing
the most lucrative position in the gift Of
the city. The salary Of the postmaster is
S4 800, which is quite come down from
The $4,000 salary given the Governor.
The Sheriffs income amounts to about
Sl5 900, and the TimeS, with other peo-
pie, think our efficient Ex-Governor
should be rewarded with some such good
paying office as this is.
The unsettled question as to the East
ern judgeship has been set at rest at last,
hu hs. ,pf, MT nf Iu1na m