Daily Republican., 1879-10-14
OUR PHILADELPHIA LETTER.
The Dry Weather-Dusty Streets
Bsll-Rsre ExOtics-Militsry MS.

plays, &c.
Special correspondence OF the Republican.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. ii, 1879.
In dry weather it is said all signs
fail, and this saying might be truth
fully applied to the weather of the past
week. Almost every morning the sky
was overcast, and portion Of the time
the wind was from the east; but in spite
of these ominous signs the sun soon
shone as brightly as ever, and with
force enough to drive the mercury up to
the eighties. Such weather naturally
acts as check upon business which
seems to be "straining upon the start. "
Merchants have laid in their fall and
winter stock and now it looks as if the
former were going to remain on their
hands. The public don't like this
kind of weather any more than bust,
ness people because they can't very
we'll buy what the latter have to sell
them; it is needed badly enough, 1t is
true, but it isn't seasonable.
Next to this threatened stoppage OF
business for the time being,is the dread
fully dusty condition of the streets.
Every car or wagon that passes along
leaves behind it clouds OF dust that
choke or blind pedestrians, and that
seem to penetrate every thing that is
not hermetrically closed. Owing also
to the dearth of rain the streams are
becoming low, and anxious people al
ready see water famine. What seems
to be- the worst feature in the matter,
however, is the bewildered manner o.
the professional weather prophet. Fol
oncs in his life an east wind a beclouded
sunset, a clearing of during the night
and the various other signs indicative
of wet weather, have unanimously re.
solved not to come true, and he desper-
ately struggles for his reputation, by
saying that the pain he felt in his corns
his barometers--was not natural, as
he imagined, but was caused by tight
shoe, and thus he accounts for his er-
roneous predictions.
To those, however, who make occa-
sional visits to Fairmount Park, such
weather is highly enjoyable. Even to-
day, threatening as It looked, a number
of people tlocked to this favorite place
ofresort, many to hunt chestnuts, with
which some portions of the Park abound,
and others, again, to stroll around aim
lessly. There are two points of attrac-
tion at Fairmount that take the lead of
all the rest. One of these is Lemon
Hill in the East Park, where music is
dispensed two or three times week
regularly Saturdays, and where per-
haps one-half the entire number of visit
ors to the Park locate themselves for
the day. The musicians, it is said, are
engaged by the several street railway
companies whose lines terminate. there,
and the arrangement cannot help but
be profitable to both. Each company
is assessed so much per week about
$60-for this purpose. Lemon Hill is a
nicely formed spot and is the favorite
croquet ground.
Horticultural Hall is the centre of
attraction in the West Park. 1t is one
of the group of buildings that helped
to make the little city on the Centen-
nial grounds during 1876, and was no
doubt the most ornamental of the en-
tire number. During last spring it
was repainted inside and outside, and
now looks as picturesque as it did three
years ago. Running south from the
building the ground is followed out to
a depth of five feet, is II feet wide and
about 300 feet long. The banks on
each side of this hollow are made to
slope outward toward the top and
are nicely sodded. The bed of the ho-
low is artistically laid with variety
of flowers, and here and there a little
modestly desseminates moist
ure among the surrounding plants. At
the southern end of the hollow, and on
a level with broad carriage way, call.
I'd, | think, the Avenue of the Repub-
liz, stands the statue of Religious Lib
erty, erected as Centennial memento
by the Isr;elites. The figures are cut
rom pure white marble, and are very
attractive. 1t is by the side of this
statue that almost every carriage pas,-
ng that way comes to a halt to enable
he occupants to view the scene be-
ore them; and it is one worth see
ng. On both sides of this sunken floral
oed are other beds of flowers in great
7ariety, all laid out in pretty designs,
md the effect of this living picture is
decidedly a fine one.
The interior OF Horticultural Hall is
illed with exotics, some of which are
quite rare. Prominent among them are
,road-spreading palm trees, and banana
rees, bearing their delicious fruit,
whose leaves are nearly, if not quite,
en- feet long. There is also cactuss
department. and fsrnery, in which
after are over 300 varieties, gathered
rom all parts of the country. The
eeds of the fern grow on the under
'ortion of the leaves, and the manner
n which the plant is propagated is by
imply rubbing the seed-side of a leaf
II the earth and waiting patiently for
he results. This department is the
Elective point of lady visitors. The
[all is opened aud free to visitors all {
he year round.
The latter portion of the week has
cen taken up with military displays.
among these were the col
red Knights Templar. Their uniforms
re similar to those of the white Tenn
lars but their drilling, though tair,
'uld not begin to compare with that of
Id latter. In answer to a question a
hite knight said they were not recog-
lied in this country on his side of the
ouse, and stated the cause to be that
hen the colored brethren had applied !
r recognition years ago they reckless I
; threw open their doors to an examin- G
g committee of white Templars with
n Goinu tbrouuh thu rannirad fnpmaI