Daily Kennebec journal., 1879-08-25
NO. 2O4.
miscellaneous.
PHILADELPHIA LETTER.

To the Editor of the kennebec Journal:
On my trip to Wilmington | pass over one
one of the best roads in this country / refer
to the Philadelphia Wilmington and Balti-
more Railway. When this road was granted
ITS charter there was stipulation involved
that the profits above certain percentage
should revert to the State through which it
runs. As consequence a large share of the
profits is used in improving the road bed and
beautifyng the grounds about the stations
which are very nice. Every station has a
park containing choice flowers and shrubbery,
and all along the track the banks are graded
and grass grows almost to the rails, and il is
as nice as a lawn.
1t is said that the mechanical standard of
this road is generally recognized rs being
the highest know to- the railroad system of
this country. Another thing | must not for
get to mention. The railroad has introduced
the system Of Basket lunches for passengers
while in transit. The conductor or porter is
| provided with bills of fare, and telegraph or
der slips. The orders are taken and forward
cd by telegraph to Wilmington. On arrival Of
the train--the order having been flled-a shall
low basket in suitable compartments provided
with necessary dishes. the whole convenient
y adapted to the lap, is brought to the passen-
gers to be eaten at leisure. The basket is
taken in charge by the porter and returned
to Wilmington by later train. No confusion
and discomfort by hasty lunch. saw the
whole thing carried through and it struck me
| the incest arrangement ever saw carried out.
should say right here that this road is
principally owned in Boston, and is run by
New England men, from the Superintendent
down to the brakemcn. The telegraph opera
tors, (thereis one in each station day and night)
are all Yankees and are all strongly attached
to their road.
Now, reader, if you will return with me we
will visit the Permanent Exhibition Building,
in Paramount Park.
We enter the turnstie, after paying our
quarter, and we must be very careful and not
turn too far, as if we do the keeper will be
''quarter out :" but he will be very likely to
see that we do not turn it too far. We are
now in what was known the Main Building
during the Centennial Exhibition.
Turning to the right we pass on either hand
the works of arts from all nations, stuffed an
imals, fossils, minerals, carved work, paint
ings. manufactured goods ,of every descrip-
ton. In the center of the building is the big
organ. As we listen to the music we say it
is not so immense otter all but when we hear
IA common sized instrument we exclaim at
once, grand. wonderful !! Every corner of
that vast building is filed. Pinafore had just
been played in this place andthe scenery had
not been removed. 1t seems as though the
stage would fiji Granite. or Wilson halls.
But we hasten on through the carriage marts,
where.are all kinds of vehicles, from child's
carriage to Il stage coach farm wagons, coal
wagons wagons of all sorts and capacities. But
our eyes fall upon the most onderful sight yet
the signing of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, all in wax, life size. There sits
the little John Adams in the chair, while
Jefferson stands at the opposite side of the
table. with his hand upon the paper he has
drafted, and seems to be addressing the chair.
At his left stands Franklin, just ready to speak
| apparently. At the right stand the other
members, and you think they are all ready to
speak, they look so eager and earnest. But
vandals have broken of fingers and pieces Of
| their garments, and are defacing the work of
years.
We will now turn from this and pass up
the stairway, and take look at what to me is
the grandest and most litelike piece of wax
work ever produced. 1t is Washington at
Yorktown. Here we look down upon a scene
the most wonderful that | ever saw. When
we first behold the scene there appear to be
soldiers marching and Washington upon his
gray horse surrounded by his generals and
aids, while just in the rear is magnificent
paintng-but in an instant, as if by magic,
the canvass vanshes, and the whole thing is
real, and we look away into the distance for
miles, where war ships are engaged in con-
| tlict and we almost hear the booming of the
cannon, while on the field in the distance the
contending armies are engaged in mortal
strife. At our feet we see colored people pas
sing water to those on horseback, and in the
windows of the houses are figures so natural
you think they must be living men and women
even the doves upon the buildings seem
| living creatures. | could sit and gaze upon
it for days, it seems to me.
! W. pasS down another stairway and are
again among the exhibits of this world of
ours. We enter the enclosure where stands
the log cabin-the early settlers home, it is
now a restaurant,-upon its walls hang the
trophies of the backwoodsman and the frui
of the tolls of his companion, such as spreads,
rugs, table cloths, all the work of her hands.
Here runs the stream filed with fish, and
miniature ship Is sailing upon it on its bank
is the wigwam Of the Indian while he sits and
gazes into the distance, the >quaw approaches
from behind to surprise hm-these figures are
all wax.
We have seen but little of what is con-
taincd here, but our time is short and we must
leave this place. We at once proceed to the
Conservatory here are plants from the tropics,
all enclosed in glass and kept at the same
temperature the year round. The palm at
tracts our notice The fern tree, the lemon,
the rubber are here At the top of this build
ing we have Il view unsurpassed Here is a
Park containing over 2000 acres, and cared for
and kept nice IA garden. There are
acres of flowers and plants and hundreds of
men are employed upon the grounds
and walks. This is the breathing place for this
great city, and any pleasant afternoon thous-
ands of people visit the Park, and enjoy its
varied scenery. With all the corruption of
this great city, all are Interested in maintain
ing this institution
But am admonished that time is rapidly
passing, and that must drop my pen, and
leave for my home in New England. s.