Daily Republican., 1880-02-06
LETTER FROM PHiLADELPHTA.
Tbings which Have Oeeured In
Our NoiEhbOriny city - Another
COurt JOaanes Compelled 10
Eat Dog Meat.

iHuIUkb "bheD hAVO OeGufeu III
Our NeiEhbOring City - Anethe
COnrt JOaRnes - Compelled q
Eat Dog Meat.
Special Correspondence OF the Republican.
| PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 81, 80.
On Monday q large contract for hoss
for the Fire Department will be giye1
out, and the matter is attracting NOR,
than ordinary attention, owing to th,
fact that the usual custom Of awarding
q contract to the lowest bidder may MOI
be observed on this occasion, the Fire
commissioners having received an Opin
len from the City Solicitor that they
are required to issue the contract t.
the best bidder, be he the lowest ol
not. On previous occasion the COM
missioners were informed by a Court
Judge that they mus. award to the
lowest responsible bidder. Here is a
clash of legal opinions, and i: looks as
ii fair encouragement were offered for a
law suit as q result of the Commission
ers' either way. Be this as it may,
recont Bra experiences have bred a de-
sire for first class hose. 1t has Lap
pened too frequently that the bursting
of hose has SO delayed the water sup
lply that much valuable property was
destroyed which otherwise would have
been saved. It Is singular that no meth
od has been devised by which the va
riety Ofvehicles that traverse the streets
can be conveyed over the hose without
in the least depressing it--for these
must work more or less damage, accord
ing to their weight, street cars, per-
haps, ranking as the most destructive.
AS power of resistance seems to bs re-
garded as of the greatest Importance
in fire hose, cannot manufacturers pro-
ducs some fabric that will endure the
pressure OF wagon wheels as well as OF
water?
Dramatic critics, like doctors, will at
times disagree on certain points. The
question at present is as to the ability
OF Manager Gemmill, of the Chestnut
Street Theatre, to perform the part of
"Hamlet" in the play of that name. -
Mr.. Gemmill is said to be one OF thai
unfortunate class of people styled
"stage. struck" but, unlike most of
them, has an established theatre ia
which to display himself, and an aristo-
cratic patronage to give him encourage
ment. While some Of the critics praise
him from moderate to gushing, another
takes occasion to place him on the same
level with DR.. Landis and the deceased
Count Joannes. But then criticisms on
a rendition OF Hamlet" should have
little weight either way, for while some
people think the Prince of Denmark
was an exceedingly melancholy charac-
ter, others again contend that la was
Just the reverse. so, whatever be Mr.
views in this respsct, il he
only pleases his audience, he may feel
more genuine sslf-satisfaCtion than if
the critics were unanimously Oh MS
side, but his benches esaP'y.
When one compares ths mild1sss of
our laws and the uures:rained freedom
Of speech accorded to US all, rs we'll ss
the blessing of free press, with the
lespotio Governments of Europe and
the East, thrill of pride quickeus the
heart beat, the eye CLEANS more bright
y, and the foru perceptibly grows an
nch or two, as one mentally soliloqui-
sss, 81 am an American citizen !" Yet,
proud and patriotic as Is the sentiment,
t scarcely has time to take breath,
10 to speak, ere it suffers rude shock
rom the sound of some angry political
discussion. Indeed thsr5 Is 80 much
ak and newspaper comment about
politics, that one turns away in disgust,
md wishes at the same time that some
russian autocrat would seize our Gov
annul our fres apeech laws
nd, metaphorically, sit down on the
vhole tribs fof political braWlers and I
,awlers.
Some time since 3 girl named Seha-
Or, residing in the Richmond district,
tempted to jump into the Delaware, &
.aving tied a stone around her neck,
0 as to make her work sure. Inqui- {
les into the case have developed the
vet, that she, in company with a sister
nd their father, had led for yesos
rutish existence. II seems the father
vas dog fat renderer, and for this 1
urposs gathered all the dead dogs he
Duld find. The flesh of these animals,
o matter what its condition, whether
,ul or fresh, he boiled and made his ;
hildren subsist on. For butter they
ere forced to use dog fat, and, in fact, y
aey did not know what butter was. S
he girls were not allowed to associate
ith other children, and the three liv-
together IN one room. and used one :,
ed. The old wretch was arrested and I
,ntenced to only Mae months in the
ouse Of Correction. GULTELMus. C