The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-10-27
CORRESPONDENT NOE.
Notes of a Traveller in the
North.
OHIO RIVER, Oct. 18th, 1873,

OHIO RIVER, Oct. 18th, 1880.
MesSrS EditorS,-I cannot write a
newspaper article-hurried as [ am-but
if hit upon anything to suit you, extract
it, saying it is from private letter not
written for publication.
The old Pennsylvania University,
which used to look so scant and sleepy
at the corner of 9th and Chestnut streets,
Philadelphia, is now magnificent object
on one of the swells of West Philadelp phia
"a group of grand serpentine buildings,
on wide grounds, with 600 Students
You would be more interested, however,
in the Academy of Sciences, which has
been accommodated in a new building
(of serpentine also) on Logan Square
This is the product of that scientific taste
which has long characterized Philadel-
phia, and which has helped to develop
Pennsylvania. A strong scientific spirit
in. Richmond would give us geological
survey, without which no State can pros
per now. Pennsylvania is now on her
Academy of Sciences is kept up by vol
untary contribution. Hence it lacks in
completeness, but is specially full on GER
tain points. In all the museums 1 OBJ
serve wonderful development in etho-
nology and archaeology. The accumula-
ton of skulls is enormous, and the keep
ers have wicked way of putting mon
key skeletons along side of human But
the testimony Of skulls and skeletons is
wholly orthodox
Girard College will soon have 1000
boys. The exclusion of clergymen from
the premises is more rigidly enforced now
than it was thirty years ago-but in spite
of this, and in spite of Girard's plain in
tent to have the boys brought up without
religion, there stands conspicuously an
elegant chapel in which the pupils are
regularly assembled for Christian wor-
ship and instruction. "You know, says
the ianitor, with dash of triumph in his
eye, "You know that a smart layman can
sometimes please boys more nor min
lster." had to admit that this is some
times the case. And I saw in this an
other grand illustration that the schools
OF a Christian people will be Christian
schools-let the law be what it may. And
| wish some people would put this fact
IN their pipes and smoke it.
~ 10 interesting W ODSelNe uOW GuS
railroad from Petersburg, south and
north, follows the line of junction be-
tween the Tertiary and Arch@an, and
how the rivers at all of the leading cities
tall over ledge of granite (gneiss, pro-
perly) have often called it the same
ledge of granite, but shall be more eau
tions in calling it the same, since I haye
observed how the rock varies. 1t is all
granite or syenite, but it varies in fine
ness of texture, color, and general appear
ance considerably. Still it may be strict
ly the same ledge, which has created a
long line Of cities, and set bound to the
ocean tides for perhaps 1000 miles. An
other interesting fact is that at each Of
these Cities 80 far as I have had the op-
Portunity Of observing, there is a large
deposit of nice brick clay, out of which
these cities are largely built; no doubt
an estuary deposit at the close of quater-
nary times just before man was intro
duced, and intended for the use of man
by the Creator. Cities, like some other
human works, commonly have three Pc
TI1lods-a wood, brick, and stone period
The stone period of Richmond will begin
shortly. Then we shall see another rea-
son why the long ledge was made of
granite.
Jersey City and Hoboken stand on a
narrow plain between the Bergen Hill
ana the Hudson River, plain which is
naIt a mile wide at Hoboken and soon
TS,Pers to point, as you ascend the river.
Inns Bergen Hill or ridge is the southern
pIolongation Of the Palisades, and is SIM
Ply an enormous trapdike to which the
fblon fFb5oSlon OF the adjoining rocks has given
'e prominence Of a mountain ridge sew