The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-09-01
philadelphia Letter.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 30, 1889.

city find multitudes of buyers in town
from the West, and orders by mail coming
for immense quantities of goods. the
merchants are in good shape for
making large purchases. Those who can
not buy exclusively for cash are doing a
good business on short credits. There Is
no danger Of a return to the old fashioned
system Of indefinite credits and frequent
removals. The great demand In the bust
ness Of the present day is for cash traffic,
or something as near to cash as possible.
Experience has proved this to be best
both for buyer and seller.
Anyhow, there is plenty OF money in
the land. The history of this seasons
summering shows it. While few of the
more extortionate hotels at summer re-
sorts Lave Jared poorly the majority have
had full houses at paying rates Some of
these concerns have made fortunes. There
never has been season since the war
times when people seemed to have so
much money to spend. The money is not
thrown about in profligate style which
characterized the war summers but people
who have it, spend it freely. Yet In al
most every case trying to get fair
equivalent for it. There has been good
deal of display in dress, jewelry and
equipage; yet very little OF the Haunting
and profuse extravaganza which prevailed
in the days when such men as Jim Fisk
and Helmbold were considered by many
the proper sort of models to follow.
In State affairs the competition between
the parties and their divided branches
will turn such a flood Of light on public
prodigalty and official corruption that the
inevitable tendency will be to economy
and purity. AS for the promises of the
professional reformers they do not amount
to much one way or the other. The men
who make them generally want office
about as badly as other men, and are
neither more nor less fit for it.
Now that many of our Philadelphia
ladies are returning home, the subject of
house decoration is one which Is naturally
uppermost In the feminine mind. There
is no city in which more good Judgment
and refined taste are expended on the
adornment of homes than we find in
Philadelphia New York may have more
costly homes and more SNOWY decorations,
but for real beauty, harmony and cozy
comfort, give US model Philadelphia
home. There is very commendable
feature Of home talent which makes the
most of comparatively inexpensive materi.
ais. This is particularly noted in regard
to window hangings, some of which are OF
chcesc-cloth with pretty trimmings.
Madras muslin has come into favor for
windows. 1t shows tinted figures, and
produces an effect somewhat akin to that
of stained glass. There are many cotton
fabrics in gay and striking patterns, some
of them with grounds of aesthetic hues,
literally covered with rich varieties of
peculiar flowers and figures Those who
desire something more expensive, car
satisfy their fancy in raw silk tapestries
some of which run high into the fancy
figures. Japanese designs are much ad
tonnes which are increasingly popular.
There are novel fashions in decorated
bed-coverings Antique lace spreads are
laid over rich colored satin quilts. The
pillow shams are of lace, to match tht
spreads. An important set Of lace bed
spread and pillow shams recently sold fol
200. OF course nobody is expected tt
| lay his head on such pillow-shams or tt
wrap himself in such bed-cover Beauti
full coverings are made of Russian Grena
dine, ornamented in open work. Chnt:
| figured coverlets with snowy patterns ant
sunfower borders are just now in favor
but are too cloud" to become permanent,
popular.
NANTRL DECORATIONS.
Much attention is now given to tasteful
decorative articles for mantels. OF these We
| find at Baily Banks & Biddle's grea
variety, selected with great care and il
admirable taste. Among these may b.
mentioned the "clocks and clock-sets,
| composed of clock for the centr
with pieces of statuary in bronze for tn
ends of the mantel These clocks are il
endless variety, and are not merely fo
ornament, but are Of superior workman
ship and excellent timekeepers. Beside
the bronze decorations in enamel, bcsque
and the various descriptions of fine porcc
lain. These have clocks to match. Thel
there is the concealed stem wiuder
which has achieved wonderful success a
the most popular clock, as well as til
most valuable of the day. These clock
and sets cover II wide range Of fancy an,
price, many of them being suited to tn
wants of those who have but limited sum
to invest in decoration.
Oscar Wilde is taking tour among tn
watering places with his lecture A
Long Beach he gathered II crowd of 15C
AT Spring Lake he was announced o.
Wednesday as bathing attraction on tn
beach. AS he did not come the bathin
house keepers hung him in etiigy to thei
high flag poles. The figure RENAME
aloft during the bathing hours and was TIL
cause of II great deal of fun among til
crowds who thronged the beach.
The great glut of peaches which VIZ
predicted, has not yet made its appea
ance in the city. There is reasonabl
plenty of the fruit, but as yet nothing lik
a prodigal supply. Good peaches con
mand fair prices. Those which are offeI
ed cheap are mostly poor things.
Some sinful fellows performed a shar
trick at Atlantic City on the bathing hous
man and his customers. BY means
false checks they possessed themselves
the jewelry, watches and other portab
belongings of persons who were in Il
surf. These SLY rascals had provide
themselves with n full set of checks. Th'
or their confederates would stand and i
spect the bathers as they presented the
goods for supposed safe-keeping Viii
l the bathers were in the water the rasca
would call with the checks, receive Il
valuables and carry them away. Tris ha
: to be done quickly, of course, but in lie
| than an hour while one set of hattie