National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-06
THE STATE nm soHuYLKlLL.


T.AN4h'hiAhiAf mNy l-luln out nus bNNh
present nj reunion of the ancient and honorable
iishing society known as "The State In Echuyl-
kin and has liborally imbibed tho famous ilsh-
mousse punch, IL is dichi 10 realize the existence
oi nn independent autonomy within the borders
OF this Commonwealth. When however, the
writer saw the Governor aud ex- Governor Of Penn
syivania and many oftho best-known men in this
CITY and vicinity attircd in broad -bfimmod straw
hnb ana long, whito aprons engaged in the
homey occupation Of cleaning fish, ho realized
thot there was considerable seriousness about tho
matter. No man is horo to his valet" and no.
body Is President, Governor, or mayor in the State
in schuylklll, Republican equality can go no
further than the point reached by this social COM
munity. AS may be readily understood, society
that can catch, cook, and ca. It's food s prac.
tically defiant regarding the extortons Of tho
butcher and the baker. The new bose Of Phila-
delphia-the servant grille, for wonder, out
witted and this fact recognized the absolute inde
pendence OF the State in Sohuyikill will be ad-
miited at once
WHAT IS THE STATE IN scIIuYLKILL?
When the writer had finally obtained admission
to the grounds, situated down on the schuylkill,
near Point Breeze, he turned to Colonel A. Loudcn
snowden and asked the question: "What is the
State in schuylkfl?" He learned that 1t was the
Oldest club in tho world. The original articles of
membership, bearing the date "1732," were shown,
and gigantic salver Of white metal, upon which
the ilsh dinner is invariably served, was displayed,
tory as long rs the moral law. The suggestion that
the club was too, podest in only having 1906"
put on the dish, when the resources Of the
graver's nrt would have enabled them 10 have made
made II contompornneous with that prince OF fish
ets Mare Antony, was received with very III favor.
The society was established In 1892 by twenty seven
young men Of the then village Of Philadelphia,
and was named The Colonyln schuylklll" A
Jolly Quaker, named William Warner, gayo II quar-
tiers on the banks Of the stream about ntnile abuve
the present sito Of the Fnirmount Water Works,
where In 17i7 was erected (for SIG Is. Cd, rs the
ing commissions in those days. the courthouse
1t Is matter OF tradition rather than record that
few OF the Leni Lenapi chief, who had been so
badly done" in the trade with William Penn,
Visited the young colony, and, afler socially par.
taking of the seductive schuylkill punch, granted
waters and TO hunt in the forests along is banks
II fact, priyae memoirs would indicate that the
chief chief; : would you'd & have disposed Of everything and
was the feeling of fellowship which inspired them
1T BECOMES A STATE
II tho object OF the founders of the colony was
pleasure the organization was not found wanting
in patriotism when the storm of the American
Revolution bust upon it, Only one member stood
firm TO the mother country the rest Joined in rails
ing the new flag over their court house and in pro-
claiming their fidelity to home rather than dis
tant king. So many Joined in the war for freedom
that no meeting was held until17s1, when in March
and independent State" Captain Samuel Morris
was chosen governor and the Office of baron was
aD0nsned. FROM th0t day the clubs history is q
matter of tho most trustworthy record. on June
| 8, 1887 General Washington was entertained and
Lafayette was is guest In July, 1925. The Society
of Fort st. David, nn outdoor sporting club, was
| amalgamated with the older organization soon
after the Revolution, and It brought with 1t into
the State" the gigantic pewter dish said to bear
somewhere the Penn coat .of-aTms. IL does carry
tho blooming figures 1305-nbout the number Of
the mint ON Chestnut street, where one OF the
snowden, is to be found. That plate is ono Of tie
tangible realities Of tho place, and this must be
my excuse for IcerIiInC 70 4 again though heaven
groveIs did better work five hundred years ago
than they do now.
AS THEY ARE NOW.
Tho terrible scourge Of yellow fever prevented
any meetings between 1874 and 1900 the members
being too full ofsympathy for the human family to
retire to the secusion oftber rural retreat after
the dam which was built IN the schuylkiii de-.
stroyed the fishing, and as consequence the State
was forced to emigrate down the river to a. point
acres Of land. Thilher they ioated their castle"
as their dining hall was called There your CORE.
spondent found the present representatives of the
original society this mornlna, attired in their
| aprons, cleaning shad or mixing punch.
WHO THEY ARE.
AS one Of the cardinal principles Of the club Is
perfect social equality 1t would be inconsistent to
have any walters. cooks, or servants present.
Entering the ground the first object that met tho
writer's gaze the portly form OF Governor Hoyt,
for EX-GOVERNOR aarrunit and judge Bitter S'o Of
the United States District Court to wash their fish
| Gathered about engaged In various branches of
| tho culinary art, were Mayor King, Colonel A.
| Louden Snowden, George w. Harris The president
| OF the CincinnptD, Il. Burd Grubb, Judge Me-
| Kennna, of tho United States Circuit Court Judge
Sharswood, of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania,
| and General George X, Snowden Seated on the
I portco were George II. Boxer and Henry
NJ. Phillips. The latter looked too
comical for description, shrouded as
he WIS, and was as pale as though he was about to
| attend his own funeral. Near by were Colonel
Mccomb. Of the United States Engineer Corps
Wilson, and Cornet Kelly of the First City Troop.
| pected president Chester A. Arthur, had sent a
dispatch saying that important business of State
1 prevented him from attending. Attorney. General
| Brewster and Secretary Folger were expected, but
did not come afler oil. The seclnsion OF the mem
| bers was rgidly maintained, but crowds OF
| strangers were perched upon trees or neghboring
| fences to get n look at the prominent sporsmen.
THE DINNER AND THE srEEcHEs.
/ The days sport was opened by the presentation
of flag bearing the clubs emblem-aperch. The
speech was made by Robert Adams, Jry and was
| well received. When the dinner had been served
1 and all the crackers had been eaten eht of the
Japanese fsh-lke bowls the literary exercises Of
the day took place. Mr.. George H. Boxer, ex-
Minister to Russin, read a poem, and Colonel
Snowden delivered an address. Atter that the
| punch was passed more rapidly and the good
| humor of Waltonian life grew more apparent
each minute The days sport ended at nightlall
| when all returned to the city
| ---A--