The daily gazette., 1882-09-29
READING AT HER BEST
THE VISITORS FROM Will
MINGTON.
THE CITY CROWDED YESTERDAY.
The Capital of Berks In Holiday Attire
The County Fair--A Base Ball Game in
Which the Defiance Are Left.
rsnecial corrcsnondence Of the Gazette.


READING, Pa, Sept 29.-At 1890 yes
terday morning the 500 excursionists from
Wilmington arrived here all safe and sound,
being met at the station by Mayor Rowe and
a large delegation of citizens. A procession
was Immediately formed and marched up
Penn street to the music of the Ringgold
and First Regiment bands In the following
order RiAggold Band, Citizens Committee
including Congressman Daniel Ermentrout
and others, First Regiment band, Knights
of st. Lawerence, carriage containing Mayor
Rowe and City Solicitor Turner OF Whining
ton, carriage with visiting press representa-
tives, and number of carriages with other
visitors, among whom was Hon. Harry
Sharpley. The line halted at Fairview Park,
where the freedom of the 0ity was rendered
by Mayor Rowe, Harry Sharpley replying
ON behalf of the visitors.
H.. Turner, Esq, made few felictous
remarks, and the Ringgold band played
"Secret Love" The Knights and others
were then invited to very substantial din
ner by Mr.. Geier, the proprietor, who did
everything to make 1t pleasant for all hands.
The afternoon was passed IN viewing the
city, which was in its holiday attire.
The attractions were numerous, the
streets were crowded, and In fact every i'll
habtant of Berks county who could scrape
up dollar was there. All the roads ran
extra trains, the mills were stopped, and the
big pumpkins and fast horses found many
admirers The County Fair grounds are
located on a hill at the end of Penn street,
directly back of the prison aud adjoining the
reservoir The display was of the usual
order and the attendance immense.
The game of base ball between the De-
fiance of Wilmington and the Actives OF
this place, on the grounds of the latter,
was Witnessed by 600 or 700 people 1t was
decidedly one-sided, the visitors leaving the
grounds with one run to their credit, while
| their opponents scored 16. The visitors had
no show whatever, but it was conclusively
shown that their second base and left field
| men wera always to be relied upon, the
latter, who has q crippled hand making
numerous excellent fly Catches
THE CITY ITSELF.
There Is no doubt but that yesterday wal
| a very large day for tho city, and to th'
stranger very favorable impression wa
given Of Reading, which has about the SAINT
| number of inhabitants as Wilmington, ant
presents more city-like aspect than ou
| town. The buildings are larger, the streets
are wider, the girls are tatter and homlier
the hotels more commodious, the bee
saloons more numerous, and the hills highe
than those of Wilmington. And yet it hai
no shipyarqs, no 'imodel'' police force, NJ
Custom House, no steamboat lines, nj
whipping post within five miles, and man,
other advantages of which Wilmington cal
boast. Besides we have in our city an tn
Peninsula enough handsome women to max
two towns the size of Reading green wit
envy.
Ii will have to be admitted, however, tina
the capital of Berks is far ahead o
Wilmington on general principles. And !
| can't help 1t under the condition oil affairs. 1
is an inland city just far enough from Phila
lelphia to make it independent in the way o
business matters, and the founders ana sup
porters are of the thrifty German element
it Is increasing rapidly in size and popula
ton, and yet Wilmington built twice a
many houses last year ~ were PHI up mere
1t is surrounded by hills and mountains
and 1t is almost impossible to find plac
level enough to set q dry goods box dow
without its being on the can't The Neyel
sink hills to the south and east Ql khe Gil
tower up from 500 to 200 fee, while ava
to the southwest loom up the blue tops {
the South Mountains. An enterprisin
sneculator has In contemplation the erectio
of a mammoth summer hotel on the top
one of the hills 800 feet above the river.
will command view of about 20 miles
every direction, and the country roun
about here, you are aware, is, like most
the Keystone State, grand In it's beaut
wealth and general prodnetiyeness-th
section in particular being good one
which to rear chunky Dutch girls. b
enough, and perhaps it would be well
: give a little OF,