Daily Republican., 1883-03-19
PHILADELPHIA LETTER.
xESOF THE PAAT AND PRES.
rST THE SLuMk-TAE
R,uLDING OUTLOOK.
.nce Of the REPUBLICAN.


pu,,pELrHIA, March l8th.--It
~" ,"a almost impossible for a large
s,'p &C. =, Exist without having its proper
~, .ia1 of cranks. Philadelphia always
~" ~. b,d m and in all probability always
10; 'I, have. Years ago We had George
W." w",iav m the man who never wore a
S", %s Ind his hair cut or shaved. George
u., as, ,sssessed of good education, and
v" Sa' ;,r.yhar,stible flow of words, as
.I,.s % " no came in contact with him
% 'a.rr ant TO find out to their sOrrOw.
~. w. w"Id occasionally get drunk, and
M "l.r he was about half se:ls over, no
'"s % %could excel him in making a tenn
rralcc speech.
Ne was satirical beyond measure, ~
ha following incident vii illustrate ::
nue % Inv George had been as usual i'm
Shrr zoo much Of the ardent, md was
%,ui,p against "A lamp post at the cor
',r Of Third and Vine streets, when he
Banned his cane. 1t was a physical
%rn,,ibiliiy for him TO stoop over to
nrk il M, as he would certainly have
~an,ged his length on the ground.
Irrrr surveyed the cane that was ESQ
'sar and yet 10 far" and for once
.,me at his wits end. A crowd Of
rukcupi, unwashed uychins had H.
.mhlui, and one Of the number picked
un the cane, and holding il AT arms
,nrth landed il to George, who put his
baud in his pocket and gave the boy n
rl.cpr piece. From the way the boy
uil i, is probable he had never own.
al tha, much money at one time before.
He held it in his clenched hand, which
be would occasionally open and peep in
70 hc sure that it was still there.
inst at this time preacher was pass
nr, and seeing the boy receive the
r'nqy s took hold of him aud said.
"why don't you say thank you, sir?"
Grorrr looked at the man fora moment,
md letting go his hold on the lamp posi-
xz.d the preacher by the lappel ofhis
Goa, and said, "say thank you, sir tone
vor worm say thank you, sir, to another?
Do yon say thank you, sir, to your
Heavenly Father for every breath OF
a. yon nhnle, or every drink Of water
you take you don't you haveHO right
lot!l this worm 10 thank anO,h A
IEpe crowd had collected by this time
and tie preacher was anxious to get
away, but George retained his grip un-
+ iii be- had said all he wished, and rs
Nol As he released his hold tho man
,ho' down Third street amid the laugh
Ter Of the crowd, without even looking
| hack.
George had many good qualities, and
voull never pass Il person whom he
deemed deserving without extending
| hpr When it was in his power 81 10 do.
He occasionally published II paper
called the Baptist Watchman, and
after trductiDg the cost of publication,
h would always devote the greater part
| o, tie remainder 10 providing a grand
diner ioi the children i'll the Orphan
A>y'Um. Poor George passed to that
aAdi,NN"rnI bourne several years ago,
aud il i, hnIssl that latter lite's fitful
trvrt Ar rests we'll
AlorHer Philadelphia character was
y w0a,a@ known as "Cra2y NOrah."
She va, "A 'ltson Catholic, and when
but Young girl became deranged,
llr ugh what was known as the "IIo-
ga. I;o' at ST. Mary's Church, which
Vcrau"d about the year 1896. Norah
von high silk hat on her head, while
one foot would m encasrd in a long
bot, and the other in a low shoe. One
| day She was going along Chestnut
street, when she was met by some la
dies dressed i'll the most fashionable
fyl", and they, no doubt wishing to
aow their condesccuSion, stopped,
while one Of them with her hand ex-
irnd'd said "why Norah, we are re-
ncrh Ia meet YOU" NOrah made no
Effort to take the preferred hand, but
viii look Of disdain Oh her face re-
pied, "wrll, it's more than Am to sec
you, and brushing past them went on
lrr way.
Nolali Was harmless, but ! recollect
'ha' When was boy stood in mortal
LGraI Of her, and would always seek
tLt safety oi home when she was in the
|itsl'orhoUd. She now sleeps her last
sep As as"docs Whistling Jimmy"
Va" Slu with tn" Military Walk" and
|"ApT '"A' celebrities Of quarter of a
century ago.
They, however, have been succeeded
10y another generation Of ,ranks, some
T. whom J sometimes come III contact
aIlh III and around the Court rooms.
AMONG them is woman known as
III" l'uihess, who frequently visits
M' orrlahs Court. She imagincs thai
n s"' III" owner of the ground ON which
,Ae CRATER part Of the city is built, and
mas made nnmhericss demands upon the
iaim.
So'nt time ago she offered to coinpro-
hl''r The matter for the ,iii'ing sum of
"r l'l'ndred million dollars cash, but
l''F,'rN I'll the other side have not yet
n' n,"""i Nl"n selves of her liberal offer.
:, i"'I" ls another Old lady who owns all
Ihc IL public squares Gin her mind), and
"'IA t" jealous cy" upon them flies 10
, .""l Il" report every irregnlarity she
,"ay Iarr'M to notice. There are num-
ut" "i Ut hers of the same class, but it
=, ,1'' ,rui .ltnlIy be- said to the credit of
.l' dN'iSes and Court officials that they
:. at Always kindly treated, and i'll many
A'H'"Ic'S lumored in their whims, which
ilCln.
,Atlho'hcrapparently insepnralle insti-
nt ,L''N OF all large cities IL the slnms,
NNr'' J'' nansht but vice, misery, am.
Ue'"'';tfim abounds. Several years
~ a 'l'lErch and mission school, called
\ ,"I hcil"r! S,rr"t Mission, was eStab
", "i'"Fs night in the heart Of this quarter.
""l'h has been the means of doing IA
'i'I =; amount Of good, bat u Saturday
-" tiSii to some Of the streets and
'"}S IN 1h" neighborhond of Alaska
I' i''' II AL that is ne, dcd 10 convince
~" '"'. ''7s' Shcpical thai much yet re-
""'"' "t'G o be done, and that the work of
r"'!l'lIig these Uutcas,s of society is
";ayrc!y brgun.
I'm m''' mills and rum shops abound
ii''I r'J" ~ the evenings especially are
" ",, win Il Inotely crowd, and ranged
",'S 'Irhar can be seen men, women,
'%' ''', even children, both white and
,%H'u' Gnlping down the liquid poison
~ ~ .o ,o,'- aS heir money lasts, and then
= rr ,0'''' H cellar, garnet or stable, spend a
r." y', mar" IN drunken oblivion, secure
n rJ; 'hr!r traditional enemies tn"
hM,r h',H, Many of Those people make