The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-01-17
Our PHILADELPHIA Letter.
Tho Quaker iaas.as, VI. Corruption.
The Quaker or the Piano,
which?
Prominent Philadelphians.

| o
| Philadeiphia's Greatest Editor. Future
Attorney General. Leonine Vau.
The most eel brated criminal Lawyer.
PennsYlvaaia's youngest Governor.
The City of Brotherlv Love retains
many of the characteristics that were
| influential in thus naming it. and on
every side the Quaker influence can
be seen, but more markedly in the
| older portions OF the city. The i'm.
press of the Quaker influence in the
modern and newly built up districts
is not visible, nor does one see now
| adays, as in years gone by, the prim-
| tive simplicity of manners and dress,
once SO prevalent and so pleasing in
the Quaker City. The younger gen.
Grafton have gradually merged into
gay Quakers. and but little difference
IS to be noticed between the Episco-
| palian belle and the descendants of
the Quaker stock in the matter of
| dress. Even the much detested
piano is TO be found in the house of
the children of Quaker parents. l
can recall an amusing incident that oc-
Cured to a Quaker friend who mar
ried lady who was not of that per
suasion; the lady was very fond OF
music and very desirous of having Il
piano, but knowing the prejudices of
her husbands family, who were strict
| Quakers. she felt delicacy about
asking her husband to crafty her
wishes. AT length, however. the
dreaded instrument was duly installed
in the parlor, my friend stipulating
that his wife should face the enemy; It
happened that my friends father and
mother lived outside the city, and
were in the habit of visiting their
son once a month, and at times of re
naming over night. They still con
tinued this custom, bnt it was a year
after the advent of the piano before
the exposure occurred. AS l was 8
frequent visitor at the house, l be.
came a witness of many amusing
efforts to keep the old folks out of The
parlor. This was comparatively ar
easy task. as a pleasant sitting room
up stairs was far more cheerful anC
comfortable. The old gentleman
called rather unexpectedly one day
however, and was shown into the
parlor by a new servant, who admit
ted him and then told her mistress tina
gentleman desired to see her immed
lately the lady entered the parlol
and was horrified to find who the gen
tleman was. As best she could. sht
welcomed him and invited him tt
walk into the sitting-room !; he dryi.
answered. MARY, thee has a yer.
fine table over there" pointing to th,
piano; cit must have cost thy husband
much money then seeing the i'm
ploring look on the lady's face kindl.
took her by the hand and said, "neveI
mind, my daughter, thee sees M
wrong in having Il music box in thy
house, and if thy conscience allow it
mine must be content"
While there are still to he fount
evidences of the pronounced Quaker
ian era, in the architecture of tht
city. there is more to be found in ths
management of the finances, or in tht
politics of the city. The Quaker.
manage the affairs intrusted to then
economically and honestly, conIit
| ion of things much to be desired il
our city government.
Among the notable men Of the pres
ent day in Philadelphia, there arr
five. who have, or ought to have
national regulations. They are Ale,
K. Mcclure, Furman Sheppard, Rich
Vaux, Gov. Robert Pattison anC
Lewis c.. Cassidy.
Alex K. Mcclure, the editor Of The
Phila. Times, is known to intelligen
people all over the country as tht
most brilliant mind that occupies az
editorial position in the United states
From having been country e6ito
with political aspirations that wer'
never gratifed, he reached The high
est position that professional ambit
ion could desire, that of editor of th,
most successful newspaper in th'
country; and that this success is du
to the ability and individuality o
Alex X. Mcclure is beyond question
Although republican at heart il
politics, the independence of the maj
was at all times SO great, that th,
Cameron dynasty forbad his elevation
. to positions, that should have beel
, rendered him as we'll on account o
} his marked ability, as for his lndepen
, dence. The Camerons feared th
| contact between genius and mediocri
r ty, and Mcclure never reached TIL
, senate. He has been free lance il
} politics for years past and has eve
been foremost in assailing the RIM
r influences, and in fighting and expos
> ing the fraud that has existed fo
! many years in this city.
Furman Sheppard. the purest a
9 well as the ablest district attorne
J that this city ever had, is almost sixt
, years of age land is of Scotch descent
1 A life long democrat, representing tn
. best elements of his party, he wa
4 three times elected district attorne
r of this republican city, by large ma
4 jorities. l doubt If the man eve
a raised his finger to secure either tn
!, nomination or election, nor was
i necessary that he should do so; tn