Daily Republican., 1885-07-07
Philadelphia Items.

Philadelphia Items.
Correspondence Of the kxPUBLIcAS.
PHILADELPHIA, July 9th, 1885,
The great national soldiers reunion In
Fairmount Park is over. To day 10 tho
last day, and to morrow the gallant
soldier boys will leave for their homes,
taking WITH them an everlasting ro-
mem brance Of their reception at the
hands Of the citizens OF this city of
Brotheriy Love, and lie world re-
nowned hospitality" The reunion
was not a success. neither q nsncially or
otherwise. The press failed to give its
united support to the enterprise, and
the people tarned upon it q very cold
shoulder. Even the Governor refused
his aid by not allowing any of our State
troops to participate in the daily exer.
cises on tho camp ground.
But now that the boys have gone and
the unsightly tents disappeared
from the Park, the people of Philadel-
phia have time for recollection, and
place the blame for tho failure, if they
can, where it probably belongs. Seve.
raj reasons may be advanced Why the
re. uniOL was not success. In view of
the opposition to 1t by the press, the
managers evidently made q mistake
In selecting Fairmount Park az the
camp ground. Had they gone ittle
further outside the city, where there is
plenty of room, Al d no valuable trees
or shrubbery in danger of being de-.
3 royed, every newspaper here would
have given its hearty assistance and
encouragement.
1t WAS generally supposed by the
public 1t large that the encampment
was to be free show that no admis
sion fec was to be charged, and that
every one who Witnesses the drills and
parades was to do so without money
and without price, bat this was not
the case. The price of adm ission was
twenty-five cents, with twenty five
cents more for a reserved seat. A
fatal error this, and the means of keep.
ing several thousand spectators away
IL is not customary to ask An admission
Tee TO these re unions, and wha. put it
into the heads OF the management to do
30 on th is occasion passes ali comprehen-
sion. So indignant were the Ohio
troops when they heard of it. that they
fatty refused to appear upon the ground
or to take any part In tho drills what
ever, unless the admission was free to
every body, saying that they were not
1t was agreed, therefore, to admit all
to the parade ground the next day free
of charge. and the consequence was there
we're 15, 900 delighted spectators present
to witness the great prize contests.
This was only for one day, however.
Thursday the ticket sellers were at the
gates bright and early, and twenty.fiv We
cents admission was charged to ali who
entered therein. The attendance fol
that day was, in round numbers, 2,0O(
people, while Buffalo Bill, who is exhib
iting bis Wild West" in the Gentle
mans Driving Park, adjoining the camr
ground, had an audience of 10000 O.
Philadelphia paying sightseers.
Besides the above men ntiOned reasonl
for the failure of whnt might have beer
one of the most successful and brillian
soldiers reunions ever held In this coun
try, 1t cannot be said that the RESPONSE
BILE men (whOever they are) connected
with the encampment, have not carriet
out the programme rs originally adver
tised. The L nit cd States Marine Band
10 Washington, ID. c., with 100 pieces
was announced as a special feature o.
each days exercises. The expectations
of tho spectators had been raised by thi
announcement, but they were cruell,
dashed by the announcement that tn,
Government band would not be pres
ent.
General Il. W. Slocum was to tax
charge of tho National EDcampmen'
and place 1t under strict military dis
cipline. He appeared on the cam
grounds Wednesday evening for tn
frs. time. When asked il he was read
i TO assume command of the camp, he re
piled no; that he came away from HON
and neglected to bring his uniform wit
him. He WAS then rendered the use o
one by Col. Hetrick, then in command
but declined it, saying, as he did &c
that pressing business engagements il
New York would prevent his dali
attendance on tie ground.
Last Friday evening word was receiy
ed at headquarters that owing to
J press of official business, Presiden
cleveland would be unable to attend o
the Fourth of July. A crowd OF abou
fifteen thousand people paid admissio
TO the drill ground on Saturday, full
one half of whom we're the fair sex. Th
promised grand parade and review O.
Ill the troops in the camp before visit
ing Generals of distinction did not tax
place, and only exhibition drills by tn
the crowd who sweltered in the sun.
Perhaps the ignorance of such al
enterprise and a lack OF knowledge o
its value and extent made :his com
munity look on the plan with ind iffor
ence, or at least askance. The full
understanding and familiarity wit
these encampments brought larg
!, number of organizations here from a.
parts of the country, especially fror
the South, whose meinbers wished t
show their regard for the North, an
for Philadelphia particularly. n Naturally
these visitors expected Philadelphia I
! be familiar with such reunions, an
: naturally enough they feel sore at th
, GOODNESS of their reception. In tn
! larger towps of the South and West,
has been the custom tor years past fo
the young men t. devote q good part O
. their time to military exercises. Th
outcome of this has beeen the establish
ment of annual competitive drills an
encampments of the militia.