The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-10-03

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 8Oth, !

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. Both, 1885.
Many people thought the warm wealth
er was Il thing of the past, but the few
days remaining of the first month of fall
has dissipated the idea Sunday last was
what might be called IA perfect day, and
all Philadelphia seemed to go out to the
Park. Although the leaves have not
turned into the endless variety of culors
which the season would denote, yet
there is signs ON every hand that the
disentegration has commenced. / no.
ticed an overhanging chestnut tree whose
burrs were opening and dropping the
nuts on the road bed below as ! walked
along the quiet WissahickOn. Although
this stream is only few miles from the
centre of the largest city in Union, yet
the solitude even at midday is as mark
ed as through you were wandering along
the White Clay Greek. Hemmed in us
it is by high hills, this valley of the
Wissihickon is a very warm place on a
sultry day, and | would advise picnic
parties to select cooler locality. On
Saturday last man by the name of Fort,
walked on the surface of the water for
quarter Of mile, and although he was
only partially successful he nevertheless
made an impression. He wore a pair of
canOe-shaped shoes, made of india rub
Der, which floated him above the water,
while with some contrivance he worked
with his hands and feet he was enabled
to work himself along at very slow
pace, He no doubt was paid by the
hotel propretors located on the VISA
hickon, in order to swell the visitors to
that locality. | saw him try the same
experiment between Ridgeway Park and
the wharf ut Chestnut street, but the
current was so strong that it carried him
half mile up the stream, and he had to
wait till the tide turned to bring him
down to the place he wanted to land.
We have had regular temperance
week here, and such treat the votaries
of this reform has seldom experienced
There has been lots of talk and much
enthusiasm, yet can't say that there is
any diminution in the number of drinks
taken, or the number of drunkards drag
ged to the station houses. The presence
of these enthusiasts sometimes acts con-
trarywise, and causes an utter abandon
ment on the part of the masses to those
traits of character which they fear are to
be curtailed. Henry Ward Beecher has
come to the conclusion total prohibition
is impracticable, and that the only FEAST
BILE way to stop the excess of our pres
ent day is by high license. This would
drive out the low brothel and keep the
sale in the hands of a higher class of re-
tailers. There is one thought connected
with the appearance of st. John here,
making temperance speeches. and that is
the great freedom of which governs the
body polite, for had Il man like st. John
who detected the leading party of his
cOuntrymen in the election of Il Presi-
dent made his appearance fifty years ago
in city like Philadelphia, he would
have been taken out of the hall and been
tarred and feathered. But the world
moves and men like st. John go and
come and the world moves along all the
same.
We have two exhibitions going on at
the present time of which the daily pa
pers keep the public pretty well posted.
There is little discomfort on the part of
some, that the novelties show should
come down in its price of admission, us
its daily attendance is not as large as the
would desire. The State Fair has good
" number of visitors, yet there is
subterfuge even with the admission fee,
as the advertisement states that it is
open at reduced rate. But when you
go there it is still fifty cents, and you are
told that twenty-five cents admission
applies only to the evening, when the
grounds are lighted by electricity.
/ was looking over the State Fair to-
day and found it crowded, Its entries
in live stock are finer than is usually
displayed, and the whole aggregation is
superior to last year. The race course is
not up to first class fair, turf unwatered
anu ~ uuoty tidt Nou n'''' ii''i ny "SS
the horses at times The cattle shed are
well laid out, but the numerous other
buildings are jumbled up in confusion
The same idea of money-making is prev
alent which governs other fairs, and if
it were not from the fact that we meet so
many of our old friends there once
year, these State fairs, which are about
the same in their make up annually,
they would no doubt grow to be bore
In fact we saw good many boars there,
especially in the swine department.
SPHINX.