Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-06-15
THE QUAKER CITY.
SIZED UP BY AN oBsERvANT sACRA-
MENTO GIRL.
What the Young Lady Thinks of the
"City of Brotherly Love"-BuildinSs,
Parks and Theaters.
sEw1cKLEY, Pa, May 81, 1889,

! have since spent several weeks each IN
Philadelphia and Pittsburg, and | propose
now to record some of my observations in
the Quaker city: To go from New York
to Philadelphia is, in the opinion of
Gothamites, but little short of madness,
for they consider the Quaker city almost
next to the Jumping off" place-where-
ever that much-talked of but imperfectly
located point may be. But not being
resident of New York, We can not plant
and take root within its precincts, so the
members Of our group HES themselves to
the nearest city of Importance, namely,
the extremely handsome place of which |
am writing, delightfully."- situated on the
Delaware river, while coursing through
the center Of the city is the pretty little
Schuylkill.
PHILADELPHIA
Is unliEx any other large city, inasmuch
as there Is a certain quaintness about It's
general appearance not observable any
where else. In the original city the
houses are. almost without exception, Of
dull-red brick, with heavy white outside
shutters, and white-marble door steps
regular old Quaker style-with such an
atmosphere OF cleanliness pervading the
scene that you feel as though it would be
scarcely the correct thing to step with
muddy shoes upon the spotless marble.
But you soon become accustomed to the
alabaster stoops, and never think whether
or not you are spelling the purity of their
appearance. Philadelphia is a city totally
dissimilar to New York. The. metropolis
of the Empire State is always making one
think Of touch and CO." The people are
continually on the mad rush. while, though
a busy, thriving place, the people of Phil
idelphia City are not SO headlong, appa-
rently. There is q characteristic quiet
ness pervading the air, and it is
SOOTHING AND REsTFUL
To watch the neatly-clad Quakers as they
peacefully wend their way along the mar
row thoroughtares, for the business streets
are not particularly attractive; they are
too cramped, and the elegant buildings are
at disadvantage, for they do not show as
well III 50 small a space
On the 10th Of this month the usual
peacefulness of the city was disturbed bv
the advent of a cyclone-or, perhaps more
properly speaking, dreadful wind-storni.
for cyclones are more merciless, and in
their fury sweep all before them. The
day in question l was driving on the
Wissahickon road-a beautiful drive along
the SchuylAill river. Suddenly the skv
was no longer blue-but overhead hung
the darkest looking purpliSh-red, angry
cloud, and before shelter could be found
the dust arose in sheets, and, without
exaggeratIng one atom, | am safe in saw
ing you could not have seen a foot ahead
Hats went sailing through the air with
out leave or license; leaves, twigs and
branches were piroutting pronliscuously
and In close proximity to our heads. We
could not defy the elements, and so were
compelled to bide our time and wait for
the furious wind-storm to subside. 1t
wasn't funny | assure you to see great
trees split through and fall before the
wind with a dull thud to mother earth
In the city there was wild confusion. Men
and
WOMEN WERE BLOWN ALONG
Like so many feathers, and wagons were
overturned and houses unroofed. Fortu-
nately no one vas hurt. On the Della
ware, boats were capsized While every
one was badly frightened, there was much
amusement occasioned by the upsetting
of a skiff in which several Cinnamon were
rowing. They were blown upon rock.
but were unharmed. Yet they could not
understand their safety, and we, Calitor-
mans, who have seen the Chinese yelling.
screaming and gesticulating at fire. can
imagine how much exercised these East
ern people were at the antics of the Ce
lestials, even when safe and sound. How
ever, peace and quiet came apace, and all
was well. Cylones and such things add
to the experience Of life, and though at
the time they are 10y no means chosen
sights, We do not regret the lesson we
have learned as we pass unharmed through
1t all. A short time before the storm |
had been on the roof of the Drexel
Building, one of the finest, as well as the
highest buildings in the city. | scarcely
realized until some time afterward how
fortunate | was to have reached terra
hrma before the wind-storm struck the
city. In making the rounds of
SIGHT SEEING
The establishment of the Postmaster
General is not to be overlooked. If Won
meet an acquaintance on the street it is
quite a natural thing to ask, "Going to
Wanamakers? p or, Have YOU been 70
?" etc. The building and its
are extensive Each depart-
ment is complete. You can write and
mail letter without going ont of the store
as there Is miniature postoffice on the
Hgpr- Thar.
and among them a restaurant in the base
ment. The upper floors are devoted to
house furnishing goods and ornaments.
For instance, one apartment contains only
glassware; the scene within it is of exceed
ing brilliancy and the effect dazzling The
tables are covered with mirrors and on
these mirrors rest beautiful pieces of cut
glass of every style and shape conceivable.
is a great place and think
anything can be found there one wishes.
unless, indeed, it may be piano. There
is not vestige of the "Cheap John" ele-
ment about it. Just at present the
ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS
Is an unusually attractive place to visit.
/ have never before seen 50 many large
pictures, nor such beautiful ones. Some
of them are very large, but none the less
artistic because heroic. The Russian
works of the artist Vassili Verestchagin
are the particular attractions now. Though
nearly all are painful subjects, being vir-
tually realistic pictures of war times-bat-
tie pieces and hospital sketches predom-
are fascinating to look upon,
yet narrowing, and oh so sad and pitifui
in thought suggestion,
One of the best things to be seen lust
now in Philadelphia, to my idea, is the
Cyclorama Of Jerusalem and the Cruel
fixion. You stand upon an elevation in
the center of the building-as in the case
of all the cycloramas view the slope
of the Mount of Olives and the Valley of
Jehoshaphat The weird, almost mnatu-
raj, light gives the picture mysterious
and at the same time invests it
with a grandeur that you feel. but cannot de-