The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-08

WHERE THEY ATE THEIR MELONS IN 10.
Proud and happy that she made hit,
she has been ever since sweeping away
the old cigar stubs, and resodding the
bald place where the raw and hairy ex-
cursionist from a distance cut his water
melon and bedded down his team in
Paramount park in 1876.
| could not avoid a little pang or two
of pain when l rode through the beauti-
full parks of Chicago in November, and
was told that there the great hurdy-
gurdy would have its home for few
months in 1892, and that time alone
could undo the devastation. And who
is most benefited by a Worlds fair?
Surely not those who pay for it. But
why speak so sadly of what is for the
general good, though it may come Of
personal sacrifice?
Two hundred and thirty-six acres were
devoted to the Worlds fair in Philadel-
phia. Horticultural hall was the most
ornate building on the grounds. Many
believe that there will be nothing or
mater at Chicago than this same build
ing, which was built at cost of over a
quarter of q million Of dollars by the
city of Philadelphia.
| admire Boston. / love Chicago. I
do my trading in New York, and pay
my pew rent on Staten Island, but ! re-
spect Philadelphia, and although 1 have
never yet succeeded in running an ac-
count at Mr.. Wanamaker's, l often go
over and visit Frankln's grave.
Mr.. Charles Dickens, the great novel
list and Rudyard Kipling of his time,
says: The journey from New York TO
Philadelphia is made by railroad and
two ferries, and usually occupies between
FIVE and six hours. II was a fine even
ing when we were passengers referring
to himself in the plural number, like the
man who is addicted to the tapeworml
in the train, and watching the bright
sunset from a little window near the
door by which we sat Ny attention
was attracted to a remarkable appear
Ance issuing from the windows of the
gentlemen's car Immediately in front of
Us, which 1 supposed for some time was
occasioned by a number of industrious
persons inside ripping open feather beds
and giving the feathers to the wind. At
length it occurred to me that they were
only splitting, which was indeed the
case, though how any number of passen-
gers which it was possible for that car
10 contain could have maintained such
a playful and incessant shower of ex-
pectoration | am still at loss to I'M
derstand, Notwithstanding the expe-
rience in all sahvatory phenomena
which afterward acquired"
Mr.. Dickens was and is my favorite
author. but in his descriptions of Amer
can scenery he showed conclusively that
be allowed his bright red fancy to run
around loose when he should have
checked it, and left the check at the
Office. When | go over 10 Philadelphia
often think of this disagreesble expe-
rience of my fellow author, but do not
find it duplicated. OF course the Amer
lean does expectorate too much, but the
habit was acquired at time when that
was the only appropriate way of show
ing a manly disgust for the foreign foe.
We are getting over it now great deal.
Ii is almost as difficult TO get chewing
tobacco in New York and eastern cities
now as ii is in Paris or London. And il
is very announcement indeed to be caught
abroad without chewing tobacco if one
be accustomed to ii. \ friend of mine
who is greatly addicted to the use of to-
bacco in this form told me one dav. as
we stood at the apex of the Matterhorn,
looking of toward Sandy Hook. that he
had but one great sorrow and diSap-
pointment in the midst Of that hour Of
triumph. And what is that" | asked
as / scratched my chilblain against my
slpenstock and looked down into his
melancholy eye.
"Ah, he said, breaking of a row Of
icicles that hung from his chin Wi. .ers.
IL ran out of tobacco yesterday. au. the
dream of my boyhood's geography days
is vanished, for cannot do what / came
here TO do. / cannot stand upon the
bleak brow Of the mighty Matterhorn
and spit an amber hole in the snow"
Mr.. Dickens said that Philadelphia
was handsome city, but diStractingly
regular. After walking about it for an
hour or two" he goes on 10 state, Il felt
that would have given the world for a
crooked street" Possibly if he could
visit Philadelphia now, and dine at the