The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-03
GUESTS OF PHILADELPHIA.

/
the guests of that very interesting mu
nicipality. The party was under the
chaperonage of Mr.. Robert ]. Wynne,
member of the. Standing Committee o.
Correspondence and Travelled in specia
coach attached TO one of the early morn
ing trains of the Pennsylvania Railroad
| The city founded by William Penn wa:
reached at II 40, and the newspaper mer
were met at the end of their journey in
| place known in Philadelphia as the Broac
Street Station by Mayor Ashbrdge, Pri-
| vate Secretary Moore, and other Philadel-
phians of prominence, including delesa'
| ton of the gentlemen who have succeeded
the benevolent George Washington Chiids
in the task of molding Philadelphia pub
| lie opinion.
The purpose of the trip was to inspect
and report upon the hall provided for the
meeting of the Republican National Con-
vention on June 10. The Philadelphians
| are justly proud of the accommodations
they have provided for the convention
| The Westinghouse were conducted from
the convention hall, traversing en- route
the thoroughfares Of which Philadelphians
are especially proud.
The first object of interest pointed out to
/ the visitors was the proposed Philadelphia
City Hall, which has been burning is
| sue in the politics of the town since 1872
| and has already cost something like $685.
100000. The proposed city hall occupies
| two or three blocks, and is conveniently
located near large emporium. over each
| entrance of which is this device, in faded
black letters: John Wanamaker." Out
through narrow but neat street called
Walnut the guests we're conveyed, their
cicerones thoughtfully pointing out to them
the domiciles of divers and sundry Phila-
| delphians of eminence. the most Of whom
seemed to be named Drexel. All of the
| houses along this street showed the evil
dence of modest living and refined tastes.
Many of them had their doors and win
dcws boarded up with planks which were
nailed together and painted white. THE
family has gone away for the summer" 1t
was explained by the courteous guides in
all such cases. Most of the other houses
in this street had green blinds.
1t was learned that Walnut Street is in
the heart of the downtown district OF Phil
! adelphia. and that the people who 1--we in
Walnut Street are for the most part de-
scendants of the early settlers. a small
park, called Rittenhouse Square, debouches
off from Walnut Street, and around this
park live nearly all of the descendants
Of the early settlers who have not yet
been able to move into Walnut Street by
reason Of the fact that deaths among the
inhabitants of that thoroughfare are rare
and the transfer OF freehold rights in
realty there is still rarer.
I'm that house lives a Drexel," proudly
proclaimed Mayor, Ashbridge to his car
rage companions
"The Drexels must be numerous family
here" tentatively suggested one of the
visitors, who continued, "if ! mistake not
this is about the eighteenth Drexel house
you have pointed out to u.s.
"Ah,' exclaimed the mayor in surprise,
you don't seem to understand that some
of these houses to which / have called
attention are occupied by families whose
mothers were Drexel girls who married the
descendants of other early settlers" The
mayors explanation made the matter plain.
The convention hall is situated about
mile and a half from Broad Street station,
and is in huge and artistic looking struc-
ture which was erected some time ago
for the purposes of a national export ex-
position. Street railroads and steam rail-
roads connect the building with Walnut
Street and Broad Street station. Thousands
Of people can be conveyed there with re-
markable celebrity and characteristic Phila-
delphia comfort. So on this score the
throngs of people who flock to Philadelphia
during the week Of the convention will
have no complaint.
Nor is IT reasonable to believe that they
will have cause to complain of the COM
forts and general conveniences of the con-
vention hall. 1t has a seating capacity OF
fifteen thousand, and experts who have
been imported to Philadelphia for the pur-
pose declare that its acoustic properties
are all that could be desired. Mayor Ash
bridge stood upon the stage yesterday ard,
for the delectation and enlightenment of
the city's guests. talked to an awe-stricken
policeman at the far end of the hall in
an ordinary tone Of voice. The mayors
words were distinctly heard in all parts
of the hail, and so were those of the
policeman. 1t was explained that when
the hall is filed with people its acoustics
will be even superior to this remarkable
quality which was proved by the test of
the mayor and the policeman.
The seats are arranged in ncentric
tiers, and the space allotted to the dele
gates and alternates is directly in front
of the stage and SO situated that every
occupant can be plainly seen by the spec
tators from all parts of the hall. Spa
cious committee rooms have been pro-
vided back of the stage, and telegraph
wires are now being strung into the build
ing for the accommodation Of the scribes
who will be there to report the proceed
ings OF the convention for the ediication
Of the country.
Adjoining the auditorium under the same
roof is large room whose walls are dec
GRATED with mysterious charts and maps
In this room have been collected by the
frugal Philadelphians samples of the manu-
featured wares of all civilized countries
The collection constitutes what is called
a Commercial Museum. Merchants are in
vited to visit this curious exhibit and learn
what the benighted denizens of various
parts of the world, beyond the confines of
Philadelphia, wear and eat and employ in
wooing wealth or bare sustenance from
the earth. The institution is unique, and
is the pride of all Philadephians.
In point OF fact, when the thousands of
strangers enter the gates of the fine old
City of Brotherly Love in June, and after
viewing the assembled statesmen in ac-
tloN, sisit tnc Soihibeitihi -huseuil. my
will conclude that Philadelphians, though
cut off from the world, have some excel
lent ideas as to the proper means for eN-
tending the commerce and trade of the
country. The persons who are following
in the footsteps of William Penn are rap
idly learning why it is that Germany. Eng
land France, and other countries beyond
the seas are monopolizing the trade of
South America and the West Indies. The
samples collected at Philadelphia show
that the Europeans are making the kind Of
wares and machinery which the South
Americans want.