History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 22

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992

USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884 > Part 22

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Edward Clark, of Philadelphia, obtained a patent for lamps April 27, 1811, and A-a Taylor for candle- lomips Ort. 9, 1-19.

The tinder-box, steel, and flint continued for a long tune to be the only means of obtaining light. At List, in 1519, a new process was discovered. Sitoi- cont Journi, in 1519, describes this new wonder in Ge following manner

"We may say that while this method of obtaining er. was employed by lovers of curiosity, it was in a wo stall degree. There was too much trouble to

be taken in the production of the flame to cause the invention to be brought into common use."

This method was a match tipped with some chem- ical composition, which, on being thrust into a bottle containing another chemical, took fire.

lee creams were only made to order by the confec- tioners until the beginning of the century. Bosio, who opened his ice-cream house in 1800, had many imitators, and in a few years the use of frozen eream and eustards and water-ices became general.

The water-cooler was brought into use about 1810 by Branch Green ; and Daniel George, in 1811, was the first to engage in the ice business as a regular calling.

In the summer of 1816 the United States Gazette noted the fact, " This summer, for the first time, ves- sels loaded with iee went to sea to obtain fish, aud brought them in ice to the Philadelphia market."

The refrigerator was invented by Thomas Moore, of Montgomery County, Md., first in such form as to facilitate the carriage of produce to market in better condition than had been possible under the old methods. The additional possibilities of the invention were thns suggested in 1802 :

" This, however, is only one amongst many uses to which it may be applied ; every family may be foroished with a vessel in their cellars, n win h, by the daily use of a few pounds of ice, fresh meat, milk, butter, liqu is, or any kind of provisions, may be cooled and preserved as effec- tually as in common winter weather. It would be very useful to butchers, who often lose considerable quantities of meat in summer. Fishermen might rusily transport their fish a great distance withont spoiling in any weather. Even our tal les may be supplied with handsome vessels, not much exceeding the nanal size, for containing certain kinds of food and liquids, which will cool their contents effectually, without exposing any ice to view."

At that time the tomato, which is now to be seen on every table in the land, was unknown as an escu- lent to the Philadelphians generally. It was called the "love-apple," and cultivated as an ornamental plant. The merits of the luscious terrapin were not discovered for a long time. The first time that we find it spoken of is in an advertisement published in Poulson's Advertiser in 1814, by one John Bailly, who gave notice that he had arrived in the city with one hundred dozen of terrapin, and that he could be found at the Rising Sun Hotel, in Letitia Court. In Palmer's list of articles sold in the Phil- adelphia markets in 1818, he calls them "tara- pin's, or bay tortoises." The price was from one to two dollars per dozen. The negroes of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia had eaten them for a long while before this time; but their masters seemed to be of the opinion that they were only fit to be the food of slaves.

But we have passed the limits allotted to this chapter, and must stop. With the nineteenth century began an era of scientific progress which, in a few years, saw changes accomplished that could not have been dreamed of at any period of the momentous eighteenth century. We have thrown a curious re- troxpective glance on the social life of that past age,

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. The native Aturican, nfs Asustic. Housche !! seiin Got an employment that the which di-meine them fri in it The foreigner, 1 No American will i senting au imp . Ask ng, fur a . -netimes "'

ELECTION SCENE IN FRONT OF STATE-HOUSE IN PHILADELPHIA IN 1815.

TWuwenund from nainline hy T I Krimmet in Dannerlynnin Thetopinnl Society 1

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AMUSEMENTS OF THE PHILADELPHIANS.

and found much to wonder at ; what would have been the feelings of those dead actors in a great drama, had they had a vision of our railroads and telegraph, of the telephone and electric light ! We have made science our slave and conquered the latent forces of nature and made them contribute to our comfort ; yet we have much to emulate in the lives of our pre- decessors : their virtues made them happy and made their country great.

CHAPTER XXIX.

AMUSEMENTS OF THE PHILADELPHIANS.

" WHILE Quaker folks were Quakers still, some fifty years ago,

When coats were drab, and gowns were plain, and speech Was staid and slow,

Before Dame Fashion dared suggest a single friz or curl."

mark of its founders. Laws and institutions, manners and customs may change in time, but there is some- thing in the character of the people which survives all these changes, and reveals the influences, good or bad, which controlled the organization of the social body. The seal of the cavaliers in Virginia, of the Puritans in New England, of the Quakers in Penn- sylvania is just as easily traceable as that of the French in Louisiana and Canada, although the greater differ- ences of language and religion existed in those two colonies when they became the one English and the other American.

Against riding, swimming, fishing, and skating, there would be no prohibition ; they were natural rec- reations which could be freely indulged in by all. In course of time there were fishing clubs and swimming clnbs. As to skating, it became an art in which the Philadelphians acquired no little fame. Graydon, in his "Memoirs," says that "though the Philadel- phians have never reduced it [skating] to rules like the Londoners, nor connected it with their business like Dutchmen, I will yet hazard the opinion that they are the best and most elegant skaters in the world." And Graydon had seen "New England skaters, Old England skaters, and Holland skaters."

So sings R. A. Jackson, beginning the story of pretty Ruth and her unwelcome lover, Sylvanus Moore. Make "fifty" a hundred, and the introduction will serve the purpose of the history of amusements in Philadelphia. For we must begin with the "good old times," when the Quaker influence predominated In support of this judgment we will quote the fol- lowing anecdote of the painter West, as told by Mr. Dunlap, in his "History of Art:" "West was a skillful skater, and in America had formed an ac- in the provincial city, when every one's energies were directed mainly toward founding a home and ac- quiring "substance." In those times amusements were few and of the simplest kind. The founders of ' quaintance on the ice with Col. (afterward too well this prosperous community led an active, busy life, - known in the colonial war as General) Howe ; this friendship had dissolved with the thaw, and was for- gotten, till one day the painter, having tied on his skates at the Serpentine, was astonishing the timid practitioners of London by the rapidity of his motions and the graceful figure which he cut. Some one cried, ' West ! West!' It was Col. Howe. 'I am glad to see you,' said he; 'and not the less so that you come in good time to vindicate my praises of American skating.' He called to him Lord Spencer Hamilton and some of the Cavendishes, to whom he introduced West as one of the Philadelphia prodigies, and re- quested him to show them what was called 'the salute.' He performed his feat so much to their sat- isfaction that they went away spreading the praises of the American skater over London. Nor was the considerate Quaker insensible to the value of such commendations. He continued to frequent the Ser- pentine and to gratify large crowds by cutting the Philadelphia salute." The sequel was that many of the admirers of the skater became acquainted with the painter and sat to him for their portraits. withal a quiet one; they did not feel the want of ex- citing pleasures, which, moreover, were condemned by their religion, and religion governed every act of their life. The very word "amusement" was objec- tionable, as meaning something frivolous and worldly. They had but two resources against ennui, and they availed themselves of these. First, there was " going to meeting," which was not merely a duty but a positive mental enjoyment and a delightful rest for the body. Then, as man must have some kind of material en- joyment, the early Philadelphians sought naturally that which was suggested by the abundance of the land, the pleasures of the table, and big dinners be- came their principal recreation. To these two habits cultivated by our Quaker forefathers are due two char- acteristics of the people of Philadelphia, which have outlived the many changes brought about by time, --- the religions, moral tone of society, and a general in- clination to good living, and its natural sequence, hospitality. Every traveler who has written about Philadelphia has noticed these facts, and Philadelphia " dinners" and " tea-parties" have furnished the theme Graydon names Gen. Cadwalader and Charles Massey, the biscuit-baker, as the two reputed best skaters of his day. William McKoy, in his " Lang Syne Reminiscences," mentions as being " decidedly superior to the rest for dexterity, power, and grace" William Tharpe, Dr. Foulke, Governor Mitllin, C. W. Peale, George Heyl, and " Joe" Claypoole : also a of many pleasant remarks. If these strangers have found anything to criticise, it has been the lavish extravagance of their host or hostess,-a criticism which may be accepted as a compliment. The history of every community, of every country, shows that it bears for centuries, if not forever, the recognizable

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

black skater who "outstripped the wind." Franklin Peale became as famous a skater as his father. Capt. James Page, of the State Fencibles, was also much admired. Dr. Joseph Parrish was equally expert, but being a Friend he did not indulge in " faney touches." The list of these brilliant performers on the ice does not include any ladies' names. It is rea- sonable to believe that women at that time had not learned to skate, or at least that they thought it in- decorons to exhibit their native graces in public ; but the girls, doubtless, had many a surreptitious slide with their young brothers on some retired pond or creek. As for the boys, they did as all boys do,- they practiced on every frozen gutter, slided, fell, began again, went home with torn clothes, scratched noses, and unaccountable bumps on their heads, to the great distress of their mothers and suspicion of pater familias, until some fine day they appeared on the ice in all the glory of a new pair of skates, and proudly out-skated their elders. But if the fair Philadelphians did not venture upon the glassy sur- face of the Delaware, they congregated on its shores to witness the sport, and their approving bright glances had not a little to do with the efforts of the skaters to outdo each other in the grace and skill of their performances,

If skating remained an innocent amusement, riding led gradually and inevitably to horse-racing, at first a friendly trial of speed on an invitingly smooth road, then betting, the establishment of a race-course, and gambling unlimited. The Society of Friends did not approve of horse-races, but others did, and races were held at a very early period. Race Street got its name from being the street leading directly to the racing-ground. In 1726 the grand jury present " that since the city has become so very populous, the usual enstom of horse-racing at fairs in the Sassafras Street is very dangerous to life," ete. Capt. Graydon, in his " Memoirs," says racing was a great passion of his young days. Watson notices the first publie ad- vertisement of a race in 1761, " wherein is stated the terms of running the intended races" at the C'entre Race-Ground, to run three times around the course each heat." The grounds themselves at the same time were familiarly called " the Governor's woods."

The races at the L'entre Square wore discontinued Mr 1777.

Mr. Thomas Bradford, telling Mr. Watson of his recollections of the races, says " he was told that the marlies rices were serub- and pace races, on the ground now used as Race Street. But in his younger days they were ran in a ciredoor form of a ground from Arch or Race Store down to Spruce Street, and from Del'h Street of Delaware W Schuylkill River, making this two miles for a heat. About the same time they also ran straight races of one mile, from Centre Square to Sihuyikill, out High Street.'

It seems that, at that time, pacers were deemed the

most genteel horses. The Philadelphians, true to their English ancestry, had a decided fondness for horseflesh, and gentlemen having fine animals were wont to try their speed on the public streets. The race was often a spontaneous one, resulting from two riders getting into a discussion about the rela- tive merits of their horses, but there were occa- sions when some day was fixed upon in advance for a trial, and the friends of the riders would as- semble at a certain point to see the sport. Racing on the streets prevailed long after the Revolution, and when Philadelphia had become quite a large city. This dangerous custom became such a nuisance that on the 22d of March, 1817, the Legislature passed an act prohibiting horse-racing on any of the public streets of Philadelphia. The penalty was a fine of fifty dollars and forfeiture of the horse.

The citizens who were forbidden the unlawful pleas- ure of riding at break-neck speed through crowded streets could find ample compensation in taking drives or rides on one of the several fine roads lead- ing out of the city through a beautiful and picturesque country. Mease said, in 1810, " No city in the United States affords so many diversified rides in its imme- diate vicinity as Philadelphia." But then driving or riding leisurely is not accompanied by the excite- ment of racing.

A regular race-course, very extensively patronized to all appearance, was in use near Germantown at quite an early period. Bulow, who visited Phila- delphia in the latter part of the last century, speaks, in his account of his travels, of having witnessed a race, uear Germantown, where he saw horses run a four-mile heat in eight minutes, a feat which, he says, the horses of Germany could not perform.

Another race-course was situated upon the Hunt- ing Park estate, at the corner of Nicetown Lane and the old York road. It was known as Hart's race- course.

That racing was, however, far from generally popu- lar is shown by the fact that " fifteen hundred me- chanies and twelve hundred manufacturers" signed an address to the grand jury, in June, 1802, in which they declared that the race-course was injurious to them, and went on to say,-

"THis Enghsh dissipation of hurse-facing may be agreeable te a few idle landed gentlem n. why bestow mare care in training their horses than in e heating their Jul Iren, an lit may be amusi:, t. British mer- cartil . agents and a few landed characters in Philadelphia; but it is in the greatest degr e lejntions to the me.Iinical and manufacturing in- terest, an I wil tent to om rum if the nuisance is not removed by your

In September of the same year the " great mischiefs and vices" resulting from races held at a place be- tween Frankford and Bustleton were denounced in a communication to the Philadelphia Gazette. Again, in 1805, the evil consequences of races are exposed by a writer in the Daily Advertiser, who says, " The Ger- mantown races yesterday commenced, where I suppose

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AMUSEMENTS OF THE PHILADELPHIANS.

intoxication, riot, lewdness, and distress may be seen in all their various shapes."

Races continued to be held, however, for several years later, but this species of gambling could not meet with the approval of the Legislature, and on the 17th of February, 1820, a law was passed which de- clared that "all racing, running, pacing, or trotting of horses, mares, or geldings, for money, goods, or chattels, or other valuable things, shall be, and hereby are declared to be, common nuisances and offenses against this State." The animal used in the race was liable to be forfeited and seized by the overseers of the poor. All wagers and bets on horse-races, and notes and other securities given on account of the same, were declared void. The act further made it an offense to make up a purse or plate to be run for, to print advertisements, handbills, etc., mentioning the time and place at which races were to be held. Races for money were broken up for a time, but as racing to merely test the speed of the horses was not prohibited, a great deal of private betting was carried on, and the law was thus evaded, though apparently respected.

Before the Revolution such barbarous amusements as cock-fighting, bull-baiting, and bear-baiting were frequently indulged in, especially cock-fighting, in which men of the highest respectability found pleas- ure. Watson, in his " Annals," quotes from a letter of Dr. William Shippen to Dr. Gardiner, in 1735, announcing that he sent his friend " a young game- cock to be depended upon," and giving as a reason for not sending an old cock that " our young cockers have contrived to kill and steal all I had." , The venerable annalist also states that Timothy Mat- lack had once "a great passion" for cock-fighting, which caused the wags to transform the initials T. G., with which he sometimes signed his political articles, into Tim Gaff, by which nickname he was afterward designated. Bull-baiting and bear-baiting were patronized principally by a lower class of people ; they were usually gotten up by the butchers, who reared and kept dogs for the sport. Yet, it is on record that some very respectable citizens also kept bull-dogs and found much enjoyment in the excite- ment of these fights. These practices were gradually abandoned by the better class of men, but did not disappear entirely for some years after the Revolution.

Poulson's Advertiser of April, 1812, contained a complaint from a correspondent that on Easter Mon- day a certain neighborhood (not named) was a scene of riot and contusion on account of a cock-fight; also that a boxing-mateh was advertised at Bush Hill, which had been prevented by constables and aldermen. The writer took this occasion to lament the increasing wickedness of mankind.

As late as 1821 cock-fighting was carried on, but the cock-pit was shunned by all who laid a claim to social standing. Waln, in "The Hermit in Phila- delphia," published in that year, says,-

" Cocking, to which English ruffians are so generally addicted, is lun- ited to a very small number of Philadelphia fashionables. Several cock-pits, however, exist in the neighborhood of the city under tho superintendence of men who have nothing further to dread from the opinion of the world. Toward a certain quarter there is one of higher rank, to which some of our aspirants have the misfortune to belong. This barbarons predilection subsides with the rude passions of youth, and I do not know one veteran cocker to disgrace the character of our city."

At the time when the Council was so much exer- cised about tavern frays and disturbances that it had to increase the number of night-watchmen, there was, without doubt, a good deal of "gaming and curses loud and deep" in some of these haunts of vice, yet it is strangely true that while in England gambling was carried on to such an extent that the period of which we speak might be called the "age of gaming," this fashionable vice never prevailed to any alarming extent in Philadelphia. Card-playing, even for amusement, never became a general enstom, nor was it at a later period the principal attraction in fashionable society receptions, as it was in New York, as stated by the witty Rebecca Frank, in a letter al- ready quoted in our chapter on Manners and Cus- toms. The condemnation by the Friends of all sorts of gambling as frivolous and injurious, and leading to loss of substance and waste of time, and by the Puritans as a sinful practice, had their weight with public opinion, and Philadelphia society sought more intellectual recreation than that of handling slips ot painted pasteboard. Still, it was not thonght im- proper for sedate old gentlemen to sit down to a solemn rubber of whist, or perchance to a game of " all fours" or cribbage. But in every large or growing city there is always a class of people who care little for their reputation, and are not influenced by the opinion of good society. Among such there was mueh surreptitious gambling. The Legislature found it necessary to put a restraint upon this demoralizing practice by which the young and weak were Inred to destruction, and by an act of Assembly, passed in 1794, playing at cards, dice, billiards, bowls, shuffle- board, or any game of hazard or skill, for money or other valuable consideration, was liable to fine.

Among the games of hazard prohibited by this act was one designated by the mysterious name of the "E. O." The extreme simplicity of this game was one of its chief attractions. On a round table, cov- ered with canvas or oil-cloth, were painted lines radi- ating from a small circle in the centre. Upon each division formed by these lines the letters " E" and "O" were painted alternately. On one of these let- ters, in any division, at his choice, the players staked their money ; the keeper of the game now placed a teetotum in the small circle in the centre of the board, and gave it a whirl; the toy spun around, tracing an erratic circle over the lines, and finally died in one of the divisions, to the great joy of the player who had hit upon the lucky letter and the discomfiture of the others. That a certain skill in twirling the teetotum enabled the keeper to score regular profits is mani-

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IHISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

fest, yet the dupes were not wanting to bet on the E. O. This old game has reappeared at different periods under other names, and with various im- provements, the most artistic being the " menagerie," which was for a short time in vogue some thirty or forty years ago. Instead of letters, the table was ornamented with figures of animals, and the teetotum haul octagonal sides. The elephant was the most difficult to reach, and a lucky hit on this animal brought considerable gain. Many went to "see the elephant," who came back sorely disappointed and never boasted of what the sight had cost them.

Billiards was a game much in vogue, though fre- quently denounced as gambling. A writer in the Rep sitory, in 1802, said with fine sarcasm,-

"Fa the benefit f the friends te mental improvement, to the refine- m nt of human nature, and to the happiness of society, the theme of thi. - hall be, 'The vastuses of a bilhar .table.' The art of playing dex- ter usly on this table is one of the most elegant accomplishments of gentlemen f stift an ] spink in every quitter of the refi ied world.

" There is something in it preuharly a mapted t the happy political constitution of the State. It reduces all to a perfect level. The sot, mer chant, . Aler, aptain, Packsmiti, proce gallant pickpocket, and jeck y ate alf bale follows well met, ar-I metit is the only true enterio of em uence. Sie ra general and promis Ems ollection must certainly have a most happy influence over the gay and thoughtless youths of this Is. It was ever a virtue ra the young to revere and imitate the aged. Happy for the it is that here they my flow th . example even of th se whose zey hofors stimulate I them to a redemp tion of then time by the worstant apetition of mement mori."

Another writer defends the game as a perfectly in- nocent amusement, provided that no sum of money whatever be staked, and ends by comparing it to the childish play of marbles :

" Both games are played with balls; the only difference is that the one are made of common stone, and the other of ivory, and that the one is driven forwar by the hand, nud th other with a sti k. Now, I cannot see why anything siulul can be attributed to an elephant's tooth more than to ast me, or how the crime is greater by propelling a ball with a stick instead of the hand, or by playing on a table and in a room instead bf at the offer of a street and on the ground, I think th . grentest sin 1- t. lee attributed to the latter gair instead of the former."

For a short time pugilism, which had become fash- ionable in England, was taken in favor in Philadel- phia. In 1824, William Fuller, who styled himself "the celebrated pugilist from London," gave notice that he proposed to give " lessons in the above-named manly science, whereby gentlemen, after a few les- sons, will be enabled to chastise those who may offer violence, and protect themselves from the attacks of ruffians' In November of the same year, G. Kensett, "scientific boxer, from London," opened his school for teaching the art of self-defense. In February, 1×25, Kensett gave "a grand display of the useful art of self-defense," assisted by several amateurs.

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History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 22

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 992

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992