USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Warwick's Keystone commonwealth; a review of the history of the great state of Pennsylvania, and a brief record of the growth of its chief city, Philadelphia > Part 25
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So wild did the spirit of speculation become that it was most demoraliz- ing in its influence among all classes. Prudent men seemed to lose their can- tion, many were reduced to beggary and in some instances, parents forgot their duty to their families in spending all their earnings in this desperate game of chance. It gave an opportunity, too, to the dishonest to set up what were called fake lotteries and false drawings. Lands that lay outside of the limits of civilization were advertised as being rich and alluvial for farming purposes and suitable for town sites, and in the mad chase for gold every chance was taken. Moral influences were, however, at work to restrain or counteract the growth of the gambling spirit, and at last laws were enacted that prevented public drawings, and gradually the excitement subsided.
In 1812, when the Capital of the State was removed from Lancaster to Harrisburg, and this town was permanently made the seat of government. a movement was put on foot by the authorities of Pennsylvania to dispose of the State House, and it was suggested that it be torn down and the ground, together with Independence Square, be divided into building lots. Fortu- nately, however, better counsels prevailed and the historic relic was purchased by the city from the State for seventy thousand dollars, and thus saved from demolition.
The scenes at this period in the everyday life of Philadelphia were, in some aspects, interesting and picturesque. A stranger passing through the streets would be impressed by the beauty of many of the residences, for the wealthy homes, in many instances, were still set in wide spaces of ground, surrounded by walls, the gardens adorned with flowers, while stately old trees shed their shade. He would see in the windows of the shops a goodly arrange- ment of articles of every description. He would find the markets teeming with life, with produce direct from the farms. Sitting at corners would be Indians offering their small wares for sale, for the Red Man still made his visits to the city. The squaws sat in front of the State House, plying their needles and making bead work, porters and wheelbarrow mien hurried here and there on their errands. Drivers of hackneys stood at the corners of streets soliciting trade. Stage coaches were constantly arriving, the jaded horses being pushed to reach their destination. Conestoga teamsters, their wagons filled with flour,
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whiskey, wheat, corn, pork and other country produce, passed along the high- ways. He would hear the cheerful cry of the sooty chimney sweep. The charcoal man blew his horn, announcing to the householders that he was com- ing, while the soap fat man pushed. his wheelbarrow, all the while crying out, "Soap fat and hickory ashes." If it was early in the morning or late in the afternoon, the baker would be seen hurrying along with his basket or hand cart of hot bread. The scissors grinder and the catfish woman, the hominy man and the oyster Jack mingled their voices in the throng, while the strawberry woman, balancing on her head a tray heaped with the luscious fruit, joined in the general chorus. In the crowd of pedestrians going hither and thither, would be seen beautiful young women dressed in the latest styles, in many in- stances followed by their black lackeys.
If the visitor remained over night and stopped, for instance, at the Man- sion House, one of the best hotels in the city at the time, he would find upon his return to supper the table "spread with the greatest profusion and bounty. Besides tea, coffee and such like ordinary accompaniments," they had "hot fish, sausages, beef steaks, broiled fowls, fried and stewed oysters, preserved fruits, etc." In the evening, if he visited the theatre, he would witness, no doubt, a standard English comedy, presented by a well trained company of skilled actors. Upon his return, however, to his hotel he might be compelled to room with another guest, perhaps, even to occupy the same bed with him, for the sleeping accommodations were not very extensive, even in the best and largest hotels. During the hours of night, he would hear the watch at the street corners calling out the time and the state of the weather, such as "Twelve o'clock and a cloudy morning," and in the language of a visitor to the city in 1824, he could say that "it is very agreeable to repose in bed and to hear the lanterned watchmen, as they perambulate the wards, which on a dark evening are lighted with a thousand lamps, sing out, 'Past eleven o'clock and a cloudy night,' 'Three o'clock and bright star light,' and thus to strike the slow passing note of time through all the weary watches of their walks," or after hearing the voices of the watchmen breaking the stillness of the night, he might be aroused by the loud ringing of the State House bell, sounding an alarm of fire, followed by men and boys running to the various hose or engine houses to bring out the apparatus which they hauled through the streets shouting and shrieking like a band of wild Apache Indians, while the clanging bells on the hose carriages only added to the dreadful din. Being satisfied that there was no immediate danger, in fact, being informed by his room mate that it was only a false alarm, he could retire to rest and sleep without fear of further an- noyance until the morning dawned, unless the fleas and mosquitoes began an attack. The beds were without canopy nets and the windows were not screened and if the weather were favorable, these pestiferous insects were all but intol- erable.
CHAPTER XIX.
ELECTION DAY. BUTCHERS' PARADES. BATHS. MUSIC. JOURNALISM. THE BAR. MEDICAL PROFESSION. ARTISTS. OFFICERS OF INSTITUTIONS. VISIT OF LAFAYETTE.
E LECTION day was a time of great excitement in the city. The elec- tions had been held on the first of October, but subsequently the sec -. ond Tuesday in that month was assigned. The electors of the wards of the city voted at the State House, each ward having a separate window before which was a wooden platform. Upon this elevation stood the window book men and the voters, when they deposited their ballots. The polls were opened between eight and ten o'clock in the morning, as the election officers might determine, and closed about ten o'clock at night. At this time there were about five thousand electors in the city, not inchiding the outlying districts, such as Southwark, Moyamensing, Passyunk, Northern Liberties, Kensington and Germantown, which had separate polling places, but the centre of attrac- tion was the State House. Here great crowds gathered early in the day and men stood in groups and argued the merits and demerits of the candidates, as well as the importance of the issues involved and sometimes the discussions grew so warm that they resulted in personal combats. John Lewis Krimmel's famous painting "Election Day at the State House" is an accurate depiction of the animated scene. All the while among the crowds circulated men and women selling cakes, apples, nuts, candies, hot muffins, fresh gingerbread, sandwiches and edibles of all kinds, and bawling out in chorus the excellence of their wares. Wagons covered with posters extolling the merits of the can- didates and containing fifers and drummers, passed in all directions through the streets of the city. At the polling windows men crowded and jostled each other in their anxiety to deposit their ballots and as the day wore on and the work- ing men were released from labor, the crowds greatly increased in numbers, but at night the excitement was at its height. Transparencies were lighted, as well as torches and lanterns. Canvassers importuned and buttonholed electors in behalf of their candidates. Carriages and vehicles of every description were brought into requisition to bring to the polls the tardy voters. At inter- vals throughout the day and evening the State House bell was rung to call citizens to their duty, and so great at times was the struggle to get voters to the polls that free fights occurred and clothing was torn into shreds, the scene having all the features of a modern football game. Rowdies, too, crowded about the poll- ing places to intimidate the modest voters or to block the way of those who were anxious to deposit their ballots. The taverns in the neighborhood of the State House were crowded with tipplers and party workers, and they waited long after the polls closed to hear the returns and often morning broke before they separated. In fact, during Presidential election they stood at the bars and drank for days and nights together, and laid wagers while waiting for the
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news that was to be brought in by the stage coaches from the surrounding and distant States. Sometimes it was weeks before the final returns were received. At the close of election day, just as soon as night fell, bonfires were lighted all over the city and the sky was reddened with the glare from the burning piles of rubbish. For weeks past the boys had been gathering boxes and barrels for the great event. Gangs, or crowds of young rowdies, went through the city look- ing for empty boxes, or in fact anything that would help to make a blaze. If a barrel filled with ashes stood on the curb, the contents were forthwith dumped into the highway, a rope fastened to the empty barrel, and with a cry of tri-
A VIRTUALLER'S PROCESSION, 1821. CHESTNUT STREET, TURNING INTO FOURTH STREET.
umph the young hoodlums bore it to a place of safety, often under the very eyes of the indignant housewife. If a watchman suddenly appeared, the boys abandoned their booty and fled in all directions like a flock of scared blackbirds.
Butchers' Parades were a feature of city life. There had for several years past been public displays of show meat. Steers, advertised as prize cattle, had been driven through the city, decorated with flowers and garlands and rib- bons of many colors. A transparency announced that these fine fat animals would be killed on the morrow, and thus were made known the time and place when and where citizens could find good meat. From these humble beginnings grew what were called the Butchers' or Vietuallers' Parades. The butchers formed a class by themselves, and were proud of their vocation. When not in the market, they dressed well and in a style that might be designated as some- what flashy. Their principal habitat was in the district of Spring Garden, and there the butcher boys fought their battles, boasted and strutted, swore great oaths and used a language all their own.
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The introduction of Schuylkill water into the houses had enabled the citi- zens to construct bath rooms but being without heating apparatus, they could indulge only in cold plunges. It was not until William Swain, proprietor of a medicine known as "Panacea," established "The Philadelphia Baths," that the citizens were given an opportunity to enjoy the luxury of bathing in warmi water.
A taste for music, notwithstanding the Quaker influence, had amazingly grown and many young ladies were proficient and accomplished in the playing of the harp, the piano forte and other instruments. In fact, Tyrone Power gives testimony that in no other American city had he met so many young ladies whose musical education ap- peared "so exceedingly good." The Musical Fund Society, organized in 1820, produced the symphonies of the old masters, and greatly cultivated the taste of the people for the finest class of music.
Journalism was gradually grow- ing to be a profession. In 1811, there were eight daily papers published in Philadelphia, four of which appeared in the morning and four in the after- noon, but the number of copies printed and published amounted altogether only to about eight thousand sheets daily, half the number in the morning and half in the evening. They con- tained the current news of the day, but had no editorial page, nor was the ubiquitous and inquisitive reporter em- ployed in the gathering of news, the camera fiend had not yet made his ap- pearance and there were no newsboys DR. BENJAMIN RUSH. on the streets crying "Extras." The columns were filled with articles from indi- vidual citizens either seeking information or setting forth their views upon public questions. There were semi-weekly, tri-weekly and weekly papers, but their cir- culation altogether did not exceed ten thousand. Among the newspapers publish- ed during this period were the Pennsylvania Gazette, the Saturday Evening Post, Bradford's Pennsylvania Journal, the True American, the United States Gazette, the Federal Gazette, the Pennsylvania Packet, Claypool's American Daily Adver- tiser, the Democratic Press and the National Gazette.
Philadelphia had been recognized for some time past as the centre of the medical profession in this country. Its physicians had a national reputation. Men like Dr. Benjamin Rush, Dr. Caspar Wistar. Philip Syng Physick. George- Mcclellan, founder of the Jefferson Medical College, Charles T. Meigs, Sam- uel Emlen, Jr., Joseph Hartshorn, Joseph Parrish, John Redman Coxe, Dr. Chapman and men of this class added greatly to the fame of the city.
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About fifty years before this period, medicine in America was still in its infancy. It had made but little, if any advance from the days of Hippocrates and Galen. The family doctor was a man of much importance. His peruke, ruffled shirt, tassled boots and gold headed cane designated his calling. He was present at all the births, christenings, marriages and deaths. When a boy was to choose his trade or vocation in life, the doctor always was called in to give advice. His knowledge of medicine, however, was very meagre and after solemnly diagnosing a case, he would prescribe either calomel or blood letting. The itch was a disease that baffled his best skill.
Surgery was also in its infancy, and its methods were most crude. The patient was held down on the operat- ing table by strong men while the doc- tor sawed off the limb as though it were the branch of a tree, the poor sufferer all the while writhing and shrieking in agony. But these condi- tions gradually changed and a body of men sprang up who devoted their lives to scientific investigation and to the study of diseases and the methods of treatment. Many of the most dis- tinguished physicians in the first quar- ter of the Nineteenth Century receiv- ed their education abroad, notably in the Edinburgh University, which at that time had a reputation the world over, and the old time practitioner was gradually relegated to the rear.
The Bar, too, was still maintaining its reputation, and William M. Mere- HORACE BINNEY. dith, John Sergeant, Horace Binney and Charles Chauncey as young men were winning that fame that gave lustre to the legal profession and characteristic distinction to the Philadelphia lawyers. David Paul Brown was a familiar and characteristic figure on the streets with his blue coat, buff vest and brass but- tons, which attire he wore even to the last days of his life, and though still at the beginning of his career he gave promise of becoming one of the most fin- ished orators and one of the best criminal lawyers in the country.
In painting, the names of Leslie, John Neagle, Sully, the Peales, William Rush, William Birch and his son Thomas, and John Lewis Krimmel were among the most distinguished artists in the country. We are indebted to the Birches and to Krimmel for pictures of many of the everyday scenes of Philadelphia in those times.
At the end of the first quarter of the Nineteenth Century the Provost of the University of Pennsylvania was Reverend Dr. Frederick Beasley, the Presi- dent of the Pennsylvania Hospital was Samuel Coates, and among the mana-
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gers of the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb were Bishop White, Horace Binney, Roberts Vaux, Clement C. Biddle, Correa da Serra, Jacob Gratz, Na- thaniel Chapman and William Meredith. The President of the Chamber of Commerce was Robert Ralston, of the American Philosophical Society was William Tilghman, of the Franklin Institute James Ronaldson, of the Mercan- tile Library Thomas P. Cope, of the Academy of Natural Sciences William Maclure. George Campbell, who had succeeded Zachariah Poulson, Jr., was the librarian of the Philadelphia Library. John Sergeant was the President of the Apprentices' Library, William Tilghman of the Athaenum, and Charles Mar- shall of the College of Pharmacy.
An event of national importance was the visit of Lafayette to this country in 1834. Marie Jean Paul Roch Yves Gilbert Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, was born at Auvergne in 1759. His parents died when he was at an early age, and left him a princely fortune. When sixteen he married a daughter of the Duke D'Ayen, grand-daughter of the Duke De Noailles, a member of one of the oldest and most aristocratic families in France. He enjoyed every advant- age that birth, riches, and high social position could confer, was received with favor at the Court and admitted to the exclusive set of the Queen.
When the American Revolution broke out his enthusiasm was so aroused by the struggle of the Colonies to obtain their independence that he offered his services to the American Minister, which were accepted. "At the first news of the quarrel," he wrote, "my heart was enrolled in it." Everything was done by his friends to dissuade him from his purpose, but without avail. The King forbade his departure, but this only strengthened his determination. Hle fitted out a ship at his own expense, and made hasty preparations for the journey. The British Minister protested and orders were given to seize his vessel, which was lying at Bordeaux, but before the authorities could act, it was taken by its offi- cers to a neighboring port in Spain, Lafayette was arrested under a lettre de cachet, but escaped from the guards, reached his vessel, and with eleven com- panions sailed for America. Two British cruisers started in pursuit, but for- tunately he outsailed them and after a voyage of two months arrived in Georgetown, South Carolina. Without delay he proceeded to Philadelphia where Congress was in session and was assigned to a command as Major-Gen- eral in the Continental Army, with the stipulation upon his part that he should serve as a volunteer but receive no pay. Ile fought at Monmouth, was wounded at Germantown, suffered at Valley Forge, and was present at the Siege of Yorktown. He secured the confidence of Washington and they formed an un- broken friendship, Lafayette having for the American General the greatest ad- miration. At this time he was comparatively a boy, having just reached his majority and it has been stated in some quarters that he was actuated by the ardor of youth and a desire to win fame, but no one can doubt his sincerity ; his conduct proves it. Those ragged, barefoted heroes whose footprints marked with blood the ground they trod, appealed to his sympathies and he supported their struggle from a sense of duty.
After the war was over he returned to France, and when the Revolution began in that country he espoused the cause of the people and was chosen Commander of the National Guard. Ile had longed to see France freed from
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the tyranny and despotism of the Bourbons and a Constitution established that would give relief to the people from oppression, but the violence and anarchy of the mob turned his hopes to despair and he was compelled to flee from his country to avoid arrest and certain death. He took refuge in Austria, but was thrown into a dungeon at Ulm where he languished for a period of five years. When the treaty of Campo Formio was signed, Napoleon stipulated for his release and he once more returned to France. To show his sincerity as a man and as a politician, he voted against the Life Consulate, and afterwards against the Imperial Title, although he was under obligations to Napoleon in the mat- ter of his release from imprisonment. Through all those stormy times, he never for a moment abandoned his principles, and in speaking of him, a dis- tinguislied English author and statesman wrote: Men of all parties join in tes- tifying their absolute belief in Lafayette's integrity, and men of more than or- dinary sagacity and reflection have added that "he alone passed unscathed through the revolutionary furnace, alone trod without a fall the slippery pathi of those changeful scenes."
The announcement of the news that he had decided to visit this country, aroused the greatest enthusiasm among all the people. Forty years had passed since the independence of the colonies had been recognized. Most of the heroes of that period had passed away, but the great efforts they had made had resulted in the establishment of a Republic that had amazingly grown in strength and prosperity, and Lafayette could lay the flattering unction to his soul that he himself had taken an active part in helping to secure the liberties of the Colonies, and when it was intimated by him that it would be his pleasure to visit America, Congress sent him an invitation and made arrangements to bring him across the water in a man-of-war. But the great Frenchman, waiv- ing aside this marked distinction, embarked on the American packet "Cad- mus," which vessel arrived in New York on August fifteenth, 1824. He was accompanied by his son, George Washington Lafayette, as secretary and valet.
The Councils of Philadelphia, on July twenty-ninth, "RESOLVED, That it greatly becomes the city where the Declaration was framed which gave free- dom to the new world to receive with affection and honor the brave man whose devotion to liberty and whose gallantry as a soldier so greatly contributed to the acquisition of that blessing.
"RESOLVED, That the presence of General Lafayette is ardently de- sired and that the Chief Magistrate of this City be requested to communicate to him the fervent wish of our citizens and to invite him to become their guest."
Every preparation was made to receive him with that honor to which he was entitled. When news of his arrival in New York was announced in this city on August seventeenth, Mayor Watson ordered the ringing of the bells of Christ Church. Those distinguished citizens who had known Lafayette during the War of the Revolution and who still lingered upon the scene, were given prominent positions upon the committees of reception. The old State House, which in a great measure had been neglected, was put into condition to receive him. Strange to say, it had remained for some years past dirty and uncared for.
On Monday morning, September twenty-seventh, Lafayette reached Pen- sylvania, having come by the way of Trenton from New York. The moment
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he put foot on the soil of our State, he was welcomed by the committee ap- pointed to receive him, and in a splendid barouche, drawn by six dark cream- colored horses, he was conveyed to the City of Philadelphia, the First City Troop having the honor of escorting him on the way. Ile stopped over night at Bristol, and the next day- entered our city. Here there was a great proces- sion that accompanied him to his hotel. The streets were crowded with en- thusiastic people, who grew hoarse in their cheers of welcome. In the language of Poulson's "Advertiser," "Lafayette beat in every grateful heart; Lafayette hung on every lip; Lafayette burst from every tongue; Lafayette glowed on every check; Lafayette glistened in every swimming eye; Lafayette swelled on every gale." Every available spot was occupied. Arches had been erected in all parts of the city, and in many instances were most elaborately adorned and resplendent with the colors of France and the United States. Portraits of Washington and Lafayette were to be seen on all sides, and the sloop-of-war "John Adams,", in the river, fired a salute at intervals during the day.
When the procession reached the neighborhood of Eleventh street near Chestnut, Mrs. Robert Morris, surrounded by a group of friends, sat at a window waiting to give him welcome. When opposite the house, Lafayette rose in his barouche, with all his dignity and grace and amidst the applause of the people, took off his hat and bowed profoundly to pay special and marked respect to that woman whose husband had done so much for the Republic in the days of its trial. The obeisance was so well timed that the people appreciated the sentiment that induced it and with a sympathy that was heartfelt, cheered to the echo. It was the same spirit of chivalry that he displayed when at Ver- sailles on the morning of October sixth, 1780, in the presence of an infuriated mob, he stooped and kissed the hand of Marie Antoinette.
In passing the United States Bank, the veterans of the Revolution stood upon the steps under the blood soiled and bullet rent standards of '76, and gave him a glorious welcome, and his tender recognition as he turned to greet them, with his eyes suffused with tears, was one of the heart touching inci- dents of the day.
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