What Philadelphia is; a sketch of the industries and leading characteristics of the cityWith special reference to its historic past . and miles of red-roofed are thousands of acres of these slanting, dull-hued roofs all alike and resting on billions of redbricks set in white marble frames. In interminablerows, with mathematical precision, they stretch awayout of sight like an immense army, every company,every regiment, every brigade, every division, everycorps of which stands rigidly stiff ready for dress-parade inspection. At once the stranger pronouncesPhiladelphia a vast cit
What Philadelphia is; a sketch of the industries and leading characteristics of the cityWith special reference to its historic past . and miles of red-roofed are thousands of acres of these slanting, dull-hued roofs all alike and resting on billions of redbricks set in white marble frames. In interminablerows, with mathematical precision, they stretch awayout of sight like an immense army, every company,every regiment, every brigade, every division, everycorps of which stands rigidly stiff ready for dress-parade inspection. At once the stranger pronouncesPhiladelphia a vast city of plain architecture, devoidof show, apparently possessed of large wealth. What does a second glance reveal ? Rising fromthe vast plain of roofs half a thousand spires reartheir heads to look at the searching spectator. Awayto the north a magnificent Corinthian temple standsforth from a marble plaza. It is Girard College, achoice jewel in the citys casket. To the west arethe buildings of a great and historic University. Tothe south and east rise the palace homes of the stranger proclaims Philadelphia a city of. 5 o o uj I o a: X I-o X (-trO -<^^-.:v- 1^^ WHA T PHILADELPHIA IS. toleration, a city of free religion, dev^oted to educationand proud of trade. One of these buildings to the east has caught thestrangers eye and holds it. Instinctively he recognizesIndependence Hall, the most sacred building in theUnited States, the choicest national temple in theworld. He remembers that here the Declaration ofIndependence was signed ; here the tongue of theold Liberty Bell vibrated the birth of a new nation ;here the Constitution was adopted. He remembersall this, and the sweep of the music of two nationalcentennials held in Philadelphia reaches the ears of hismemory, and with eagerness he declares it to l:)e thecity of the Revolution—the revolution for humanityand progress—and the birthplace of eighteenth andnineteenth century liberty. Turning again for a closer
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublisherphila, bookyear1890
