The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-06-22

veU On the mantle are. the tinder-
box, the Gran CLAMP and other ancient
articles, above which hung the old
flint-lock musket and powder-horn.
At the side of the fireplace is o, small
but neat spinning-wheel, which ac-
cording to Mrs. General Cunningham,
was brought to this country in the
Mdyflower. Years ago it was thrown
aside rs useless, but when the Cen
tennial movement begun. to extend
its influence over the country n Miss
Tower took hold of it, FURNISHED it up
and put it in condition to be operated
on by her much to the amusement of
the visitors. Alongside of the wheel
is a chest of drawers, soid to be 200
years old, on assertion its appearance
fully iustifes, the truth of. AT the
other side of the hearth hangs a sad
die, made l70years ago, and . sample
of the kind used entirely by the gem
tility of that day, Against the walls
hangs commission granted 80 LieU-
tenant-Colonel Nathan Barrett from
John Hancock first governor of Mussa-
chusetts in 1871. Also pendent is a
sword worn by Colonel Barrett in the
memorable Concord fight of April 10Th
1875, when he was only a captain. A
pewter platter, said to have been
| made a century ago, is suspended be-
sides canteen of the Revolution and
a wooden plate filed with marks of
time, but which originally formed a
portion Of Il fashionable young lady's
welding outfit. On an old fashioned
sideboard is arrayed the china-ware
in vogue during-the Revolution with
| its peculiar-figured plates and many
| colored cups and soucers. There is a
veri table whistle made from a pigs
tail over which is placar'ied the fol-
lowing lines:
"Thero's porverb as ancient as
ScotIand's thistle
That out of Il pigs tail you can't make
whistle IL -,
We believe we've accomVlish ID the
wonderful thing
And all who may wish can make the
tail sing.
And these are not all the unique cX-
| hibits in this Department, of which l
shall speak again hereafter for the
benefit of your lady readers,
Yesterday [ had II look at the
famous Wisconsin War Eagle. "Old
Abe" now on exhibition III Agricul-
tural Hall. This old vetran of whom
nearly everybody has heard was cap
turcd by a Chippewa indian in
Northern Wisconsin, in 1861. and was
carried by the 8ih Wisconsin rcgi'
ment three years, passing through %
battles. Ae afterwards became a
estate Bird" and has frequently been
on eXhibitation for charitable objects
earning over $25.ooo. While in the
building l learned that the jury on
agricultural machinery have decided
to abandon the old practice IF field
trials, bc,ieveing that no fair estimate
of the value of machines can be formed
from such trials. The quality OF
durabilityf for instance, which is one
of the most important in the compe-
tition Of rcapers, plows &C., cannot be
ascertained at all by single eXhib.
ition of their working. The jury will
therefore, merely examine tho
machines as they stand in Agricul
tural Hall, and will recommend sucl
makes a seem to combine the most
improvements.
| A conflict of authority, has ariser
between the Centennial Commission
ers and the Centennial Board of Fl
nance, the latter contending that rs
they are entrusted with the money
and their officers are under heavy
bonds for the proper expenditure o
it, they should have absolute contro
of the funds, They therefore declin,
to pay some useless salaries and othe
eXtravagarcies. The preponderanc,
oflcgal opinion and public sympath.
appears to be with the Board of Fl
nance, who have SO judiciously
guarded the purse-strings against tn
moonshine of pompous tigurehcads
Arrangements for the 4th of July de
monstrations are i'll progress though
there are indications that the parad,
won't be so large an affair as was con
templated a disposition was mani
tested OIL the part of the commission
to have the ceremonies take plac
within the Centennial Grounds. bu
good sense has prevailed to make it
free show on that day, and Indcpen
dence Square has been selected as tn
spot. Governor Hartranft will tax
command. Governor Tilden will ais
appear at the head of the New Yor
column. New York could turn out
; splendid display but no appropris
ton was made by the legislature fo
expenses Of regiments and only som
of the wealthier ones will be able t
, come without that aid.
The new bell for Independenc
Hall arrived from Troy day or tw
ago. 1t is a delicate little thin
Weighing only 1900 pounds an
measuring seven feet in height an
231 in circumference. Some of tn
material of which it is cast was melte
; from old cannons captured from th
> British at Saratoga in the revolution
orI- war The ball hears tba poo6a