The Republican journal., 1876-05-18


| tress at her labor, and one appropriate TO the
place and occasion. W. H. s
PHILADELPHIA, MAY 18Th.
The visitor who approaches the principal en-.
trance to the Centennial grounds, is struck by
the resemblance in sights and sounds TO popll
lar gatherings everywhere. 1t is the genera
muster and cattle show Of down east on A large
scale, outside the gates. Noisy newsbovs
loud-lnouthed vendors OF eatables and drink
ables. iosting crowds. dust and heat constitute
the gauntlet to be run But once inside, the
view expands over sights that have not haC
their parallel before in the worlds history
An intelligent English lady, who was at the
great Worlds EXpositons of London, Paris
and Vienna, tells me that all three combined
would fall short of the American in extent anl
interest.
There is no use IN attempting Il catalogue
classification, or even mention of the content,
Of Machinery Hall or the Main Building The
dimensions of the largest paper are too con
tracted, and life is too short to attempt it, The
most that Il writer can do is to note tbs most
curious and attractive that meet his eve. In
this way Exporter, by taking time enough
and being industrious enough. might skim the
surface of the Great Exposition, provided his
skinner didn't break or the show close before
he got through. SO those W ho read these let.
ters may look for pencil dashes here and there
but not for system that Will be all-comprehcn,
slNe. We can survey mankind from China to
Peru but not too minutely.
Music is to form a prominent feature of the
Exhibition, ] find. As | came into the southern
entrance, through the cool air and fresh breeze
of a delightful morning, The sweet toned bell
chime in the tower of Machinery Hall was fill
ing the air with its melody, while within the
great exhibition building the grand tones OF
the massive organs flooded its arches with
swelling cadences. In the spacious aisles foun.
tains dripped and splashed, ard crowds Of hap
py visitors went into raptures over the scene
and surroundings. Gilmore's New York Band
has arrived, and is engaged to play in the main
building twice daily. And speaking of music
L had to-day Il surprise in that line. While
looking at the wonderful collections Of bronzes
in the Austrian department, bird began to
sing somewhere among them. There was no
cage in sight, and it was some time before the
little songster could be discovered lie was
perched on y bouquet under a glass dome
where he was flutterine his wings, opening his
bill, and turning his head from side to side
and singing like bob'link in the sun and air OF
| New England June. And yet, wreath and
bird Wprp ontiralv artificial and tba I,ttn,
| moved and sung by the force of machinery
propelled by spring.
Spain makes an imposing display of gilt and
gaud on the tail gateway that fronts her de-
partment, and occupies good deal Of space
Her display has many points of interest. Many
think it intended for effect in the present criti
cal state of her Cuban affairs, and the com
plants of this country at the protracted war in
that island. The high portal to the depart
ment has portraits Of Ferdinand and Isabella
Columbus, De Soto and Cortez-ts much az to
say to the throngs of Yankees, 1--WE discovered
conquered and possessed the western world
centuries before your nation was born" A
company of Spanish soldiers is generally to be
seen in and around the Spanish department.
| btion, next to that of the United States, is by
England. That country with her colonies oc
cupies nearly as much space as the United
States, and the show is most creditable to he,
and complimentary TO this country 1t com
prehends all branches of her magnificent indus
tries, all eXcellently arranged and easily aces
| sible. One illustrated London newspaper, the
q prip off
with press and engine, to show how it does it,
work. In all branches of pottery, terra Gotta
| lnajoica. porcelain, &C., the show is doubtless
the finest ever seen in the world, and astonishe.
all bcholders by its richness and artistic beauty
of adornment. There is single vase worth
| 10000, and the whole exhibit is worth more
| than half million dollars. The show of Can
ada is very rich in natural resources, while
| from far off India, and the hitherto almost I'M
known colonies of Australia there come contr
buttons surprisingly large and valuable i
will astonish some people to be told that the
finest photographs in the world are made il
New South Wales. But then the climate ha.
more to do with it than operative skill.
Persons who march through the main aisle
of the great exhibition building and imagine
| that they have seen the whole of it, are yer,
much mistaken. There are parallel aisles ano
cross sections that are full of interest and il
some portions of these matters exceptionally
fine may be discovered. / didn't know till il
was discovered there to-day, that base ball sup
plies are furnished by a separate trade-a large
case being displayed full of goods for the use o.
the devotees of the great national game which
is so fruitful of battered noses and broker
fingers. There, too, as if hidden from profane
eyes, were some Of the most elegant productions
of the dress makers art-robes so elegant, SC
dainty, and SO bedecked with friIls and laces
that l hesitated to even guess at their uses-bu1
they were evidently bridal in their suggestive.
ness. heard once of Il single gentleman who
went to a physician with a complaint of de-
spondency, loneliness, &c. The doctor ponder
ed the matter while, then wrote-"Take q
yards of silk, with woman in it." Perhaps
the contents of that case were intended to be a