Middletown transcript., 1876-08-05
Written for the Middletown
Centennial.

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The first thing that excites the won
der of Centennial visitors, especially
those from The country, is the immens-
ity of the buildings. the Main Building
covering alone nearly twenty acres. then
the grandeur Of Memorial Hall. or, as
the Philadelphians say, Art Gallery.
This faces the Main Building, which,
with the annex in form Of a latin cross
the latter being lighted with thirty-two
lanterns or skylights, is nearly seven
hundred #. long and four hundred wide.
In the Main Building the orange tree
State makes fine display. The ostrich
feat hers are superb, and would make a
Middletown milliner's mouth water; the
ostrich eggs are quite curiosity. The
display Of cereals is very 6ne-corn,
wheat, and grain they call maalies,
being very fine; -four and meal made
from these are also displayed. Minerals
are shown in great variety from the far
off country. Sweden exhibits embroid-
cries, machinery, canned meats and fish;
also some Of the most life-like statuary
ever saw "The Wounded Deer is
very natural indeed; the group around
the animal is dressed in the native cos.
tune of the country, which enhances
the interest. The "Dead Baby" calls
forth many a sigh from the lockers on,
while the wedding group" makes them
smile through their tears. This style
of statuary is new to US, and is start
lingly life-like; the skin is colored and
even the backs of the hands show fine
hair and the abuses Of toll on the skin.
The officers group in the Government
Building, from Sweden, looks more like
petriied men than statues, Lapland
and Norway have similar works of art.
Australia makes fine display Of wool.
and manufactured goods; also saddles
for ladies and gentlemen, the saddles for
ladies being particularly fine and pro-
vided with second pommel to keep the
left knee in position They we're ele-
gantly embroidered and Of the finest
leather, covered with buckskin. Some
splendid shawls and fine cassimeres are
shown. The attendant in, this depart
ment was unusually communicative and
chock full Of enthusiasm for his country
and its products, even if you could play
chequers on his pants, or imagine that
his vest was strip torn from the "bright
blue sky" Germany makes fine dis
play Of colored statuary. among which
is the '.Savior in the Sepulchre; also,
mater Dolorosa," which are beautiful
ly finished the altars and church fur
niture generally are magnificent. Egypt
is distinguished by an immense croco-
die; her display Of gold and silver en-
broideries is simply magnificent and with
the gold and silver flagree toilet. and
massive tea sets, her gorgeous chairs
and cushions, we can now imagine how
Cleopatra lived and dressed. Some
gold embroidered table COW
ers and dresses are shown. and to look
down on the simple suits around US
makes us glad that we did not live when
our limbs must either rest on silks stiffen-
ed with gold or the rags Of the poor. Most
all ladies think they would prefer the
Main Building, but after they once visit
Machinery, Agricultural, and Govern
ment buildings, they change their
minds. The honesty Of our numerous
sight-seers could not be better exempli-
fed than by the following incident :
Some Maryland folks, at present board
ing with me. took lunch with them
one day, and, getting tired Of carrying
it, the gentleman (Mr. NJ hung it up
in Machinery Hall near the entrance.
At dinner time he went back and it was
just as he left it. This goes to show
bis perfect faith and our honesty.
More anon RosALEINE.
A YEAR OF PLENTY The promise
now is that this is to be year Of boun-
tiful production Of nearly everything in
This country and in Europe, but when
we consider that unfavorable weather at
he moment Of harvest may cause great
damage we are disposed to be cautious
10 assertion. In California, however,
he crops Of barley and wheat are made