The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-08-25
OUR CEN rENNIAL LETTER.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. II, 1876.


PHILADELPHIA, Aug. II, 1876.
America and England have each a
submarine armor for divers and wreck
ers, and of the two the English one
appears to be much the finer. These
armOrs consist of metallic helmets,
having windows through which the
divers can see, and waterproof canvas
suits attached to them so as to enclose
the whole body. The air is fed down
to the divers by means OF double act
ing air-pumps through n long tube,
while the surplus and impure air es-
capes freely through valve into the
water, and rising TO the top in bubbles,
indicates where the diver is at work.
BY means of long cord, the diver can
signal those above to either pump fas-
ter, or draw him up, as he may desire.
The divers body being much lighter
than water, in order to stay down on
the bottom and work, he has heavy
weights of iron or lead hung down his
breast and back, and great heavy lead
soles to his shoes. 1t Is said that the
curiosity of the fish causes them to be
very troublesome to divers, as they are
always coming around to find out
what sort of a fish he is, and what he
is doing. When more than one shark
gets after the diver, he has only to
Draw his knife and wound one, when
the smell or taste of its blood immedi-
ately cause the others to leave the di-
yer TO devour their wounded cOmpan-
ion. When a single shark attacks the
diver, then the diver mast prove
himself the better one of the two or
.spass in his checks" and say no more
about it.
One of the most interesting places
on the grounds to visit, to those who
wish to learn something of how the
first white settlers of this country
lived, is the Old Log Cabin, just in the
rear of the Wuman's Pavilion. The
building is just what its name signifies,
primitive log cabin, such as is to-day
found all along the western frontiers
The building is used as a restaurant,
and Is under the sole management of a
Miss Emma Southwich, of Boston
This lady while visiting the Vienna
Exposition became much interested in
the representation of peasant lite, and
it struck her that she could make an
equally interesting exhibit of pioneer
life OF century ago, and at the same
time clear a few dollars for herself,
and she has done both. In the front
room Is a great wide fireplace in which
swoOd fire is kept burning, even on
those days when the sun is hot enough
20 Scorcn paper cOilar, COSelner with
the old dogirons, flreirons and bellows
Around the room hang strips of pump
kins, some squashes and few other
such characteristic things, This room
corresponds TO our sittingroom or
Parlor, of to-day, where the family
spend most OF their time, and back Of
it Is a bedroom and a kitchen. Tn,
articles OF furniture must be seen e
be appreciated. There is n clock 4O(
years old a chair which belonged Il
Gov. Hancock, more than 100 year,
old; another chair that belonged e
Gov. EndicOtt, 200 years old; cradle
which was brought oyer in the Nav.
flower, and In which was rocked th,
infant that was born on board of tn,
MayloweT during her memorable triI
across the ocean. In this; cradle mr.,
two dolls that are just the reverse o
each other, one being very old an,
common, and the other very new anC
elegant. Hanging up on the wall ar,
wooden trenchers, and an enormou
old fashioned bonnet, that looks az /
&c came over in the ark with Noah
In the bedroom is an old tent bedstead
In which is IA heather bed covered viii
spun linen sheets, at least 200 wear
old, aud a spread worked with figure