The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-18
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THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION

II is now only some three weeks before
the International exhibition, designed 10
commemorate the centennial anniversary
of our national independence, opens at
Philadelphia, and yet there seems to be a
strange misrepresentation in the public mind
as to the nature and objects of the exhibit
ton. Many seem to think that its most
prominent feature will be n collection Of
'relics," and hence We see the announce
ment made, in good faith, that Horace
Greeley'e dinner bel-lhat IL, tho hnll
which called him to dinner-is somewhere
in this country, and will be exhibited at
the 'ceAtenuisl," rs we are somewh hat I'M
properly disposed to call ii. The proposi-
ton was, also, seriously made that, if the
general assembly was convened in special
session, joint resolution should be passed
authorizing and directing the exhibition, at
Philadelphia, of the cannon captured at
Bennington, August 16, l777 by General
Stark-but whether in the department Of
mining, manufactures, education and SCI
ence, art, machinery agriculture or horti-
culture was not suggested. So, too, we
can hardly take up country newspaper
without seeing it stated that the chair or
desk used by some colonial governor, the
wig of one of the signers OF the declaration
of independence, the sword, epaulets or
chapeau of some revolutionary general or
colonel were to be placed on exhibition
or the statement that one or more of these
articles were In the possession Of some well
known citizen or "citizcnees," who, unfor-
tunately, WAS too poverty stricken to per-
sonally send these "relics" to Philadelphia,
and, therefore, calling upon the public
spirited, wealthy aud generous citizens to
come forward promptly and literally and
furnish the necessary funds so that the
centennial" might not, after all, prove
failure by the absence of these invaluable
articles.
1t is easy enough to understand how this
idea should prevail, even without the fos-
tering care bestowed upon it by the local
press. Such has been the nature Of our
SNhtChbi6i, pi-tChtSuhiai anu Oluel COLl-
memorative celebrations of like KIND, that
we naturally associate the exhibition of
the ''relics" of our forefathers with them,
but there is still another view taken of the
International exhibition which could not
have gained currency without the aid of the
press. Thus, many honestly believe that
the Philadelphia exhibition is to be one vast
'show" of monstrosties, prodigles, etc.,
ETC., rivaling anything that Barnum, even
IN his palmiest days, ever undertook in that
line. The newspaper notices of these mon
strosties which were certaiHIy TO be placed
on exhibition, are of daily and weekly oc-
currerce all over the country. The latest
which has met our eye, appeared few
days ago, in newspaper understood to be
edited, in part at least, under the eye of
one Of the United States centennial COM
missioners, wherein WAS lengthy descrip-
tion of a wonderful four-year-eld prodigy,
in the shape of Missouri boy, who could
tell all about ancient and modern kings,
kingdoms and wars knew how old they
were, and when the monarchs of Great
Britain "psssed in their checks - could
rattle of the capitals of states and nations |;
could recite entire chapters of the bible /;
and even learned the alphabet in ninety
minutes. After detailing these wonders at
great length, with the further statement
that there is younger son OF the same ilk,
1t is stated, editorially, that the father says
he is too poor to send these prodgles to the
centennial, and the editor says that :" the
"good people Of Boonvlle-ihe part of
Missouri where they raise such infants
" ought to raise a purse sufficiently large
ito bring about such result'-that is, to
" send these prodigies to the centennial"
80 widespread is this delrsion that a
clerk. as we have somewhere seen stated,
Is kept busy by the executive committee in
declining "with thanks" such offers of ex-
traordinary contributions as these : A
Tenncsssean has prodigy Of a different
form from the Missourlan, and he writes