Middletown transcript., 1876-07-01
Written for the Middletown Transcript
The Centennial Exhibition.
PHILADELPHIA, June "a.
MATTERS AT PHILADELPHIA.

PHILADELPHIA, June "a.
MATTERS AT PHILADELPHIA.
The Centennial may be said to have
reached its meridian. In SO complete
an undertaking it is natural that few
details should still remain imperfect
such will probably be the case through
out its existence. but they are too slight
to mar the effect; which is now COM
plete. The materials are all there and
in their places, the machinery, literal
and fgurative. runs without hitch or
impediment, the summer sun has not
yet had time to scorch the green lawns.
nor the wear and tear of the visiting
thousands to deface the prospect. The
"corroding tooth" of dust and weather
has not as yet fairly commenced its at
tack upon the beauty of banners and
buildings, and the delicate treasures
within. Everything is fresh and de-
lightful and no,o is the time to go.
RUSSIAN WONDERS.
Nothing among the recent arrivals of
foreign goods has excited such wonder
and admiration as the handiwork OF
Russia. Politically we have heard much
Of this country, and have long known
it in general way as great and pro-
gressive, but I think Americans gcner-
ally have had a vague idea that Russia
had hardly yet got up into the line OF
modern civilization. at-least in arts and
manufactures. The present show, how
ever. will thoroughly disabuse of such
notions such of our people as examine
these specimens Of her work | cannot,
of course, more than allude to this de-
partment. but before leaving the SUBJ
ject must say a word about the Russian
gold and silver work, which is the most
striking of all their display. The rich
ness of this work is hardly less aston
ishing than its exquisite delicacy.-
Vases, eandelabra, services Of beaten
metal and other rare and quaint articles
of use and ornament make up collec-
ton worthy of Aladdin's palace. Per-
haps the finest work in it all is that
shown on some cake baskets which look
like fine woven osier suddenly turned
to gold Carelessly thrown over these
are fringed napkins of wrought silver
SO delicately perfect as to look precisely
like snowy linen The English and
American arti6cers in the precious
metals have heretofore supposed them
selves to lead the world, but think
the Russian exhibit of this year will
cause them to take more modest
position.
BLAZE OF JEWELS.
The Exposition is rich in jewellers
displays other than that just mentioned
and the showing of precious stones is
simply dazzling. Diamonds, pearls,
emeralds, rubies and all the rest o.
them blaze and glitter on their velvet
beds in regal profusion. In single
small case | noted one diamond neck.
lace marked $25, 900. another at SIT,
600, and two pairs of solitaire earrings
valued at 81 and $500 respec-
lively, besides many other jewels Of less
importance. When man gets the
blues from meditating on hard times il
will do him good to spend an hour in
this section Of the Main Bailding =
Then in the Mexican department there
is that pretty little chunk Of silver
weighing something over two tons, and
worth $4,000 This is almost always
surrounded by an admiring circle. the
individuals of which we'll illustrate the
uniform working Of average minds.
suppose no man, woman or child ha'
yet approached this big bonanza with
out giving it few taps to hear it rins
and then making some jocose remark
about carrying it off in your yes
pocket" an observation which never
fails to amuse the maker. Almost al
interesting sight as the foregoing il
the collection of fac SMILES of the grea
gold nuggets Of Australia. These arr
made Of plaster. covered with gold lea
and are such perfect limitations as tt
cause the beholders eyes to start unit
he learns their true character. The
originals of these half dozen tantilizerl
weighed anywhere from fifty to ont
hundred pounds and represented value
of-well, never mind what they wcr.
worth. We can't any of US, get hole
of it, and the whole subject is sheer ag
gravation to poor man like RAD1x