Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-09-28

AN enterprising youth was discOv-
cred carrying a good-sized bundle
through the Centennial grounds the
| other day, and a heartless detective
having compelled him to expose the
contents, it was found to contain two
glass eggs, two papers of ground pep
per, two bottles of pulverized silver
ore from the Queensland section, sill
yer ore and gold ore from the Swedish
section, three boxes of matches from
the Norwegian department, two hand
fulS of cocoa from the Tasmania Sec
ton, and one oil-cake.
A FAT lady, on exhibition with a
number of learned hogs and sea-cows
opposite the Centennial grounds in
Philadelphia, found herself in dread
full predicament when fire broke out in
the row of buildings where she was.
In her alarm she attempted to walk
down the back-stairs, but they gave
way under her. She was obliged to
resort to stratagem. Her experience
as related to reporter was as follows :
1.-the hog was squealing awfully, and
both the sea-coWs were roaring like
mad bulls, but [ wasn't frightened a
bit. | got long smooth board that
was in the room and placed it on the
stairway. [ tucked up my dress, and
slid down gracefully. / smashed every
thing at the bottom, and got my foot
Wedged. Just as / got free a noble
fireman rushed into the building.
Rescue me, rescue mep / cried. He
came toward me, and | threw myself
into his arms. He fell with a shrek.
| My weight had broken both his legsp'
THE French gentlemen, OF some of
them, who came to Philadelphia to eX-
| anime the products of American la
Dor, says the Boston Advertiser, have
returned in an unamiable spirit. One
of them, NJ. Desmoulins by name, ap-
pears to have pronounced the Exhibit
ton ga grand fasco;'' and to have
been immensely shocked by the imita-
lions of French products brought out
by our artisans. These Americans,
the Commissioner protests, have ceased
g to buy the porcelains of France or
SaXony, because they manufacture a
sort for themselves. Indeed, they
want to supply their own market alto
gether." 1t is hardly correct to say
that foreign porcelains are superseded
yet; but M. Desmoulins is quite right
in saying that American artisans want
to make their work so good that buy
ers will have no desire to go to France
or SaXony for their wares. For this
purpose they are learning from all the
world, and with good success, if we
may trust this unwilling witness.
SINCE the cool weather began the
number of visitors to the Centennial
has largely increased, and the interest
in it Widens as the time grows less. 1t
was not supposed that this Exhibition,
which cost between $S,O0O,0O and
100000 would pay. AL the inter-
national exhibitions have been money
losing concerns, and that at Vienna
was ruinous failure. But, contrary
to expectation, and in spite of all pre-
dictions to the contrary, the Centen-
NAL is paying its expenses handsomely,
and now promises to yield something
Of a dividend. People are focking to
it in crowds, and the vast buildings
seem to be always Well-filled. This
fact is highly creditable both to the
management and to the American peo-
pie. The Exhibition has been we'll
conducted on the whole from the be-
ginning. All the criticisms on the
management have been trivial. The
only serious complaints have been in
the matter of awards, and even these
have been of too general a character to
merit much notice. 1t is the Ameri-
cans privilege to grumble, and he ex-
ercises his inalienable right in this re-
Spect without reason as often as with
reason, lest it should rust for want of
exercise. If the railways would still
further reduce their fares to actual
visitors, as they should and could do
with profit, the Centennial would be
crowded for the remaining two months
with delighted visitors, and prove a
really profitable investment for the
| country.-N. 7. Graphic.