The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-10-27
Our Centennial letter.


PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 81, 1876.
EDITOR NEws-No one will be
likely to receive much respect who
does not fall pliantIy into line, and
bestow extravagant Communications
upon every thing that pertains to the
great Centennial display. It is, in
deed, grand display of specimens of
art, manufactures and natural history
brought together from the four quar-
rers of the globe.
1t may, perhaps, be expected that
the judgment of some of the Judges,
or those to whom the award of premi-
ums was entrusted, might be
Influenced by infiunces which might
be brought to bear upon them. It has
been as much IS limited that some ex-
hibitors have managed to obtain in
formation with regard to intended
awards, while their competitors re-
main ignorant with regard to the in
tentions of the Judges. But this Incl
dent, even if true, need not bring dis
credit upon the exhibitors as a whole,
or upon those who have been faithful
to the trust placed in them.
No one will be likely to undertake
q description of the exhibition through
the medium OF letters; for the official
catalogue of many hundreds of pages,
must needs omit the mention of many
things that bear much merit, on their
beauty, utility and evidence of genius
in their production.
It is probably known that the de-.
partment of the Fine Arts, is expect
g ! to remain as a permanent institu-
ton, although the foreign articles will
be removed.
1t has been an incident creditable to
many visitors, that the collections
which represented both industry and
skill, or which served as aids to the
industrial class, were the places that
were most uniformly crowded. If
there was an exception to this, it rela-
ted to the Fine Art building which
was often uncomfortably crowded, bat
the disparity of space in these build
ipgs is considerable.
It was to be noticed that the articles
that were most massive and snowy
received the greatest attention. The
starting of the great -Corlias engine at
precisely nine o'clock each morning,
has commonly been witnessed by a
large copcourse OF people, while the
smaller engines upon exhibition that
are designed for use upon large farms,
and for more common pursoses, have
attracted but little notice. The curl
Gus, rather than the most useful, have
seemed TO attract an undue portion OF
attention.
One of the incidents of the pact
week was the unwilling of the statue
of Columbus. The inscriptions on the
pedestal will briefly inform US with re-
gard to tkls monument of italian good
will to the United States, which are as
follows: presented to the city of
Philadelphia by the italian citizens.
In commemoratiop Of the first centu.
~ Of American Independence, 1876.
Dedicated Oct. 18th, 1876, by Christie
pher Columbus monument association.
on the anniversary of the landing of
Christopher Columbus, Oct. 18th, 1892.
Another fine piece of statuary upon
the grounds is the ideal piece, repre-
seuting the American Soldier. The
statue, which is twenty feet high,
stands upon q very high pedestal, and
is placed near the main entrance be-
tween the Main building and Art Gal
lery.
By . rapid walk through the
grounds, the common methods of bn-
siness of most of the countries in q few
hours may be observed. Amoug the
oriental bazasrs are those Of Turkey,
Spain, Egypt and Morocco, and ameng
the attendants are persons from these
several countries In native costumes.
There is q bazaar containing olive
wood, and other articles from Jerusa-
lem, and another that Is furnished
with articles from Bethlehem.
have the Impression that the most
useful incident OF this exhibition will
be In the fact that an opportunity is
furnished for observation of the pro-
duction of many distant countries.
By this means each country will be
able to make Improvements upon their
present methods and appliances, and
thereby may the whole civilized world
be enabled to profit by the inventions
Of each other. Many things, as the
display of rich fabrics In the Main
building, will contribute to the inter-
ests Of the smaller number, while they
are chiefly worthy on account of the
exhibition Of skill which they fur
nish.
Bat few more weeks, or days, are
left for the observation of this colIec-
ton. It Is rumored, however, that
the time which was first indicated may
not be strictly adhered to. It has
been reported (6ut possibly without
authority that the exhibition may
be continued some two weeks longer,
in order to furnish sn opportunity
for schools, and certain classes OF per-
son to obtain 8 view, who have hitheR-