The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-06-03
CENTENNIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
PHILADELPHIA, Nav 29Th. 1876

iLApFLrnIA, May 29th. 1876.
DEAR WnlG:--ltis utter folly to attemp
description of the great "Americal
Show" Indeed ! think it beyond the
powers of any one person to see it. W.
must satisfy ourselves with parts of it, ant
M0sc parts we most desire to see shonC
occupy our time while at the Exhibition
TO this end | will suggest to persons max.
ing Il trip from Eikton or vicinity for 4
day, to approximate the following route
and from it make up their succeeding visit
In this wonderful Babel Of sights and
noises the visitor must choose the course
he or she is going TO pursue, or they will
very soon find themselves tired out and
very little ground gone over. If it be i
family or social party coming, | suggest
their bringing their lunch with them, in.
Guiding a drinking cup. In this way, the
entire visit may be made to the Exhibition
grounds and back for So. 80, leaving Elkton
at 10 4. NJ. and returning at p. NJ.
The morning train lands you almost at
the grand entrance, and if you have omitted
the required fifty cent note and your friend
who has two does not signify its of no
consequence | recommend you to the
Centennial Bank, just to right of entrance,
for the not very easily counterfeited) ticket
IA fifty cent note OF silver half dollar
Every visitor as he enters registers his
number by turning a style, each of the
different class of visitors having their re
spective entrances. \ dead head, for in
stance. does not go in at the same gate
with him who pays.
the ministers persist in saying, to the Main
Building: but to see this immense bazaar
Of wares would require many days, SO de-
vote yourself to China, Japan, Germany,
and Spain-they all lie Just together and
you can pass from exhibits of one country
to those of another, and examine specimens
of art that far surpass in beauty and grand
urc the early dreams of childhood after
reading the Arabian Knights | would
suggest short delay in the Japanese and
Chinese departments. These old fossil
countries quite startle you with their beau
tiful bronze vases and carvings. Their
design and finish far surpass- anything
ever exhibited in America. In the center
of the building is the grand music stand,
where Gilmore discourses his delightful
brass music in the mornings from 10 to 12
o'clock, and afternoon from to o'clock
If Arbucle should be playing solo French
horn stop and see it too. He's from Bos-
ton, but still he plays we'll
BY taking the left middle aisle you 60
directly over to Memorial Hall. The ar
rangement here is very poorly carried out,
the two large rooms being divided by tenn
porary partitions. | would specially suggest
you see the painting by the English artist,
FIRTH" The Railway Station it is su-
peril and is valued at the small sum of
sixty thousand dollars; and another by
Rothermal, a Philadelphia artist The
Battle of Gettysburg" In the " Annex p"
building spend little time in looking at
the Italian statuary. The esprit of Lib
erty,' THE Forced Prayer and THE
First Silk Gown are far, far beyond de
scripton. Look up Queen Nictoria's pic
tures-her portrait and the Prince of Wales;
and be careful you are not lost in this laby-
rinth Of rooms; and after making the cir
cult pass ont the north entrance and down
into the shady ravine, where you will find
comfortable settees; indeed very inviting
place to rest and lunch, with spring water
convenient.
AS you pass out of the ravine with its
brook of ripping waters at your feet, lIorti
cultural Hall bursts in full view upon you
1t is beautiful building, and is adapted
i'll every way for the production and preser-
walton Of plants. The fountain is not com
pleted, and many plants are not brought
IN yet for that reaSon-the air not being
sufficiently moist for their sustenance. Iu
the gallery is the automatic organ, played
by electricity. The music is beautiful. but
mechanically precise. The reading is based
upon the idea - that if the music notes be
printed on paper in metallic or conducting
marks, (such as printers style illuminated
work the electricity will distinguish the
conducting characters thus formed from
the non conducting surface of the paper,
and will thus be made to feel or read the
notes" Next in the route is the "Rhodo-
dendron.. - Ths is an English floral dis
play, and will last only week or two
longer. 1t is perfect Eden of rich colors
and beautiful forms, and yet, it is made up
of our home laurel, transplauted to Eng land
Il hundred years ago. 1t is now brought
back to us dwarted in size, but gorgeous in
its blossom.
If you have not lunched, you have "Sou-
ber's German Restaurant > Just in front,
where they do not overcharee; or if you
prefer the French, the 4iar Trolls Freres
ProrinraHr will come directly in line Of
march later.
Next comes Agricultural Hall, with its
immense vaulted corridors running at many
l
way to turn and see. In the center of the
building is on exhibition "Old Abe the
live war eagle of Wisconsin that served
three years campaign in the great rebellion.
He is a real soldier bird, one of the most
beautiful of his species. The Hall is filled
with many interesting cereals and woods
differing from our own products, but space
precludes me from making this descrip-
I t,Arf " 1ufa I
can assist the single day visitor now. | am
content.
Passing on to the Womau'S Pavilion, a
Stoppage Of few minutes at "Ge oden
time = kitchen may not prove embarrassing.
Here we have New England as she was in
the early days of our country's history.
on can get meal approxlmating those
served III the days OF yore. See the cradle
in which was rocked Peregrne White, the
first Ang To- American child. The Woman's
Pavilion is exclusively under female super
vision, and a circuit among the silk weaverS
is extremely interesting.
Nearly opposite is the Government Build
ing, which is brim full of instructive OBJ
jectS, and processes of manufacturing
ordnance material. Another interesting
process and quite feature of the Ex-
hibition is the manufacture and stamping
of the "Centeunial Envelope"
Passing out the west ball. you have a
very beautiful view of the different State
buildings, including also Il number of Ma
tional ones. The Japanese house Is not
open to visitors: but the Turkish head
quarters are, and they seemingly take much
pleasure in showing ladies through. The
Spaniards 60 into ecstasies over the Amer-
can ladies.
In Machinery Hall is the great Corliss
engine of twenty thousand horse power.
1t has twenty boilers, and is perfect mas
terpiece in its graceful and easy movements.
This one engine runs the entire shaftlng of
the innumerable numbers of machines in
full working order, and turning out each
day great quantities of goods.
The Exhibition is d great boa constructor,
swallowing things up whole. Within the
grounds there are $50, 900, 600 worth of
wonders, including buildings. 1t costs but
fifty cents to enter: that is three cents for
a building,
1t is very much questioned if the Exhi
biton will prove a financial success. Elk
positions never have, and unless this one
be run IA la Barnum, and the Commissioners
and Board of Finance prove themselves
equal to the emergency, it must be but
rp ma a I. Il "a nerience of distant lands. never