The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-08-03
CENTENNIAL LETTER.

SOME MORE INTERESTING FOREIGN
EXHIBITs-A SWISS MECHANICAL
BIRD-"THE OLDEST PEOPLE IN
THE woRID''--A SCRAP OF BIBLI-
CAL HIsToRY-A GATHERING OF
PRIZE PUPs-wAR AMONG THE
PIANO MAKERS.
From our Regular Correspondentl
ThHddclphid, JttLy 29th 1876.
Among the foreign exhibitors, who come
in for so large share of the honors of the
fair, the greatest of miracle orker, are the
Swiss, whose expertness in labor of minute
detail is shown in the many cur ious things
of their department. AS you enter the
court, crowd of amused people is press.
ing upon one of the attendants, and the
notes o: N very tiny bird greet the ear.
The attendant has in his hand a gilt and
enamel jewel box. about three inches long
and half wide. The moment he opens the
| lid a gaudy little bird of half dozen
! colors springs from the inside on to perch,
and pipes a joyous, clear -throated song,
| tapping its wings, opening and shutting
! its beak, and swinging from side to side in
| the m)st natural manner conceivable. The
| bird itself is about an inch in length from
beak to TAIL and its song lasts two or three
minutes, when it springs into the box again,
and the lid closes upon it with sharp rap:
In the same cabinet are Liliputian watches,
which look small by the side of a gold dollar
watches supplied with the very latest i'm
provements and guaranteed as good time
keepers, every part of which has been
wrought and put together un Ter powerful
magnifying- glasses. Here is STEM winder
| G.. s,.l nf
inch in diameter; another scarcely larger,
set in ball-charm and another whose case
is crusted with diamonds and pearls. The
price OF the first one is 81 100 gold, ex-
elusive of duty.
From the Swiss department it is but one
step into that of Belgium Here the prin-
cipal feature is the large array of laces from
Brussels and Mechln. From the most
gauzy pattern to the deliberately designed
window curtains, the entire collection rep
resents the patient and dilligent to ling Of
many skillful hands. Facing the centre
aisle is large pulpit and conOpy, carved
in the most profuse and elaborate manner,
| with representations Of scriptural scenes
in high relief This and several sideboards
and bookcases and large mantel-piece
show TO what perfection wood. carving is
carried on in that county. There is also
q fine dis play of marble mantels and mar
BILE slabs, upon some of which landscapes
and figures are wrought with aquafortis;and
there are iron and steel slabs and warlike
arms, linen fabrics, and in fact nearly every
form of industry is represented.
Egypt, country tina: occupies many
pages of ancient history, salutes America
with: "The oldest people in the world
sends its morning greeting to the youngest
dc int
statuary precious works in wood and stone
and cloth-evidences of her antiquity in
history and her progress in civilization.
Among these exhibits are two chastely-
carved black-wainu cabinets, inlaid with
mother of-pearl, ebony, and ivory suits of
armor, and barbaric horse-equipments.
The central cases are illed with velvets
and cloth. closely embroidered with gold
and silver thread, which gistened as
though every spangle was a jewel And
these elaborate illumiYations are the work
of men-of clumsy fingered men in the city
Of Cairo. And this calls to mind a little
incident which goes to show that acquaint-
ance with the details of Biblical history is
not nearly so well dlffused as it should be,
At least there are parties who are not suffi-
eently acquainted with the narratives
there contained to recognize them in the
groups contained in the collection in the
Main Building east of the transept and
south of the nave. Amongst the groups is
one very elaborate one, with life-size
figures, representing the Wise Men of the
East bowing to the Saviour. A party of
visitors from the far-otf rural districts were
viewing this Discussion arose concern
ing the subject represented, which was
finally settled by an old woman who insis
ted that it was representation Of Moses
in the bulrushes. The old lady was sim
cere and the saeredness of the subject for
bade smile at her expense.
| am requsted TO state that the necessary
preparations are being actively pushed
forward for Centennial Dog Show, which
it is confidently anticipated, will excel any
similar exhibition yet held in the United
States Very gratifying responses have
been received from the owners of fancy
dogs in Great Britain and Ireland, and
should there he anything like fair repre-
sentation of the magnificent displays Of
dogs annually held at the Crystal Palace,
in London, it will make the Centennial
| Canine Exhibition worthy Of the occasion
, The greatest inducements are held out by
the committee to secure animals for eX
hibition. The prizes offered are of very
handsome character and silver cups from
l various sporting organizations in tn
Western States. Five judges -four Ameri
can and one foreign) will be appointed
and nothing left undone to make the ex
1 hibition great success. The entries will
1 close on August Is, and parties desirous o
, obtaining forms can obtain them from tn
office of the Agricultural Department
: Among the special prizes already offered
j the Philadelphia Sportsman Club offers
silver cup, value 500, for the best sette
dog over one year old; also, a silver cup
d value 800, for the best pinter dog over ON
e year old. The Detroit Gun club offers
;. 500 silver cup for the best one-year ol
. setter from Michigan. Several othe
{ prizes are announced by private partie
e and by the publishers o. various sportiD
S papers.
The grand trophy of mineral and agricu'
a tural products of the United States in tn
Government Building is now rapidly a
d suming an appearance of completeness, q
e new samples are daily arriving and bein
e placed in position. Three bales of ii
4 finest cotton from Maryland, Georgia an
Texas were recently received and added
J. the previous collection. The columns
% coal from the Monmouth vein, in this STAT
has been gradually extended until