The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-05-23
PHILADELPHIA LETTER.
PHILADELPHIA, May 20.

Eom our regular Correspondent.
l would advise all who expect TO visi
the Exposition not to stop at the hotel'
in the city of Philadelphia. The aver
age distance from the city hotels and the
boarding houses to the Park is about foul
miles, and the ride is anything but com
Portable and picturesqe. After having
tried it for week, have determined tt
move nearer the exhibition grounds.
have spent nearly two hours each day
travelling 10 and from the park, in
crowded, uncomfortable street cars, sell
dom able to find seat, and when so for.
tunate, holding it with violence to my
conscience, for there infallibly appears
some ancient quaker lady to whom thee
will feel in duty and gallantry bound to
| offer thy seat.
There seems to be scarcely any young
Quakeresses in Philadelphia, l went
into store to buy pair of socks, and a
pretty black eyed young girl behind the
counter said: "will thee have them plain
or striped socks,' but l told her plain,
for | was anxious to make u good i'm
preston.
1t costs twelve cents to ride on the
street cars to and from the Exposition.
one dollar in cab the time made Is
about the same, but life is too short for
either, ana would advise those who de-
sire to make the most Of the show to take
rooms as near the grounds rs possible.
The hotels erected neal the Exposition
buildings have accommodations quite
quite as good rs those in the city
indeed for they have been built with
special reference to summer comfort and
for this special occasion, and have spac-
ious, airy features that cannot be found
in the inns of the city built quarter OF
century ago. The prices are the same
MS at the city hotels, but those near the
grounds are really less expensive, when
the economy of time, car and carriage
hire is considered, for the visitor
to the wonderful microcosm IN
Fairmont Park may step fresh from his
bed and breakfast into the main building,
while those who have slept in the city
arrive an hour later faded by an uncom-
Portable ride and feeling more like going
to bed than undertaking the fatigulng
tramp of forty miles involved In
Journey around the verious exhibits
OF these hotels the "Grand Exposition"
and the Globe houses. the first on the
European and the latter on the AmerI-
can plan are perhaps the most desirablej
the others are the "Trans Continental,
"United States, etc.
Although it is now ten days since the
opening. IT is yet too earl y to sketch the
con dition of the exhibition, for much
vet remains to be done before the plans
and arrangements will be completed.
or the leading exhibitors in the main
building, France and Germany seem TO
De the most dlatory. The American and
English exhibits are very complete.
Their displays, both in selection and ar,
rangcment, are marvels OF taste and
beauty. The displays Of the various
Philadelphia manufacturers are volumin-
Gus and handsome.
Sweden has superb showing OF iro"
and furs, and the best specimens u tihgree
ornaments in metal are to be found III
this department. The Italian collection
is distinguished as a display of some fine
mossics and carvings. Germany has
been much behindhand in arranging her
exhibits. Her display of porcelain is
good and attracts much attention. Aus
tris has "A rare display of Bohemian glass,
amber meerschaum, and leather goods.
The japanese collection is large and
varied, and is distinguished especially
for its carvings, lacquered ware ana
vases. The Chinese exhibition Is large
and creditable, as are also those of Egypt,
Brazil, Holland Denmark and Canada.
In the Machinery Hall the cynosurc
of attraction is the Coriss Engine. To
see this titon with the strength OF q vol
cano. the grace o a serpent, and the DO
cility of donkey, furnishing the matter
tor printing the New York Herafd,
stamping Centennial envelops, weaving
carpets, ribbons, and spooling silk thread
and hundred other useful manufactur-
crs, and from the most pohderous to the
most delicate all here under one roof.
II is in itself a liberal education.
In the Agricultural Hall the display
consist ne of cresls, woods, fruits, and IN
fact of all the varied productions OF the
farm forest and stream is very interest
ing Ii there Is particular excellence
anywhere its IN the artistic display OF to-
bacco by some of Lynchburg and
Louisville firms, The weed is repre-
sented in every state, color, man'puia,,
tion and previous condition. L would
advise every man and woman too, who
has abandoned its use, not to look upon
this tobacco.
The United States government build
ing attracts fair proportion OF VISITORS,
but part of the display cannot but con-
slider extravagant and frivolous, rs Tor
instance. stuffed artillery men mounted
on wooden horses, and other stuffed hg'
uros representing the changes IN mill
tary costumes since the Revolution. Inc
school histories abound in pictures that
illustrate these changes quite as we'll
These and other displays would seem
To Indicate that the commissioners nave
been puzzled to find means for spending
all the money that has been a2propri-
ated. IN,
The larger number of the State build
mos are not vet completed. 1t is d'tfi'
cult To see why theS "eio WV
Thev illustrate nothing that ls dlstinc-
tive in the architecture Of the respective
states. because there is nothing distlnc-
tive to illustrate, and they are at best
bu, barren points Of diversion trom that
which is we'll worth seeing. The vis'-
tor. with the impression that he must
see everything, will loiter in these
houses, when he would just as well stay
a, his hotel for all the p:oht or pleasure
they afford. A.
The Art Hall contains BY far the
larges. and most interesting display that
has ever been seen in this hemisphere
or will perhaps be seen again for hun
dred wears. I would advise a visitor
having but one dav for the exhibition to
give It entire to this gallery. Kemem-
bering my own early delight in pictures,
even in the commsnest wood cuts, re-
rret every time l see the pictures in this
hall that every boy and girl IN the
country cannot have pro'ractei access to
them.
The womans' pavilion, designed 10 IL
| L. n-o3ro,iva ability attracts