Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-04-27
The Centennial.
From our Special Correspondent

A Few Reflections Concerning the
big Shovs" -Somefhing about
Ceaten,al Patriotism -PhiladeE-
phia PecuIaraties and other Geaer-
aIdfies A Little "True Ia0ard-
ness Relating to the Congressional
Appropriation-The "Hetahen Chi
nee" ut the Exhibition.
PHILADELPHIA, April 25 1876.
It has been said that the Americans
as people are lacking in that spirit OF
sentimental patriotism SO character
istic of many other nationalaties, that
the thrifty inhabitant of Uncle Sam .
domain in his hot pursuit Of the sal
mighty dollar" has no time to foster
and promote the sentiments that first
found expression in the lines.
Ny country, It's of thee.
| Sweet land of liberty
Some Vengeful satirists have sought to
drive home conviction upon this point
by comparison of national songs,
making sorry contrast of the lively
air of yankee Doodle" with the soul
stirring notes Of the "Marsellaise'
and the "Wacht am Rhine" And
the true American wonders why his
people are so slandered; for notwith-
standing the cosmopolitan character
Of our population it is SANDER
But we are now fairly into the Cen
tenral wear, and the spirit of '76 is a
good deal to the front. American pat
riotism may be little peculiar as to
its methods, but there isn't much
doubt as to the quality and quantity
of it. If the majestic old eagle don t
do some tall screaming between this
and the fifth day of July it will be a
wondor. l venture to say that no
other nation on earth has higher rev.
erence for ''the fathers' and their ut
terances, or more profound respect
for its organic law. Certainly no 9TH
cr nation ever celebrated its one hun
dredth birthday on more magnificent
scale, or induced SO many other gov
ernments to take an active part in the
festivities of the occasion, so to speak
Even John Bull-bless his good
natured old soul-buries in the sea of
oblivion all remembrance of that little
affair one hundred years ago, wherein
he was SO beautifully thrashed by his
obst1epcrous progeny. and joins in the
iolhfcation of the boys who scattered
his tea so promiscuously about Boston
harbor, Possibly the old fellow may
experience a few pangs Of regret when
he contemplates what a proud and
profitable part Of his kingdom was
then lost. but
A rebble in the streamet scant
Has turned the course of many river;
A dew drop en- the infant plant
Has Wraped the giant Gak forever,
and Mr. Bull, as he reflects upon
what might have been, can only wish
that he had sooner learned that it is
not always wise to rule with an iron
rod
Arrangements for the ''big show"
are going vigorously forward, and here
one sees all the hustle of preparation.
Philadelphia is completely absorbed in
it. Matters not pertaining to 1.-THE
Centennial attract but momentary at
tention from the denizens of this
"Quaker settlement" which has sprung
up around old Independence Hall and
its cracked bell. And these people
have proved their faith by their works,
for they have put their hands in their
pockets to the extent of more than a
million and half Of dollars, and ex-
ercised their winsome blandisements
upon Congress IN a way that brought
an equal sum, even in the face of
''hard times. and the general tenden-
cy to reCrenchment and economy.
[ am not Philadelphian and never
expect to be, but somehow there is a
quaint substantial air about the place
and people that makes me like it.
There is neatness. order, and method,
with no lack of energy and public
spirit. There is no ostentatious dis
play of wealth, though everybody
knows that Ii is here | think the ex~
citements and dissi pations of fashiona-
BILE life are comparatively unknown
here at least they do not exist as we
find them in Washington, New York,
and even Chicago. The Quaker ele-
ment keeps down that diseased fungus
that foists itself upon society and crops
out into the Belknaps and Tweeds.
Yet l will not carry the parallel so far
as to touch Philadelphia politics. [
fear 1t would mar the recital, as in this
respect the Quaker City is scarcely
better than its neighbors. The splen-
did system of building associations
SO much in vogue here is, however,
worthy Of mention. as its results are
witnessed in the comfortable situation
of mechanics and others of the mid
die classes, who are better housed in
Philadelphia than anywhere else in the
world. Nearly every one has a home
of his own.
As an exposition of the progress in