Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1876-05-26

Our great Centennlal EAHlol.loll
whose splendid opening you chronl'
cled last week, is now in the full tide
of successful operation. The weather
has been for the most part unprcpl-
tious but nevertheless thousands OF
visitors daily throng the buildings, or
saunter along the lovely walks and
green turf now SO beautiful in the
fresh verdure of spring. In this first
of occasional letters which l may write
during the season, l will not attempt
any description of the buildings
They have been sufficiently written
about in your columns. Much less
will l attempt, what indeed would be
impossible, to give any detailed &C
count of the vast, varied and magnifi-
cent collection of articles in every de-
partment illustrating the progress OF
science, art, industry and skill among
the nations of the world from the ear
lest ages. Your readers | trust will
all see for themselves before the exhl-
bition closes, for no one who has time
and means can be so Indifferent as to
lose the opportunity of seeing an ex-
hibition which brings tie acor(d before
us at one view. Just think Of it
Leaving your quiet country home in
an early morning train you are IN
four or five hours time set down at
the very gates Of the exhibition. But
what a marvellous change of scene in
those few hours. You were not pre-
pared for such a startling vislon.-
Nevertheless it is reality. You are
suddenly in the midst Of magnificent
city, city Of palaces, in verltable,
fairy land, with its avenues, its walks
and perfectly enchanting gardens,
fountains, flowers and groves. A
splendid city which seems to have
sprung into existence as if by magic
Nor is it an American city, such as
YOU have been familiar with. The
empires Of the world have united with
us to build this matchless city. 1t
has been made the representative art
and industrial capital Of England,
France, Spain, Germany, Russia, Aus
tria, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Swltzer-
land, Turkey, Egypt, China and ia,
pan. Circling around the western end
of the exhibition buildings you see the
mansions occupied by the official rep
resentatives OF these great countries,
erected by their own workmen, built
of their own native material, after
their own distinctive architecture,
each differing from the other, but each
edifce study in itself. 10 our eyes
some of these houses appear exceed
ingly curious, fanciful and even gro
tesque, but all are deliberately con-
structed and richly finished. The in
ternatonal character Of the exhibition
makes in fact its highest Interest,"
You did not come here merely to see
museums and machinery, but chiefly
to have a sight Of the various peoples
of the world and here you see them as
they are in their native lands. After
you have gone the round Of the build
ings, not only the foreign but our own
elegant State official structures, you
enter the main exhibition buildings
10 feast your eyes on the rare treas
ures Of art and mechanical skill which
these foreigners have contributed to
the exhibition as the result of centur-
les Of progress. Each country has its
imposing temple or gay pavilion IN
which its goods are presented to view
with most brilliant effect. The ex-
hibitors and their attendants, arrayed
in gorgeous national uniform or odd
est native costume, attract your atten-
ton at irst more than their show Of
goods. In unknown tongues, or bro
ken English, they glibly descant on
the merits of their wares, SO beautiful.
in finish and offered so marvellously
cheap, but as the price-tag informs
you only for gold. The unrlvalled
Swiss matchmaker shows you with q
smile of triumph tiny gold time
keeper of about the dimensions of oul
gold dollar. The magnificent display
in the department of France fully sus'
tains the claim of Paris to the leader
ship of fashion. England shows a
more solid exhibition of wealth and
power in her iron and cotton manu-
features. The sumptuous pavilion o
the Turk, fragrant with the aroma O
pure coffee, tempts you to enter ano
enjoy the added luxury OF the chibo
que. Egypt with her antiquities takes
us far back in the centuries, and fa1
off Syria, the land of the Bible, offers
in her unique Bazaar fancy assert
ment of trinkets and curious articles
wrought of woods from the sacred
precincts Of Lebanon and the Mount
Of Olives. In this hasty sketch l have
but glanced at the foreign aspect o
the exhibition. 1t will take hours ano
days to actually see all that Europ'
contributes. 1t may not be from gen
uine sympathy, it may be with thu