Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-07-07
CENTENNIAL LETTER.

The American Not a CosmOpOIItan-A
Few Reflections ThereOn-The EX-
position as a Substitute for Foreign
TraVeI-A Haldee indian Dwelling
GrOtesque and Unique NEUROLOGICAL
PaInIings-A Revelation 10 Tired
HOusewiVes-StOekin Darned by
Machinery-A Practical Temperance
Argument-"OId Abe'' Illustrating
that Cleanliness is Next TO GOdli-
ness''-Etc., Etc.
PHILADELPHIA, June 25 1876.
The average American is not cosmopolitan
in his tastes and tendencies. He he's been
taught to believe that there is no country on
the face of the globe at all to be compared
with this, as respects art, literature, science,
manufactures and enlightenment. Especially
does he religiously believe in the universally
of American genius in the realms of inven-
tion and construction. What the universal
Yankee Nation don't know on these subjects
is not worth knowing-to his notion. We
have the most glorious country, TIE bravest
men, the most beautiful women, the longest
rivers, the largest fields of coal and the most
productive gold and silver mines in the world.
Talk to thorough-bre Yankee OF ssme Of
the remarkable mechanical exhibitions con-
tributed by foreign countries, and a smile of
incredulity creeps over his face and his lip be-
gins to curl at the idea that subjects of etfete
and played-out despotisms should presume
to mention their mechanical productions or
the same day with those of free-born Amer
lea, much less dare to compete with them.
Net all Americans are so self-reliant and con-
ceited. Travel in those self-same effete and
| played d-out kingdoms is very apt to take the
conceit out of the Yankee, and he is very
soon led to look with complacency, and, short
Fbarr faUfN
and mechanical triumphs, and after while
will be ready to admit that there arc other
countries than the United States. He Is fast
becoming a cosmopolite This Exposition is
| to a large extent serving the purpose of for
| eign travel in the education of our people. 1t
brings together Americans, Englishmen,
Germans, Russians, Turks, Italians, Japan
ese, Cinnamon, Christians, jews and
| Gentiles, men of all nationalities and
all creeds, and places them on
common scale of equality. The rights
Of all are respected and protected equally, and
the Americans will display less than their
usual aptitude if they do not learn to be a
| little less effusiye when foreign productions
are exhibited in competition with those of in
digenous deyelopement. II the Exposition
shall make certain this result 1t will be worth
all 1t has cost Self reliance Is good thing
but it would not be bad thing to get rid of
the National tendency to brag.
There has been erected on the east side of
the Government Building front elevation OF
one of the peculiar dwellings, used by the
Haldee Indians Of the northwest coast Of the
4 American continent, in Alaska and British
4 Columbia. The front is of cedar eighteen
1 fest high and fSrty feet wide, the distance
from the base to the caves being about
fourteen feet. Its peculiar interest
aiSses from the fact that it is com
pletely covered with grotesQue paintings
which represent the NEUROLOGICAL characters
OF the Indian religion. The tribes inhabit-
ing the islands on the North Pacific coast
have an endless number of traditions pd
superstitions, some OF which they invariatly
symbolic by paintings and carvings ~ tv'
erything they make, whether it be )isiuAs OF
a boatpr button. Sometimes the figures
are. q ohllly drawn, but they usually
kro fashioned. The mBt curious
paf MIS- exhibit is the totem post stand.
hfecty in front Of the door. is about
twenty two feet in height, with a. large hole
in the base, which terves as yestibule to
the door, and the post is caIYed from top to
bottom with the most hideous forms imagln
able. The first represents monster bear.
Above this Is a grotesque carving Of Itl-tads-
dale, the mother OF the Haiidahs, and on
top Of this are two separated dumpy reliefs
supposed to be limitations Of the faces and
forms OF the Vooder. To every house erected
by the Haidali or Sitkatrites, the totem posts
are regarded as indispensable, and II Is be
lieved that every ornament, and every line
had, at one time, Significance, which may
however, have been lost in the lapse of time
or only vaguely understood.
Among the novelties in the Machinery
Building is one which ought TO delight the
Tired housewife. After the children are pu
} to bed and the good man takes his seat by
the kitchen stove, the basket Of worn stock
ings 10 taken out and wsarily she stitches
and restless feet, and after an evenings hart