The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1876-03-22

science and art The bronze doors
bear, in relief, the coats of arms of
the different states, the national coat OF
arms occupying the centre of the main
frieze. Adjoining the hall are gardens,
adorned with fountains and statuary,
and two colossal bronze horses stand
on either side of the grand stairway by
which you mount to the main en-
trance. The interior of the building
is just now a forest of scafFolding,
through which the visitor, If so fortu-
nate as to gain admission, wanders at
the peril Of losing himself, or being
caught in a shower of rubbish from
above. The grand hall is twice the
size of the largest hall in the country,
being 2S9' feet long, and SO feet wide,
and affords $1,000 square feet of wall
space for paintings, and 20, 900 square
feet for floor space for statuary, and
other works of art. Yet with even
this vast amount of space, the COM
mission, in order to meet the urgent re-
quests Of exhibitors, has been forced
to erect a temporary brick addition,
and now still another is under way.
The entire cost of Memorial Hall
proper, amounting to over 81, 500, 900,
is paid by the State of Pennsylvania
and City of Philadelphia, to which it
will revert.
The place where the curious "most
do congregate" is about the enclosure
within which the Japanese building is
being erected. A tile roof ON stills
was nay first impression when I saw it,
but since then the space between the
stills has been filled in, and the build
ing begins to assume a more definite
form. 1t is chiefly of bamboo, and the
materials were brought from Japan in
such a condition as to leave but little
to be done except place them in posi-.
ton. No nails are used but every
thing is mo:ticed and fastened with
wooden pegs. The roofs of tile, over
tapping and presenting a corrugated
surface, and the whole structure is ex.
Occunigiy picturesque. But the most
picturesque thing of all is the appear.
ance of the workmen, with their odd
garments and peculiar methods Of
working. Some of them have dis,
carded a portion of their national dress,
and have adopted a combination which
is more to be admired from a utilita.
rian than an artistic point of view.
An old plug hat, with ear-laps at.
tached, may be comfortable and boots
may be warmer than sandals, but
when combined with tight leggins and
the understandable Japanese upper gar.
ments, they give the wearer the ap-
pearance of having stepped out of one
of those grotesque japanese fans or
screens which are now so fashionable,
and helped himself to the contents Of
an old clothes closet. They use planes,
but instead of pushing them from
themselves, use them like draw knives.
Their saws resemble meat axes, and
they hold the timber in position with
their feet while saving. In fact they
reverse a great many of our methods,
but work very neatly and expeditions
ly nevertheless.
The buildings throughout are far
ther advanced than were those al
Vienna when the exposition opened.
They are now in the transition state
which precedes the final arrangements
for the exhibition. Articles for exhi
bition have been arriving for some
time, and from now to the day Ofopen
ing the grounds will present the appear
ance of confusion incidental upon the
reception and arrangement Of the ex
hibits which are to fill these vast build
ings. Machinery Hall is a chaos o.
huge shafts, wheels, and all the di:jectt
n,ernbra. of the mighty engines thai
are to illustrate the extent OF man.
dominion over the lazy giant, whit
won't work until he is made to, anC
only works while trying to escap'
from his cunning master.
The bond of the Centennial BoarC
of Finance, as required by the receni
appropriation by the Congress ha!
been filed, and the appropriation vii
now be available. The act of Con
gress requires that the President o
the Board, Mr.. John Welsh and Mr.
Frederick Fraley, the Treasurer, Civ
a bond in the sum Of 100000 will
sufficient security, for the faithful dis
bursement of the appropriation. A
soon as the requirements of the &C
were made known, one hundred Of tn
leading business men of this city, rep