Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-05-25

SIGHTSINTHE GREAT SHOW.
A B1RD's-EYE VIEW OF THE WONDERS OF ALL
NATIONS.

! -
! NATIONS.
All the accounts agree that the Centennial
Exposition is grand success. The stupen-
dous main building, with its floor space Of
twenty-one and one.half acres, is, of course,
for the time, the leading attraction. A per.
son, to traverse both sides of the grand nave
and of each transept, in order thereby to see
all the exhibits, must accomplish distance of
about eleven miles. The exhibits embrace
the departments of mining and metallurgy,
manufactures, and education and science, these
being subdivided into as many branches as
there are different industries related to each
department. The exhibiting spaceis occupied
by thirty-fve different countries. 1t is filled
with showcases of every description of archi-
lecture. Many of these are Of great value,
and all of them are arranged with a regulari-
ty possessed by few, if any, cities The fol-
lowing are rapid sketches Of the various ma
tional displays:
THE UNITED STATES.
Area, 1s9,231.1 square feet, or nearly one
third of all the floor space in the building. 1t
has, in addition to this, 12,4lO square feet in
the mineral annex to the main building.
Among the last to begin the instalment and
arrangement of their goods, the exhibitors in
this section soon outstripped their punctual
but slowly operating foreign friends, and have
verified the prediction that, although tumb-
ling in at the eleventh hour, they would be
seasonably and becomingly dressed for their
attendance at Uncle Sans birthday party.
The contrast between the showcases here and
those of most of the other sections is about
the same as that between the plain and sub
stantial food which nerves the arm Of the
blacksmith or the farmer, and the delicacies
sought for by the epicure. There are quite a
number of cases, however, not excelled in
strength, quality Of material or elaborate ex,
ecution, by any except those Of Italy and
Egypt. It is difficult to say what class of ex-
hibits deserves special notice, as there is not
an important branch of industry in the coun-
try which is without full representation.
Books, drugs and chemicals, iron and tinware,
cotton and wooden goods, columns and statua-
ry of granite, clothing of all kinds, from hat
to boot, inclusive, ornamental goods for civil
and military societies, and gas and steam tit
tings, are, however, among the most promi-
nent Every American visitor will discover
two gratifying facts connected with his coun-
try's display, namely, its national character,
embracing the land from Maine to California,
and the skillful-it might be called poetical-
arrangement of goods and decoration of cases.
GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.
Area, 51,7763 square feet. This section is
one of the four occupying the posts OF honor IN
the building, the Others being the United
States, Germany and France These four are
located on the corners formed by the intersec.
ton of the nave and main transept the United
States however. having additional space 447 at at
the northeastern corner Of the building. Were
it not for the staid, chaste appearance of the
dark-stained, gilt-edged showcases, the visitor
would imagine that he was in China or IN
fabled Arabian palace. Majolica and china
ware, from the vase large enough to boil a
young elephant in, down to tiny toys charm
ingly colored, delicstely finished with appen:
dages of flowers and imaginary objects, and
having upon them paintings, such as scenes II in
the campaigns of the great Alfred or OF Well
ington, are exhibited in great quantities. In
fact, it is in ceramics that Great Britain will
make her mark here as she did at Vienna.
Rich and gorgeous carpets, costly sets Of sill
verware, pyramids of china plates, the paint
ings on some of which, ordinary dinner plates
at that-cost $50 each; beautiful GOLDEN
bossed copper urns, hearths and small pavil.
ions, constructed of fine earthen tiles covered
with paintings of England's great men and OF
geological specimens, granite sarcophagi and
seamless sheets of oicloth, each large enough
to cover two or three tair.sized rooms, are
among the principal attractions. So little
preparation remains unfinished as to be hardly
worth noticing.
FRANCE AND HER COLONIES.
Area 43,3145 square feet The exhibits
will not be fully arranged before the end of
two or three days. In accordance with the
rule followed throughout the building, the
French coat-of.arms is displayed on most OF
the showcases. Beautiful, life-size plaster
models of such scenes as that of the alteration
Of the infant Saviour by the shepherds in the
cave at Bethlehem, and plaster-work of all
kinds admirably executed, are pleasingl ly con-
spicuous The country leads with a display
Of silks, satins and women's dress OF these and
other rich materials that will magnetic the
most careless observer. There is some furni-
ture of the finest marble, and elegantly carved
wood of great value. One piece-a hearth of
variegated marble-is said to be worth up
ward of $4,000. Fine gloves and leather
and gentlemen s notions, form another special
ty. First-class wines of many brands are of
course displayed in greater quantities, and to
better advantage than elsewhere Trinkets
and fancy stationery, jewelry and fine groce-
ries come next in order of attraction.
GERMANY.
Area, 27,705.5 square feet. The display is
in condition quite as far advanced as any in
the building The showcases are as massive
as are the Germans in bayonet charge. Like
the sections of the United States, Great Bri-
tain, France, India and Japan, the German
area is not enclosed by pavilion or any other
structure. The effect of the display is, how
ever, heightened rather than diminished there
by, for it would not be we'll to shut in such
striking architectural specimens as are these
showcases. The arrangement of lot OF ele-
phants tusks, so as to resemble growth OF
crocuses, is fair instance of the ingenuity and
taste manifested throughout the section. The
little folks will be tempted to dance from COW
etousness when they wander among the minia-
ture palaces, groaning with their weight OF
tempting toys. Among these "Berlin jewel
rv" is plentiful and conspicuous. The tiers
laden with gaudily. labelled, long-necked bot
tles-not empty, either-will make the mouths
of older folk water. The leading display is
that of ornamental metallic work, statues,
statuettes and busts of gods, goddesses, heroes,
fairies and great men of the Teuton race.