New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-04
Especial Correspondence Of the Republican !
CENTENNIAL NOTES.
PHILADELPHIA, July 81,


PHILADELPHIA, July 81, 1876
The Marine Band closed it's engagement
Saturday. The members gave a semi
weekly concert, and their departure occa-
sions much regret. Their engagement cost
$1,000, and was entirely satisfactory to
the commissioners. Both citizens and
strangers have listened with much pleasure
to the sweet strains of those silver-t0ned
instruments. We find that the unjust
criticisms to which its members have been
so often subjected has had little or no un
favorable Influence on the public, and
thousands who have never heard the Ma
rine Band and have always desired to,
have at last been gratiied; and, unlike
most anticipated pleasures, the antlclpa'
tons have been more tn An realized. Who
could listen to the beautiful melodies, so
familiar to us, played in such perfect time
a nd with exquisite expression, and not be
enraptured' Many, after hearing Gill
more's magnificent band and Thomas
superb orchestra, expected the Marine
Band to suffer from the comparison. But
with ita varied repertoire, which includes
the works of our best composers, and its
well-drilled men. they were prepared to
excel.
We return thanks to the organizer of this
series of concerts, and hope they may be
continued as they have certainly proved
to be one of the most attractive features OF
the exhibition. Indeed they were so popu-
lar that visitors willingly left the exhibits
to patronize the concerto. The immense
organs in the galleries are frequently played
by amateurs and professionals, but they
afford little amusement for the listeners, as
the sounds are fairly lost in 80 much space.
The piano concerts are intended for the
benefit Of the exhibitors rather than the
visitors, as they are given to show the mer.
its of the instruments and give little salts
faction.
Some very ludicrous incidents happened
at the entrance gates. A few days ago an
enormously large lady paid her entrance
fee, and endeavoring to get through the
turnstile found it too narrow. After many
unsuccessful efforts to get in che found it
was impossible, and appealed to the gate
keeper for his aid, who procured her an en-
trance through the gates intended for the
entry of wagons. In the meantime, having
attracted an audience, which was intent
out upon seeing how che succeeded, she be-.
gan to realize what ridiculous figure she
had cut, and with q much offended air be-
rated the commissioners, the gate keeper
and the centennial, firmly declaring that
she would never come to another Centen-
NAL Exhibition unless constructed upon a
different scale. verify believe she began
to think she was part of the exhibition, a
centennial specimen of our growth and in
dependence.
Istrayed over to Agricultural Hall Satur-
dav, and was surprised at the number OF
visitors. 1t had, when l was last there, a
deserted look, having been neg lected great
| dea! from the inconvenience of its location,
but a narrow gauge railroad, which has
made it accessible, has been completed. The
| building itself has been greatly admired for
| it's beautiful architecture. Itis constructed
| on the principle of the Howe truss. The
waterfalls. cataracts and fountains IN the
| Interior add greatly to its beauty. A minia
| ture Niagara is remarkable for its beauty
splashing and dashing in its infantile efforts
with as much indifference as if it were
| formed only for its own amusement.
| These waterfalls are lasting sources o.
| amusement for the children, who get so in
fatuated with their capricious freaks as tt
| make it almost impossible for the mother
and nurses to get them away. great dea
Of attention is given to the practical illus
| tration of silk culture. California makes
| a specially. One case contains hundred o
thousands of cocoons. An attendant, who i
kept employed feeding the silk worms OF
mulberry leaves, obligingly explained tn
process from the formation OF the cocoon
to the winding Of the silk. Branches o
trees are filed with the cocoon. and befor
unwinding they are scalded; this destroy
the worm and facilitates the process of IN
winding. Your readers will probably re
member the excitement created by tn
Morus Multicaulus about thirty years ago
especially in certain portions OF Pennsyl
vana. Thousands of dollars we're invested
and lost; many plantations we're set out witt
mulberry trees, and buildings we're erecte'
for the accommodation of the silk worm
but the results were poor, and the enter
prise was after time abandoned. Tha
the work can be carried on in the Unite'
States ia practically demonstrated by tn
exhibits from Kansas and California, bu
the advantages of warm climate, the lo1
rate of labor and our extensive cOmmercia
relations prevent our making profitabl
thing out of it. America has, however
all the necessary facilities for carrying O.
this manufacture. / shall write at lengt
on the manufacture of silk from its initia
stages to the finished article. Dom Pedro
who has given great attention to this stapl
of industry, has the Brazilian exhibit i
Machinery Hall, this is in charge of
young lady who very fully explained tn
process. Many foreign nations display thei
! cocoons in the same cases with their elegar
textile goods. AMlCUo.
Personal.
j. II. Oglesby, Esq, president of the Lo'
isiana National Bank, sailed from Ne
York, Saturday, on the steamer Britannia
for Havre His family accompany him.
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Tho "Jams.'
! We have before called attention to th
, very great importance of removing the ra
that has been formed in the river abov
here by the late rise. If their removal