The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-05-04
Cotrspondence Netss and Courier
The New Worlds Faiv.
GLIMPSE OF pFA1RMoUET pARK-A
SCENE OF ENCnANTDIENT. E"' '..

GHILADELPHIA, April 16.-The
great show is near at hand. In a
little more than three weeks the
gates Of the Centennial Exhibition,
which were shut yesterday, in the
face of items of thousands of Philadel
phians, will be opened to the people
of all the world. That they will be
here remains no longer Q matter of
doubt. The Exposition ia a bigger
thing, after all, than most Of us ever
imagined it would be. The Hoosier,
who last fall after cursory exami~
nation of Memorial Hall, the only
building ct that time advanced to-
wards completion, and glance at
the foundations of the magnificent
structure which havsie nee arisen, re
marked in my hearing, why this
hene thing hasn't no show 'longsido
Of our State Fair" would be aston
shed to day if he would do just as |
did this beautiful spring morning,
take stroll through the tour hun-
dred and fifty acres OF enclosed
grounds, whereon this, the greatest
Of the worlds fairs lis to be held
think of a plantation rallied in, laid
out in grassy plots and glietening
lakeO, interscctcd with asphaltum
paved walks and level roadways, q
dorned everywhere with statues,
fountains, trees, snrubbery and rare
and blooming cxolics, aud containing
five magnificent palaces Of marble
a iron, and wood and glass, around
which cluster many scoro of other
structures, all notable for their arch
Electoral oddities or eXce!leDcies. TO
give Carolnians an idea Of the i'm
mensity in which everything is lost
or dwarfGd that is not on colossal
scale, lei me tell yon that your splen
did Capitol at Columbia could be
slowed away in one half Of Memorial
or Art Hall; that the latter could be
contained twenty times in machinery
Hall, and that the last named is only
two thirds as large as
THE MAIN EXHIBITION BUILDING.
Imagine one mighty structure
three quarters of II mile in length,
and series of edifice8 which, if
| placed in line, woul actually extend
Tor miles, and you will have q slight
conception Of the magnitude of the
coming show. Some Of the bu u,dings
all of them will impress The aver
age man as imposing and artistic
are models of architectural ability
horticultural Hall, which has Just
been completed, is the only specimen
of the Moresquo order on this Cont
nent, and with its rich parterres and
brilliant groups Of exotics will be one
Of the cbief attractions OF the exhibis
ton. Memorial Hall, however, of
which no doubt you have seen en-
cravings, is decidedly more imposing
on paper than it is in actual appear
ance. In The shadow OF it's mommoth
neighbor, the main building, it has a
decidedly insignificant look; tho nm,
A.
favorable impression whicI, at first
blush, the sight 81 er will naturally re.
celVc, being only removed by a
stroll through lis wide corridors and
elegant balls. Besides, this building
destined to be a permanent lands
mark OF the Exposition site, and a
monument OF American enterprise
and energy, is by no means sample
of American architecture. It's de-
sign is but a copy of Continental
plans, and its architect is foreigner
The cast zinc libels upon the national
screames, lie OF the bald head, which
disiigure each corner of the roof, no,
only are unworthy. of the building,
but are calculated to bring the Amer
lean eagle into bad rcpute. So much
for the general features Of the exhi-
bltion, with which you are probably