The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-08
THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.
Are We Ready for the Opening
on Wednesday?
THE PRESENT CONDITION.

PHILADELPHIA, May :, 1876.
Philadelphia is in buzz OF expectancy. Although this
Is the Sabbath, day one would think held IN awe
In solemn Philadelphia the town is busy as fair.
All the streets leading TO the Centennial are tn~onged
with spectators Tho crowded. The day Is
warm aud stl with a ,mld coming up from the
river and the Jersey sands scarcely bold enough TO
tho snags Of all nations which blossom out from the
mass OF buildings forming the Exhibition. One wonders
what will be the midsummer months II this baking
weather comes with the spring. have taken careful
survey Of the whole affair in order that may tell
your readers what they may expect II they here
on Wednesday, and can think OF no moro cxacting
ask for a warm day. general look Of the Exhibition
owes the impression that is hopeessiy behind In all
respects, that there is possibility OF II being in
comparative state Of readiness but this is not borne
put by careful study. II will make a much better
show on the opening than at Paris or Vienna. Three
days remain before tho ceremonies, and three days
will accomplish wonders, especially under the dsc
puc and impulse which everything about the
Centennial
Let US look the main building Chilli the first nation
which meets the eye es you enter, is well advanced
and another day two viii bring her assortment OF
leather and minerals into complete readiness. Peru,
which makes modest and sprishtly display, Is for
The Orange Free States have a cozy Peru
and beyond little clearing up have little TO do ] am
sorry cannot say much for China which
makes prctcntious display. but has stl much to do
You catch glimpscs of bronZcs and earhcnware, and
exquisite specimens of the art OF this strange people,
but It will DO month before Is complete There arc
several ingenious temples and pasodas which VIII gvo
this department a rich oriental aspect; but patient,
stold John works with as much camness and aehbcr
alton though he had three years before him rather
than three days. Italy is almost ready, and even in
this Of confusion the and beauty OF the Ita
Ian native are conspicuous and enticing Here is
table OF flashing pearl and Prize Dieu in carved
wood we'll worth journey here TO The scandna-
Wan nations group and quito ready. The
display OF ceramics, and hlagrce work in silver
from sweden Is fine. Altogether these three nations,
Sweden Denmark and Norway form most interesting
part Of the show. Passing from tho cold gray north
the path which divides from the blaz-
Ing east are with Japan, RESPECTS the
notable department Japan is still behind, and could
not much activity among the cunning, brighteyed
little Nongoans VINO were moving about the boxes
but enough already visible and in place TO give
Us an idea OF her most interesting civilization Egypt
Ii entirely ready The character OF this peculiar and In
come respects not altogether desirable country is
In the portal which Is cherry, and which Is in
scription setting forth in hcrogyphics that His High
ness the Khedive had built this arch TO commemorate
bis friendship for the great Republic in this the hun
drcdth year of its existence could gain no idea Of
what within the enclosure. ond enormous
crocodile, who, with label between his teeth and his
scales freshly painted suggestive memories OF the
Nile From Egypt It Is only pace to Great Britain
and her nest OF colonies, which are here in group
Australia New Zealand, India, Canada, all here
under the wing OF Mother England, who Sits brooding
men harr Inns NM 10
far above any other country in the Exhibition Eng
iand and all her departments well advanced and
ready for the opening day. Canada makes fine dis
play, and there exquisite woods from New
Zealand Where Turkey and Russia should DO there
are blank spaces Tnerc is odd contrast in the fact
that the sick Man in Europe and his powerful enemy
should here lie side by sido in this Illuminating condi
ton But with Turkey II Is indifference inisman-
agcment; with Russia 1t is the result OF accident to
the steamer carrying the exhibits, which broke
wheel and put in at Plymouth. 1t viii DO
the LIST OF June before Russia Is prcscntablc, and
Turkey uncertain that there is some talk OF for
fciting her space Spain makes a noble display, al.
though she has a good deal do Her portals are
beautifully decorated There arc portraits Of Columbus
and Isabella the Catholic, and a legend, beautifully
painted, OF spain throwing aside the curtain and dis
covering TO the world the land of the setting sun
Austria, which, historically, should have place
Spain, is lar advanced aud promises
Wednesday with her glassware In Germany there
arc large gaps FILL but already there promises
wonders Gotta tapestry. In the Gen.
ire OF the main building We have many fine
Effects notable among them the coming together
Is Ia . focus, Of Germany, America England and
France Here the display Will be brilliant and impos-
ing There Is a ioursidcd trophy, dedicated 10 tue
bur continents. Africa Is honoIed IN tho names of
Ramess and Sosostrls Asia, Coniucius and Moham-
ned Europe, Shakespeare and Charemagne These
selections are unique, but when to honor the
whole American continent with its varied natio nal
itics, with tho OF Washington and Frank
lin the limitation is gro;esquc. Could Mex.
ico Peru, Brazil, none OF the
lands beyond and about the Equator give US no name
that should mud only country the held
Of sclections But suppose something be par.
doned to the Centennial spirit, the point Is no,
worth controversy In passing beyond the rotunda
we come 10 France. That most interesting nation
shows finely IN exhibition, and although her work
Is not quite finished 1t Is far enough toward compile
lion to JUSTLY in believing that the display the 10Th
Of May viii do honor to the genius and enterprise
Of her people Neither Belgium nor Switzerland will
do well here Vienna, and neither OF them is
ready; but the Netherlands wlli respects, be
among the gems Of the display. Nothing could be
finer than the decorations in purple and gold which
surround the portals of the Netherlands. IL Is in
striking, but not disparagng contrast To Brazil It's
oeghbor all blazing with gnt and color and fantastic
decorations. was told that would much TO
sonish me In Brazil aud II certainly does MAKE
mcndablc display, much better than vicnna where
Il was not among the least conspicuous features
OF the Exposition Brazil and tho Netherlands
arc both ready. and the workmen are busy
to-day putting the FINAL touches. Mexico Is much
behind; the woodwork still unpancd; but the work
busy, and there viii be something show for
that interesting Republic Portugal supply col.
lection Of boxes, and reminds OF the Lisbon earth.
quake IN It's chaos. As 10 country can only
gay ia a sentence that ahead and behind
hand, that oil US are ready and sumo OF us not
and that We shall he IN tumblcd up condition on
Wednesday unless exhibitors and their wurkn.cn
10 miracles within the next three days