Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-05-11
PLYMOUTH. IND. THURSDAY. MAY IL, 1876.

enough to justify this view of the case,
nor did the board feel like cutting them
off, especially the newspaper men who
have done and are still doing, gratui-
tously. so much to advance the inter-
ests of the exhibition. 1t has therefore
been decided to issue two classes of adj
mission tickets-both good during the
entire term of exhibitiOn-one called
complimentary for prominent officials
only, and the other for exhibitors, en-
ployes, newspaper correspondents, et al.
The former will be printed on heavy
bond paper in square note-siZed sheets,
and the others will be in the shape of a
two-leaved book of card board Each
recipient of the latter must have his
photograph inserted on the third page
before the lst of June, or the ticket will
be void.
Philadelphians and others immedi-
ately concerned are a good deal eXer
cised just now over the prospective at
tendance at tie Centennial. There are
Ominous indications which give rise 10
fears that it is not going to be so large
as early estimate presaged. The hard
times, like the old w0man's COW, are
getting no better very fast, y and then
the course of the railroads has been
such as to cause widespread impress
sion that it is going to cost too much to
visit the show. Had the railway man.
agors, with Tom Scott at their head,
seen fit to reduce round trip fares for
ty or fifty instead of twenty-five per
cent. it would have put more money in
their Golfers, and contributed more
than any other one thing could TO the
success of the exhibition, so far as the
attendance is concerned.
1t costs every Western visitor to the
Centennial, $3.50 from Chicago and
return, from Burlington, Iowa, S41.12,
and from Louisville S33. If man
takes two or three members of his fam
lily this expense, together with the high
rates of hotel charges and other things
total almost appalling. unless he is one
of that fortunate, but nowadays rare,
class of people to whom ''object is no
money" A gentleman who has made
this subject study lately said that
further reduction of twenty-five per
cent. in railroad fares would in
crease the attendance one-half, and i'm
my opinion it will have TO come. My
advice to the people far away is not to
be in hurry. There is time enough
to see all there will he to be seen, and
little indifference at the start may
bring wholesome results.
have just been looking through In
dependence Hall, the little old building
in which the bird of freedom first plum
ed himself for a lofty flight. 1t has
lately been restored more To its original
appearance. The coats of thick paint
and other coverings have been taken
from the walls and stairways, and all
the fine old carving brought to light.
The old bell is in the entry, and on the
walls are panels giving clear and con-
else history of the important deeds done
in Philadelphia during the revolution
airy years. Mr.. Etting. who has 1t in
charge, has collected large number of
historical portraits of great interest;
the members of the Continental Con-
gress hang on the walls in one room,
and below them are the very chairs and
the table they used. A second large
room is made kind of museum.
Among its attractions already collected
area grand, stately picture of George
Ill, i'll his youth; full lengths of Will
lam and Mary and Queen Anne; Sir
Peter Lely's portrait of Charles H.; the
Sharpless collection of cabinet pictures
in colored crayons, including all the
men and women of any note in this
country from l7S7 to 1850; some exquis-
ite china and glass, fine old furniture,
and everything that had TO do with the
life of that age. The hall is really "A
most interesting place to visit.
A chime of thirteen bells, represent
ing the old thirteen States, has been
completed by a Washington firm for ex-
hibition at the Centennial. They will
be placed in the northeastern tower of
Machinery Hail. They weigh II 900
pounds, the largest weighing 5000 and
the smallest $50 pounds. Their value
is $4,000. Three times during each
day--sunriSe, noon, and sunset-their
music will enliven the Centennial
grounds. They were shipped to this
city this week. Prof. Widows, who
will operate the bells at the exhibition,
claims that the chime is the most har-
monious in America.
The grounds have now been closed to
all except officials, employees, exhibit
tors and quill-drivers. The peanut |
merchants and organ-grinders have
taken up their quarters along the APP
proaches, ami administer to the wants |
of the daily throng of people III the
most approves style. The nature of
the work in progress required this clos
ing up, though many complain of it.
Hundreds of men are variously engag |
ed, preparing the walks, planting trees
and shrubbery as though they were |
onion-sets, removing rubbish wherever |
building operations have ceased, thus !
making way for the gardener and the
lawn dresser, unloading goods from
the cars, and otherwise bustling to have
things in readiness for the opening. In
next weeks letter | will give some ac-
count of what the different States are
doing, and the detail of arrangements
for the comfort and convenience of
visitors on the ground.
Don't live a single hour of your life |