The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1876-10-04
Centennial Letters-No. 4.

ton for the whole world, "a week ago), and sruy
have lived fast in this week. Approaching the city
Centennial signs and advertisements multiplied on
every side passengers poured in from all the subur
ban towns in great numbers; the train whirled
past magnificent Paramount Park. giving glimpses
of the buildings large and small, gay with thousand
flags and streamers, the coors of every nation the
hotels-Atlas, Globe, and International, and many
smaller ones. showed the abundant accommodations
erected expressly for the patronage of the travelling
world. AT the c0mmodious, elegant and convenient
central depot, where trains in from all parts of
the compass almost every hour of the day, were
forcibly and happily impressed with the wonderful
facilities Afforded for comfortable travelling, for
were alone, but following the crowd down the long
platform, every few rods found railroad official or
police officer waiting-rcspectful, polite, and atten-
| tive. where do you want to got" is addressed
politely to any who stops for moment period The
long line Of onnbusses. street cars, and hacks
| every side. while the gauntlet need not be run
through croud Of screaming vOcferating hack men,
for the drivers not allowed the railroad plat
form. Mentioning the street and number where we
desired to 60 Official gives the precise directions
and seated in the proper street cars and the
conductor of the same safely dropped with
exact direction where to turn, and few moments
walk brought US to the house of the friends we
sought The first day spent in the Centennial
was Saturday, Aug. 18th. The previous afternoon,
however, kind city friends gave very excellent
beginning by a drive in their private carriage
through of the principal of the wonder
fu and beautiful park ending with entire circuit
of the Centennial enclosure. thus giving a clear idea
of all the buildings and grounds with tine prominent
places of interest and their location in regard to each
other. Main building machinery hall, agricultural
hall, horticultural hail. the building or Memorial
Hall, and the Government buildings are the largest
edhces in the enclosure, but multitude Of other
buildings are scattered all along between, of
them State buildings and exhibits, others the exh-
bit and bazaars Of the various nations, or aunexes
to the wonderful things in the Great Hall, till one
is almost lost in the multitude and variety of places
to see and enjoy when by the payment of the
small sum of fifty cents you inside of the charmed
enclosure. Large gatos every side with porter's
lodges give ingress egress to all the principal
points of interest. Here you see the word Money
prominently displayed every portal and small
apartment is contiguous to every entrance, where
small brokers' trade is carried on and you can OBJ
t"H PiNPSA Su"hbSt VI cNcudHSe rs YOU ucslTe Inc
regulation is rigidy enforced that every admission
fee be exactly fifty cents in American currency,
either silver or paper; charge is made at the ad
mission gate; one open alley is where employees
and contributors to the Exhibition are admitted free
which is strictly guarded by police and all the other
aisles are protected by a urnstile where one at a
time pass through those turning bars either going or
returning. Should any person be so unfortunate
not to squeeze through these wicket gates, there
is but the carriage entrance which is oppo-
site to the main building
The first day at the Centennial we found It i'm
possible to maintain any order system in sight
seeing, but went here and there as the leader of our
party, who had been in often, dictated. Our first
visit to Horticultural Hall, where the tropical
plants, trees and ferns bore faint resemblance to
home The palms, bananas, ferns. rose apple, and
India-rubber, well sugar cane and the bright
scarlet Hibiscus were family friends. The wings of
horticultural Hall devoted to ferns, cacti, and
young plants, started in pots for sale. The arum
eseulentum, - or more fam iary our Kalo, is Guilt
waited here in parks and gardens ornamental |
plant, and the leaves are magnificent They call it |
a Lily, and the bulbs are taken up every winter |
The Gamma, or Indian Shot, is also esteemed, very
rare plant, and, by cultivation, many nice shades of
color have been developed in the blossoms some Of
them very rich. and would be quite new at the
Islands. Double varieties also are produced by the
same high cultivation. The Castor Beam too, is set
out in various places all through the ornamental
flower beds around Horticultural Hall. We saw rows
of orange and lemon trees planted in large boxes on
the terrace below Horticultural Hall, some of them in
fruit and some Of the Crepe Myrtle planted in the
same way were in bloom, but were faint and sickly
looking evidently not at home in that northern eli
mate. As we passed through the grounds from
towards Agricultural Hall, our own
observation gave life to the passages we read in our
guide book like this " East of the horticultural
Hall and facing the river is grand circular space,
IN the centre of which is erected magnificent fOun.
ain its circle artsticay decorated with flowers and
patriotic designs and with the thirteen stars, each
tar Of Towering plants of different color" Tie
]arbary States, Algeria, Morocco and Tunis have
zach little bazar erected in their native architec
ure, and it entertaining to pass from one to
mother examining the jewelry and necklaces of
fragrant woods, and the rich fabrics embroidered
nth gold and silver threads but the greatest
uriosity Of all the statesmen and saleswomen of
hose lands dressed in their costume, who
rated on the crowds Of visitors, chattering with
sch other in their own tongue, aud cOnversng with
heir purchasers by signs and in broken English. ,
he women particularly interesting with their
ark eyes, long ashes, and peculiar olive complexion
ostume of rich and delicate fabrics. Passing from
gricultural Hall made our frat flying visit to
be Kansas and Colorado building which of all the
tate buildings TO elicit the greatest interest
nd admiration. The display of specimens of grain
nd cereals is perfectly wonderful. The first object
hat strikes the eye you the door is the large
Independence Bell suspended from the ceiling, an
xact representation even TO the historical crack of
he old bell, but Of grain stalks Of various
inds and the tongue suspended in the centre is also
ade of grain. The crack is exact and made of such
dark shade that you long to examine it. The
rtistc arrangement Of the different kinds Of wheat
nd various sides Of the building only be
lily appreciated by personal examination. Be-
des the cereals a great variety Of stuffed animals
nd birds areexhbitedin glass which elicit uni
admiration and around one case in particular is
steady rush of admiring crowds. 1t is the Of
nimals and birds said to have been shot and pre-
AIRED for exhibition by Mrs. Maxwell, lady Of
dorado, with her own hands and rifle. They are
lost artisticaly arranged in and around rock
rOtto. all under glass. The lady herself is often
iere dressed in her bunting suit, as exhibitor, but
D the day were in we had not that pleasure.
Photographs Of the grotto and the lady for sale
and hear that a handsome rifle had
cen presented to her since the opening Of the exhi
ton. buffalo, several deer, and many smaller
1imals and birds are in this collection From the
kusI1t