Litchfield enquirer., 1876-07-20
Our Trip to the centennia,.

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 WEST CORNWALL JULY 10th, 1876.
 l do not design to tell what we saw at Philadelphia; for should answer that question much as the girl did in her letter to her mother. who asked her what she saw at the Centennial, ''Oh oh ' oh ! 1! 1! o o-o-o-o-h LII"
 There is so much to see that any at- tempt at description fails. Your readers will be more interested in hearing about the facilities of travel, accommodations at Philadelphia, conveniences for comfort of visitors. expenses, etc. Our party con- sisted of fifteen, mostly young ladies; we wished to be economical, yet to obtain everything needful for our comfort and health. E .ss4
 We left West Cornwall at 11:2O a. m. by the Housatonic K R.. and at Bridgeport, waiting only twenty minutes, took the Centennial train that runs it's cars through to Philadelphia, taking the steamer Mary land at Harlem River, which in about one one-half or two hours lands its tram at Jersey City. This sail around the city is very enjoyable; New York never looked so pleasant as when we viewed it from the deck of our steamer The cool fresh breeze and quiet we enjoyed, were more highly appreciated from memories of the heat and din of the city. The view of the harbor is charming. Wards Island, Ran dall's Island, Blackwells Island, with their charitable and reformatory' 1nstitu- tiOns are passed in rapid review, and as we pass the Battery and Castle Garden, Governors Island and Staten Island ap- pear in full sight. -.
 The piers of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Navy Yard and the shipping lining both shores-with the large and small steam boats moving in every direction-alto- gether, present crowd of objects that are rarely surpassed in beauty or interest.
 The fare to Philadelphia and return, by this route, from West Cornwall is $11.9O. I had previously engaged quarters in the northern part of the city, and we left the tram at Germantown Junction and took the cars of the Reading R. R., which left us quite near our lodgings. We had good quarters in private family for $1. .25 each per day, for supper, lodging and break fast--of course we were favored from the number of our party.
 Frov,o fl,;e 1ooo1;kx, ~ro grounds by various routes and we tried several of them. A centennial carriage took our party at twenty-five cents each. The horse cars on Girard Avenue, which was quite near, took us out for single tickets seven cents, or sixteen tickets for one dollar. Exchange tickets, on two lines of horse cars, are nine cents each. The fare by the steam cars on the Read ing R. R. was ten cents for single ticket or one dollar per dozen. These cars run every ten minutes.
 A favorite route with us was by ex- change horse cars to Fairmount Park and thence by steamboat on the Schuylkill river, costing nineteen cents. The boats run every ten minutes, and the sail is de- lightful, especially toward evening when the river is full of row boats. Thus we had our choice of routes and varied each day. We were only crOaUded once in the Girard Avenue cars. Entrance to the grounds each day was fifty cents. This admits to everything inside the gates. A lunch or substantial dinner can be got on the grounds at reasonable rates. Soda water and lemonade are abundant; there are seats and lounges for the tired; every that person may spend the day comfortably. We did not patronize the rolling chains. leaving them for those who had more money and less youth and vigor. The head becomes more fatigued with sight seeing than the body, and I doubt whether the chairs are much benefit to any, except those physically disabled. We found the air in the buildings gener- ally cool and free from dust. for the floors are copiously sprinkled, and room enough for every body to see every thing, though the attendance was the largest that week (the last in June) of any except the open ing day.
 We spent one day visiting the Mint, h. Hall. and the Geological Gar dens; one Sabbath attending church at Christ's church, where Washington, Lay fayette, and other worthies worshipped: and ~e visited the Exhibition five days.
 Returning, left Germantown Junction at 9:12 a. m. and reached West Cornwall at 2: 10 p. m., waiting in Bridgeport about two hours.
 , In all my arrangements I consulted I yet provided everything com- for the party; madethe care of their health the first consideration; only two glasses of soda allowed each day, plenty of fruit. no nuts or candy; and our entire expenses for the trip of nine days was trifle less than thirty dollars for each individual. The accommodations at Philadelphia are ample, the terms are and the advantages of seeing what our own and other nations are doing, are so beyond comparison, superior to any thing we ever had before, no one should forego the pleasure of visit of at least a week. for they aill ever after regret their lost opportunity.
 T. s. c. i
 few nights ago, as yonng man stood m n the gospel tent bnsily taking notes, Dr. Iyng came mp, and laying his hand upon My friend. are yon a Christian ?" ''No, sir. answered the startled note taker. 'I'm-Tm only Q reporter. T