The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-09-01
Our Centennial letter.


PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 18th, 1879.
The receipts for the first 100 days
from the Centennial have been some
what less than a million dollars, while
the expenses for the same time have
been about million and a half dollars.
Every expedient that could possibly be
resorted to by the managers to draw
visitors, has been used, and yet the
number ofvisitors remains just about
the same. OF course much larger num-
bers will attend during the cool wealth
er, and the animal show, which will
be the finest ever seen in this country,
will attract thousands from all parts of
the country, but the Centennial expo
sition can now be put down as one f
the greatest financial failures of the
day. 1t was hoped while the exhibit
ton itself might prove a failure in
dollars and cents, that the tremendous
in finx of travellers and money into
Philadelphia would prove a means of
easing up hard times over at least the
Eastern States, but even this has failed
20 be the case. The entrance fee on
the last two Saturdays of each month
has been reduced from so to % cents.
In the carriage department are to be
seen some of the most elegant, and
neatest vehicles that ever ran upon
wheels. There are the old-fashioned
stage coaches, light wagons, carriages
of all kinds, sleighs, sulkies and
hearses. OF all these the American
collection show the greatest elegance
and variety of form, while the English.
French and Canadian are all much
heavier, and look as though they were
intended for more substantial use.
Whether they are really better and
stronger then the American 1 cannot
say, but if 1 wanted a carriage for
pretty rough usage, think that
should prefer one of the English build.
Amoung the English collection are one
or two very Old-fashiOned stage
coaches with places behind for the
guard; and coaches that are intended
especially for carrying parties out to
races and picnics, and such as are not
made in this country at all. In the
wagon department, near Agricultural
Hall, are to be found the heavier wag-
ons and carts, and among these the
American collection is inferior to no
| other. Some of the wagons, such as
| are used in Colorado and California.
| and which require ten or twelve mules
TO draw them, are larger than most
persons would believe if they were
told, but they can form a pretty cor
rect idea oil them when I say that they
will hold almost as much as any ordi-
nary freight car.
| AS beautiful an exhibit, and embod-
| iment in about as odd form, as there
is at the Centennial, is an Alto Relieve
bust of ''Dreaming Iolanthe," done
in butter, and sent all the way from
| Arkansas, by a lady. During the hot
| test weather this figure has remained
under its glass cover, as perfect as
when first sent, though it is said that
it is worked each night in order to
keep it so. A sweeter face, or a more
artistic piece of work is not on exhibit
ton. 1t is to be regretted that this
lady has been content to display
her skill upon lump of butter, when
she might have given to the world an
enduring object of beauty.
In the Main Hall there are a large
number of lite sized, colored figures OF
Saints, Popes, and other such things as
are used in the Catholic churches, and
of these the French and German col
lections are the best, though the Amer
lean is very little inferior to either
In the French collection is represen-
tation of the Wise Men OF the East
1 M inn Is khn Co.,
and finding him in a stable. The sta
BILE is old and rough, at the inner end
of which is rack to hold hay, and on
each side of which stands an ass
One ass has run its head over into the
stall, within a few inches of where Je-
sus lies on bundle of straw, that i:
held on small rough frame about 3
inches high. On one side of the chile
is Mary, and on the other side Joseph
while around him are poor shepherds
and kings with their costly presents
One of the kings is coal black negro
who has crown upon his head, while
at his feet lies golden box. Another
king has taken his crown from his head
as in Difference to a superior presence
and laid it on the floor beside him
while he holds his presents upon his
knee. All faces are turned towards
the infant Jesus who lies with boil
arms outstretched, and is laughing il
his childish glee. Out of a hole, il
the front end of the stable, just unde
the roof, there are flying two angels
holding a streamer between them, or
which is inscribed, "Glory to God il
the Highest" ALI the figures are very
near life size, are artistically made ant
colored, and make one OF the most re
alistic groups have ever seen.
The display made by the American
manufacturers of silk thread, is so fin
as to cause establishment to every on.
who is not thoroughly posted in REGARD
to this branch of industry. Even tn,
French cannot approach us in quantity
delicacy of colOrs, or the taste in which
the goods are arranged. Ali of tn,
American dress silks are light and OF
lower grade than the French, but 81
far as the thread is concerned, it il
doubtful whether America is SECOND
TO any other country. Some of thu
manufacturers believe that before Ions
America will raise silk enough to make
us entirely independent of all foreigl
supply. The display by the manufac
turers of cotton thread is also very
good, one company having a picture
a great eagle, with outsPread wings
shield arrows and olive branches, tina
is made with S464 spools of differen
colored thread. BETA.