The Portland daily press., 1876-05-19
GENERAL NOTES.

Correspondence of the Press.l
GENERAL NOTES
I'm the Main BuiIding-The Arena upon
which Nations Compete-The Rarest md
R ichest Products of all Chimes.
PHILADE LPHIA, May 16.
Were it not that all the trees hereabouts are
ont in full summer dress, could not persuade
myself that was not in the most remote down
East" in one of its most wretched eastery
rain storms, it has been that cold and wet the
past twelve hours. Indeed, the weather has
been very cold the whole of the past week.
1t is well nigh hopeless undertaking to at
tempt to give Maine reader any Idea of the
Worlds Fair in detail In general way one
can throw his superlative adjectives into his
descriptions in manner which the reader will
regard as utterly reckless, but when the most
gifted in that important element has exhausted
his stock, he will himself feel that he cannot
do the subject justice 1 shall, however, at
tempt to give an idea of the extent Of the ex-
hibition the several nations make in the main
building, without attempting to paint the pic
ture which the endless variety makes up.
Let US enter the building at its southern end,
and beginning at the southeastern corner mere
ly notice its divisions. The southeastern Sec
ton of this building to the centre aisle extend
ing through the hall lengthwise, and to the
aisle which crosses it at right angles in the mid
de- is occupied by the exhibitors of the United
States as we'll as two-thirds of the quarter on
the other side of the long aisle, so that our
countrymen occupy about two-ffths OF the q /
acres enclosed within the walls of this build
ing, to say nothing of the display made in gal
leries, which embraces all of the exhibits of
the state school systems and many other things
In making our tour of the main building, let
us begin with the space occupied by the United
States. In the southeast corner we will find
the space allotted to crockery, porcelain and
earthen wares. These goods fill large space,
and are from works all over the country. China
doubtless makes more delicate wares, but she
had been at the business centuries before the
Yankee nation was dreamed of. But for taste
full designs and skillful workmanship and artis-
tic ornamentaton, our manufacturers need not
be ashamed to tell the country they are from.
Next toward the middle of the building the
book publishers of this country have their
place. They have brought their choicest works,
and display their most skillful work. They re-
quire two stories of the building. Every pub
Usher in the country of any note has his fine
case In the art of book making we are fully
abreast of the best in the world. These collec-
tons are so full that library embracing all of
the standard works of history, science, law,
theology and fiction might be selected there
from.
Across the south aisle, and still further to-
ward the middle of the building, we find the
exhibit of the stationers, paper, pen and pencil
makers of the country. The display of blank
books venture to say was never equalled, and
in this the West completes with the East. In
one exhibit we find samples of coarse wrapping
papers, in the next scores of samples of colored
and fancy papers, while ON the other side are
the most delicate of note papers Here are
printed school cards, and cards with all sorts of
precious advice and, alas, that wicked paste
board on which are the pictures of knaves, and
wonderfully neat knaves they are. In this de.
partment the lead pencil companies display
their goods in the most tasty manner Oue has
a pyramid of graphite. Here are writing and
printing papers of all sorts Il judge), albums of
too many sorts, envelopes too nice for anything,
samples of engraving by the hundreds, kinder
garten implements, etc., ETC., to an endless ex-
tent. must, however, call your attention to
those two pyramids of tinted boxes with fancy
paper trimmings. The largest could be used
by the dress-maker to send home the finest ball
dress of the season-which is something of a
box, while the smallest will be used by TIE jew
eler to send home delicate gew-gaw in bit of
cotton. These boxes are made from the wood
board, which is made from the pulp of the An
droscoggin Pulp Company, which has its head.
quarters in Portland. The company's mills for
the manufacture of the board are located in
South Windham. Brunswick, Benton, South
Paris and East Dover, while its mills for the
manufacture of pulp for paper making are n
Skowhegan. This dplay may be found in the
space marked 'P 81" In this same depart
ment may be found the display of pen manu-
facturer. wit displays his goods so skillfully on
large surface perpendicular to the floor as to
spell the different varieties. In one part of the
case were pens in the different stages of manu-
facture.
The Maine textiles and headquarters are in
a recess at the end of the book and stationery
Observation-Disclosures them and the wall of the
building.
Over the south aisle, which separates the two
displays last named, is an array of flags which,
it is said, the various colonies used or were sug.
gested for the standard of the colonies at one
time or another before the present design for
national banner was adopted. There are doz-
ea or more of these, including the pine tree on
grounds of different color, a design with
rather vicious looking serpent, with motto
Don't tread on me, and several devices which
made part of the British standard, also a
part of that of the colonies. These are arrapg-
ed about central picture OF two soldiers Cd
picket at night, one lying down and the other
standing amazed at the sight which the distant
sky presents, caused by far away fire, giving
the horizon a rudy appearance, succeeded by
streak of white, followed in turn by band of
azure, toward the right side of which it expands
into field, upon (which the bright stars are
clearly seen. 1t is legend that from this Cir
cumstance the imaginative mind of this artistic
rebel soldier first caught the idea of our 'Star
spangled banner" with its stripes of red, white
and blue.
With this little episode, let US pass to the
next department of American industry. This
is cotton textiles. 1t does seem as if we had
ture OF the ex-King. The manufacture has al
ready been carried to that degree of skill that
by appearance one would mistake its limitations
OF standard worsted fabrics for the real, and
the imtators are now making cotton goods
which looks SO much like satin that it is called
satteen. The display of these goods, which is
so essential to the comfort of all classes, is
wonderful in its variety, extent and excellence.
New England leads. Most of the goods are
displayed in snowy cases by the selling agents,
her due were the goods displayed in the name
of the state making them. Lewiston is all in
one place. Lowell gathers up the samples of
productions and puts them into one large space.
AS curiosity, some thread maker has shown
every stage in the reduction of thread from the
raw cotton to the finest used by the needle.
Oil cloths succeed the infinite variety of cot
tons-ol cloths of every imaginable design,
and for floors, tables and wherever such goods
can be used. The silk productions of the coun-
try follow. Here, too, the progress American
energy and capital has MADE In the produc-
ton of silk goods is seen. Among other Curl
csites are silk cocoons raised in Massachusetts,.
The display of silk and satin dress goods was
varied and rich, and will surprise those who
think that this business is not participated in
by our people.
The next section is devoted to the most re.
markable of our productions-carpets. Amer
lean brains and capital have been making won
derfal progress in the development in this in
dustry l am confident that no American will
be fearful of the result of a comparison with
any country after he passes through these ex-
tensive spaces upon which rich colors, artistic
blendings, beautiful designs and the most skill
full labor have been bestowed in the production
OF hundreds of patterns and stripes, which are
piled up and strewn about with what would be
called Oriental profusion.
a wilderness of wooden textiles succeed the
carpets, ranging from the coarsest blanket to