The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1876-05-27
pecial Correspondence of the Baltimore County Union
1ST6---1S16.
Centennial Nesus and Gossip.

This being "Yearly Meeting" week, we have
had rain every day. According to the accepted
tradition the Quakers do not believe in baptism,
therefore they must bear this annual drenching
as q punishment for their lack Of faith. How
ever, it has not been unpleasant to visit the Ex-
position through the rain, as one can settle down
comfortably to real work in the way Of sight
seeing, spared the Inconvenience Of having to
push and elbow ones way through the crowd.
One of the most interesting features OF the Fair
is the opportunity given to see so many of the
wonderful mechanical inventions in epsratien.-
The machine for making envelopes is the most
conplets and perfect arrangement 1t cuts. folds,
pastes and throws them in box in less time than
it takes me to write it. Large crowds gather
about the ribbon weaving loom where they make
book marks with head of Washington and Lin
coin. The spoeling Of j. & P. Coates Gotten at
tracts much attention. 1t is very rapidly done,
each girl working two speeds. The machine is
so adjusted it runs just 200 yards Of cotton and
then stops the girl cutting the thread aad fasten-
ing. The number and trade mark are put on in
twinkling. The Waltham watch factory has
large force of hands busily employed in the
delicate and intricate werk Of watch making
This section is threnged with interested specta-
tors. Wemen are employed in almost all these
manufactures, and they are under the same reg
ulatiens as at the factory. The time spent in
Machinery Hall is full Of profit and compensation
Indeed no one can fail to gain very enlarged
knowledge by a careful inspection and study Of
| the wonders cengregatea here.
Horticultural Hall is a very ornamental struc-
ture of iron and glass. The atmosphere of the
place is Of necessity overheated and sickly as the
plants are mostly tropical, but the spray from a
fountaia which decorates the centre Of the build
ing tempers the air little and refrsshes enc in
passing. There are many rare and curious plants,
| quantities of grange and lemon trees bat except
for the ferns the collection did not interest me.
Veitch l. Co., of Londen, have presented their
contribution of magnificent Rhedodendorns to
| Paramount Park, and they ornament the beauti-
full plateau in front of the hall. There is pecu-
| liary shaped palm which bears q silver plate
with the following inscription, "Cycus Reveluta,
owned by Robert Morris before and during the
Revolution presented by Jacob Hoffner, Cincin-
nati.'
The Woman's Pavilion is filed with every
variety of handiwerk that woman's ingenuity is
capable Of devising. Here are exquisite water
celcr drawings, ell paintings, pen and ink
sketches, crayons, and models in clay, and some
very meritorious paintings Of still life by children
under fifteen years. The beautiful fire scene,
painted on silk, by Mrs. Alan Smith, is extrava-
gantly admired, and there is also tidy of the
same design by Miss Schmidt Of Baltimore
There are several pieces of needlework done by
Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, and her daughters,
which attract attention because executed by royal
fingers, but they are not OF necessity the best
specimens. There are many contributions from
the various blind and deaf and dumb asylums
and converts all over the country. Rugs made
cut of homely carpet rags so closely resembling
expensive Turkish mats you have TO look twice
before feeling quite certain about it. mention.
ed in my first letter, briefly, the exquisite wood
carving done by ladies in Cincinnati. Well it il
now conceded that the ladies from that city &C.
conplish more beautiful work than all the Other
! cities in the Union. Besides the magnificent
bedsteads, cabinets pianos, &C., in carved wood
there are two ceunterpanes and pillow shams ia
match-ene fine muslin with the Exposition
buildings embroidered in the centre and corners
and the other lace work, guipure pattern, 6ue al
any imported article; china, exquisitely orna
nented, panel paintings, also an entire door and
frame Of black walnut, heavily carved, and taker
from the room of the young lady who executed it
The rolling or bath chairs are very much in
demand, the distances being so great and many
persons feeling entirely inadequate to the tour o
the grounds and buildings on foot. These ehairi
are pushed by young men dressed in light gray
, uniform, straw hats trimmed with blue ribbon
| and badges of Office. The charge for transporta
ton is 60 cents an hour, or $4.5O a day, and &
goodly share Of the visitors avail themselves o
this comfortable mode of sight seeing. The mar
row gauge railway is now in operation, and FOL
five cents you can ride entirely around th'
: grounds, obtaining the only complete view of al
the buildings and houses Of the different commits
sions.
Next week will be able to give you peep in
side the English farm house, which is net opel
to the public at all. But | am fortunate in hav
ing had an invitation by enc of the officials, anS
will certainly not lose the opportunity. Juno.