The Lake County star., 1876-06-22
Centennial Letter.

The Plat Boy at the Exhibition -
Decision ofthe Agricultural Jury
Tie Women's Department ,Prepar-
ing for the glorious FawTh--A Big
Bell.
[From our Regular Correspondent
PHILADELPHIA, June 10Th, 1879.
The sixth week of the Exhibition
opened well and is closing active.
A steady increase in the attendance
is still noticeable. Even rainy days
are no drawback to the enjoyment
of visitors for if the avenues and
walks arc wet and muddy, and the
air damp, the interior of the build
ings afford dry, comfortable, and
most entertaining retreat. A ludi-
crous incident occurred on Tuesday
at one of the entrance turnstiles.
A fat boy--a home specimen from
Illinois and a rival to Barnum's-
presented himself at the usual place
of entrance but was to his own dis
may unable to pass through. The
gatekeepers were powerless to rem
der assistance or advice. Their or
ders were to permit nobody to pass
into the grounds except through the
stile, and yet this applicant was in
the most literal sense "body."
What was to be done? The boy
had his fifty-cent piece in his hand
and demanded admission. The De-
partment of Admissions was ap-
piled to, hurried consultation was
held, and as n last resort the heavy
youth was admitted through the
wagon gate.
The Women's Department at the
Exhibition is one of the things not
to be sneezcd at. The New England
kitchen is quite centre of attrac-
ton, and is one of those distinct
features that a person is likely to
inspect several times. The ladies,
under the superintendent of Miss
Emma Southwick, have been ex-
tremely fortunate in securing many
objects of special interest for cxhi-
bition, which are doubly notable by
reason of their novelty and age. a
combination of quaint architecture,
antiquated furniture, and the ep-
ochal costumes Of the attendants,
gives one a pleasing view of life i'll
New England Il century ago. There
is chair that was brought from
Old England in the second ship that
landed on our coast; and another,
made in Danvcrs, Mass, over 200
years ago, which was descended
from tie family Of Governor Endi-
colt. Underneath Il clock, said to
have been made 1GS years ago, is
John Aldcn's writing desk, which
was brought over in the Nayfower.
The fireplace is glimpse ofhistory
in itself. Hanging over the fire OH
the crane arc two of the oldest
looking kettles said to have come
from England in the Card,ceU. On
the mantcl are the Undertook, the
cranc-lamp, and other ancient arti-
clcs, above which hang the old flint
lock musket and powder-horn. AT
the side of the fireplace is a small
but neat spinning-wheel, which, oc-
cording to Mrs. General Cunning
ham, was brought to this country
in the NaWlopcr. Years ago il
was thrown aside as useless, but
when the Centennial movement be-
gan to extend its influence over the
country, a Miss Tower took hold Of
it, FURNISHED it up, and put it in
condition to be operated on by her,
much to the amusement of the Wis.,
itors. Alongside of the wheel is a
chest of drawers, said to be 20C
years old, an assertion its appear
ancc fully justifcs the truth of. A,
the other side of the hearth hangs
saddle, made 10 years ago, and
II sample of the kind used entirely
by the gcntility ofthat day. Against
the walls hangs commission grant.
ed to Licutenant-Colonel Nathan
Barrett from John Hancock, first
governor of Massachusetts, in 1881.
Also pendent is sword worn by
Colonel Barrett in the memorable
Concord fight of April 10Th, 1775
when he was only a captain. a
pewter platter, said to have been
made century ago, is suspended
beside cantccn of the Revolution
and u wooden plate, filled will
marks of time, but which originally
formed "a portion of fashionable
young lady's wedding outfit. Or
an old-fashioned sideboard is az
raycd the china-ware in vogue dur.
ing the Revolution, with its peculiar.
figured plates and many-colored
cups and saucers. There is a veri.
table whistle made from a pigs tail
over which is placardod the follow
ing lines:
"There's proverb as ancient as Scotlnndi
thistle
That out of pigs tail you can't make a whis
tie;
We believe we've accomplished the wonder
ful thing,
And all who may wish can make this tai
sing"
And these are not all the unique
exhibits in this Department, o.
which shall speak again hereafter
for the benefit ofyour lady readers
Yesterday l had look at the fa.
nous Wisconsin War Eagle, "Old
Abc," now on exhibition in Agri.
cultural Hall. This old veteran ot