The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-07-27
did collection of American woods ever

congregateQ IN one e4nlDiClOn-Oak, Ha
pie, cherry, pine, spruce, cedar, and, il
fact, all the woods known to the Ameri
can Continent. Still farther on we hav'
the display of the Patent Office Depart
ment, stored with its wonderful revela
tions of genius. All sorts of incompre
hensible machines crowd these cases
machines, the story of whose conception
and completion would be the saddest o
all sad histories, for long and weary live'
were worn out in their invention, ant
the inventors perished, like the prophet
of old, in sight of the promised land.
The Indian collection is especially
fine, and to its consideration 1 would
direct the attention of all who visit the
Centennial. It is not merely the collec-
ton of arms and dresses, but the COM
plete historic links, which carry you
back ages before the white men set foot
upon the American Continent. Giant
carvings are there, representing the most
hideous of all heather deities -monstrous
conceptions monstrously worked out-and
yet, in general classification, belonging to
the same family of Titanic gods7that
guard the mouldering palaces of Ninereh
and Thebes. Not the least interesting
portion, of the Exhibition is the grand
collection of negatives from which were
taken Prof. Hayden's views of the Yel-
lowstone. Indian life in every phase is
here, and views of those wonderful ruins,
the discovery of which has awakened
such interest among our arch@ologists.
The collection of ores is one of especial
merit-California, Nevada, Oregon, Col
orado /. and Utah being represented
These cases contain wealth untold, and
we might think that gold and silver were
the kings Of the earth ifit were not that,
close by the; gold and silyer, exhibit, we
find ourselves in the presence of King
Iron. Talk of your kings and emperors
No majesty 80 potent as iron. Go
through the halls of this great Exhibi-
ton, and, turn where you will, iron, iron
confronts you everywhere. You look at
some wondrous product of the loom
-
you admire the splendor of its figures
and the beauty of its colors; you go back
to the loom where it was created, and
you find it all of iron. Directly or indi-
rectly, it enters into the composition or
production of everything you see or use
and I said to myself, y1t is neither gold
silver nor cotton, but iron is king"
In another part of the building is a
great collection of fishes, many of them
prepared. In fact, l almost
wished that the same individual who
stuffed the fishes had been engaged to
stuff the sailors and marines. 1 COM
mend this matter to the respectful atten-
ton of the Secretary of the American
Navy. The machines used in the pro-
duction of cannon, rifles, guns, pistols,
etc., are also well represented. There is
also machine for the preparation Of
cartridges. This is one of the self-feed-
ing machines, where the happy guardian
of it has nothing to do but pick his teeth
and fan himself, and he looks all the time
as if he was trying to invent some ma
chine to absolve him from these onerous
duties. Lathes for turning gun-stocks
are there, and others for rifing all sorts
of firearms, murderous-looking mitrail-
leuses, and rakish Gatling guns meet you
at every corner. Looking on our guns.
our defences, and our ships, the average
American comes to the comfortable con-
clusion that the country is entirely safe
and if they can only reproduce in sufi.
cient numbers such soldiers, sailors and
marines as they have here in efigy, no
foreign foe would dare molest us, for
they would frighten the devil himself.
The weather has been simply frightful,
the thermometer ranging as high as 103'
in the shade. While 1 write, miniature
bridal wells are coursing down my back,
and young Niagaras are surging from
my manly brow. The Peace Congress
has been in session for the last three
days, and yesterday a resolution was
introduced that war is played out. am
really glad of it, for ! couldn't fight now
worth a cent-a two year old boy could
lick me and not half try. The pretty
cadets have all gone back to West Point,
and our Chestnut street bellies are in de-
spair. Dom Pedro has deserted US; but
a merciful Providence, just in the nick OF
time, sent US Don Carlos, and we are
happy-not much, to be sure, after such
an emperor as Dom Pedro; but will dc
till we can catch something more sub
stantial. The heat of the weather has
materially affected the number of visi.
tors, the falling off being several thou
sand day. We look anxiously for a
falling barometer, with commensurate
returns at the .turnstiles; and, dreaming
of future beautisude with skates, snow.
balls, and sleigh-bells,
am yours truly,
BROADBRIM.
AN HONEST CoNvIcT.--At De-
Moines, Iowa, few months ago, in 6
momenNof passion, young man of up