The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-06-22
OUR CENTENNIAL LETTER.

OUR CENTENNIAL LETTER.
Diamonds. sapphires, Rubie~-Hirds.
Vines. watches-H0bbs. Brockuni-
err d Co.'S Glassware, &c.
PHILADELPHIA June 10.
Editors of the Register.
In my last slipped away from you
while you were gazing at the wonder
full things of genous in the art gallery.
Passing over to the main building, the
first thing that strikes our attention, par
ticulsrly that of the ladies, is the jewelry
display. Here the most refined taste can
lind a satisfaction not to be picked up
every day in this weary, hum'drum,
Flooding world of ours. In those eesuti-
full articles for table use; how beautifully
and variedly designed, and how perfectly
wrought. See these cameosi how exquis-
| tie! Just look at this emerald set with
diamonds. Did you see that beautiful
opal breastpin? Isn't it too lovely?
And, ali! here we are, now! Please
look at this magnificent diamond
necklacel Isn't it perfectly grand,
splendid, magnificent, dazzling! Thus
you can hear every hour in the day ex-
CARNATIONS of the above nature, and
some lost in admiration struggle in vain
to find language expressive enough to
convey their feelings. Don't bring your
wife here unless you can steel your
heart against her opportunities. She
will be sure to covet that S., 600 sapphire
or that $4,000 ruby, or that $4,000
diamond, and as it is natural for man
to desire to crafty his better half, per-
hsps it would be better for the peace of
the whole family, that she never see
them. One lady priced the $4,000
diamond and upon being told its value,
her husband, who was standing by, cried
ut in despair: "Oh, wife, don't:. let us
t,ke it along this afternoon"
The utter helplessness and deprication
OF the tone in which he spoke,
ad the desired effect, and she moved of
with a sorrowful countenance, and no
doubt sad vt heart, while the husband,
having artstically avoided the sunken
rock, went his way with pleasing face
and twinkle in his eye. Such scenes
are being enacted nearly every day.
1t is probable that as rich displays Of
iewelry can be seen in many of the rich
houses of New York BY asking for them
as we have here, but as the common run
of humanity don't wish to spend owe
five or six hundred dollars for gew-gs'
at time. they are not likely to ask "
see more precious gems. In portion of
the Art Gallery is set apart room o.
two for the display of je welry such as WI s
worn thousands Of years ago by
the people of Rome, Athens,
Jerusalem and Alexandria. Many OF
these specimens have been exhumed after
perhaps thousands of years OF burial and
yet they preserve enough of symmetry
10 show that once they were of great
beauty and worth. We find in looking
over these, that about the same taste &C
;uated the ancients that actuates the
moderns Earrings, finger rings, brace
lets and necklaces, comprised about the
sum total of the ornaments worn There |
are some plain and some set with precious
stones; but they possess an interest above
and beyond their mere appearance,
One can't help thinking of their owners.
How did they live? What schemes of |
ambition did fever their busy brain7
What ideas did they have Of heaven or
hell, or life after death? How l would |
ike to set one of those old fellows on the
show case and have him tell me all about |
it. No use, the rings the bracelets, the |
necklaces and breastpins, mutely |
say-wc were there but that |
is all we can tell. Those |
who used us to ornament their persons |
went out-out thousands of years ago, |
md nothing has been heard from them |
since. That country, from whose bourne
no traveller returns" Is destitute of post
roads and telegraph wires. Our modern
spirtuslists tried to open up communica
ton, but those on the other side sent back |
such falterlng, tickle, unsatisfactory mes.
ssges that one was led to suppose that !
the medium was tempered with by some
third party, or that the line was out of
order. Requiescat in pace!
We now pass back again to the main |
building and are struck with the grand |
display of furniture. The display in thi,
line is very rich. The rosewood, maple |
wood, black walnut and mahogany cham
Der sets are very fine, and are only |
equa cd in magnifcence by the eabor.
ately carved sandalwood Of John China
man John has "A set here for which b. |
asks three thousand dollars. 1t is truly |
wonderful how nicely and true to nature
ne has carved, out of the wood, birds,
and vines, and wreaths, and grapeclusters
and various little animals too numerous
to mention. The visitor must be sure
and hunt up j Cs. chamber set. A
smell of the sandal wood is also very |
grateful to the senses of many people
By way of unusual furniture l might |
mention some tables made of the Mexi-
can onyx stone. They are very curious
and really beautiful. The stone itself :
we'll worth seeing without being polls
ed, | mean IN It's natural state. BefoII |
we close up our furniture list we must net |
forget to mention the fine case gosten up
by &. Mendel, Booth " Co., tor the dis
play of Hobbs, Brockunier & Cos glss-
ware. This case took the Pittsburghers |
by surprise. They said if they bad
known Wheeling was going to set up
anything As fine rs that they would have
showed them. But 1t was too late and |
Hobbs, Brockuner & Co. take the |
front seat on the middle aisle Of the main |
building. Wheelings display of glass is
very creditabe, and l don't think will |
fail to do the trade good. Nothing like
showing the world what you have, in or.
der to get them to buy. Befides Hobbs. |
Brockunier X Co., | noticed the Central |
Glass Company, of East Wheeling, and |
the La Belle, of Bridgeport. Each has |
done we'll, and | have no doubt that |
through this means, they will acqusint
the world with the goodness and the
cheapness of their wares.
l understand Dom Pedro is to visit the |
building to-day, hut l am not very well |
acquainted with him. l guess III let
show himself around, and las Lord Dun
dreary would say make a jolly old ass
of himself. Yours, +. M.