The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-10-05
CENTENNIAL LETTER.
From our regular Correspondent.l
Philadelphia, Oct. 2d. 1876.

PLACE 10 STUDY CHARACTER SOME |
FIGURES on THE GENERAL RESULT.
Although the Exhibition is nearly FIVE
months old it actually has not got its
growth yet In $ me departments ad
ditions and changes are still being made o
improve their completen ess and attractive
ness The pomolog,oal or fruit display. for
ins,ance, is better than it has been any tim G
since The season began several : ates now
being represented whose fruit was not sufli-
cicnily m"tured to able them to make
very good exhibit during the period of the
stated display. from the llth to the l0ih
'ns'ant. Among the States now coming
oiward are Maine and Wisconsin, from
whom applications for sp .ce have re-
Gently been received. and fruit is still on
the way. while other collections will be
shipped as soon as in proper condition.
The pomolOgical exhibit promises tor some
weeks longer to continue to be the finest
ever held, embracing as it does fruits,
melons, etc. from Florida TO Canada, and
from The Atlantic to the Pacific.
And special features of various kinds are
constantly devised and announced, SO that
those who have been here from the very
first days of the show still find new worlds
to conquer, and new sights to see. estate
days" are just now occas ons ofpcrticular u-
tcrest. New York day beat all the days
since the opening until yesterday, which was
Pennsylvania day. The official report gave
| the attendance or New York day az l34 5SS.
| This was n proud record, but Pennsylvania
has the advantage of being on her own dung
| hill. as il were, and she saw those thousands
and went several better, have as yet no of
fetal data as to the number of admissions,
but the outpouring from the city aud oil the
surrounding country was simply immense.
| Pennsylvania and Philadelphia have made
the Exhibition, to great extent, their own
from the outset, and local pride was en-
listed to make the state day pre-eminent.
1t seems that showers of "the queer"
visit the Centennial too. The city papers
thoughtit was good joke on New York
ers that the largest amount of counterfeit
money taken on any day so far, was re-
ceived on New York day, but as the crowd
in attendance Thursday was larger than
that of week ago. possibly. the laugh may
come in some where else when the returns
are made. Tie amount taken OH New York
day was SIG, 80 consisting entirely of bogus
silver pieces. The value represented in
mutilated silver pieces was S775, most Of
this having holes through the centre.
This sort Of thing brings grief to the stile
keepers, as all condemned money Is de-
Quoted from the salary of the one receiving
it.
Lovers of the lore of the middle ages will
have an opportunity TO see practical illus
tration of one Of the most interesting GUS
toms therein chronicled on the Centennial
grounds, October 10, the day of Maryland s
special celebration as one of The original
thirteen states The exhibition is called
the Centennial National Riding Tourna-
ment. Fifteen knights, representing the
thirteen original ;ates, the Union and The
Centennial, are to participate in the tourna-
ment. A queen Of love.and beauty, accom-
panied by four maids of honor, represent
ing, respectively, the North, South, East
and West, will be the incentives to chival-
rous conduct on the part of the equestriaus
In addition to the medals which the United
states Centennial Commission will award o
the conquering heroes, the executive com.
mittee of the tournament offer valuable
prizes to be tried for.
As already rem arked, by far the most
interesting feature of the Exhibition is the
opportunity afforded the student of human
nature to prosecute his studi.s. He need
not confne his attention to one particular
portion of the show, for subjects present
themselves in every direction. They are
especially numerous in the art galleries.
There is something about good pictures and
statuary that cause the unre6ned, those
who have not wrapped themselves up in the
mantle of reserve, to speak out; conse-
quently the opinions of many can be OBJ
tuined without much trouble. | was curl
Gus enough to take up good position
, alongside of little concet in marble in
the shape of child with an extremely sor-
rowful face, the grief evidently caused by
the breaking of a cup which lay shattered
at its feet. Seven out of ten persons passing
this made audible comments concerning il
to their companions or bys.anders. The
naturalness of the piece undoubtedly at
tracted their attention while they had not
| given glance for much more meriteri Gus
works standing alongside of It, But was
going to tell you Of an art ceasor happened
to overhear in the annex. 1t was in tn,
Italian Department whe'e it occurred, an(
the objects that excited the censor's dis
, pleasure were the subjects Of general ad
miration-some elegant marbles depictin;
the grace and beauty Of the female form
f Them things are 90 vulgar" said he, st,
put where decent people cap't help lookin!
+ at them" turned to gaze at the maj
who had made the speech. He was an un
commonly dirty specimen of humanity, witt
) unkempt hair and beard and Tobacco sole
shirt-front. His companion was shad
, more decent in app aarance, and conse
!. quently in thought, so was not surprise
I to hear him try to make a defence of tn
1 statuary, which be did by saying 1t Wa
o meant "to show nature" Some natur
oughtn't be shown" was the uncompromis
ing answer heard as the two walked away
: And this, thought to myself, is one of til
swine before whom are cast the pearls of q
Y rations in the shape oftreasures Of art.
n A lady from the north of Ireland, at pre-
}, sent employed in the performance of IN anui
labor in the house Of friend VI mine. wen
: to the Exposition the other day. On he
s return the mistress of the house said
q her: swell, Kitty, what d id you think I
;, it?' "Och, sure" was her reply. sit
ii all very well for them as has seen nothing
) bu: to any one who has been 10 the fairs a
IS Carrickfa, gus it looks very name indeeC
" Och ma'am, him wor the sights to Sc
Why I've seen silk wurms there as big
: calves, aud me own brither in 80 druv
fl score Of pigs TO it, and iviry one of thi
# was the size oy an illiphant. The show
very well in its way, but ye know ye'I
young here yet, and much cannot be e.
II pected of yez." "Well, but, Kitty, sure
is the diamonds were worth seeing were the
&C mol? Everybody says they are very fiji
inGeed." ''ls il yon bits Of things? Oc
} honey, yez can't name thin STRINGS Of lit
IT badesI Sure me own sister when she ma
+. ried Johnny OTOoie, had u striLg c
Il diamonds round 'er nick, iviry wan ov thi
as big as a pOtaty! Sure, I'd niver thir
l. ov comparin' Thin up yonder in the she
IN wild ma sisters - and with n calm smile