, 1876-06-23
CENTENNIAL JOTTINGS.

arms to 100000 visitors on the
Fourth of July. The attendance
thus far, though quite large, has not
been commensurate with the expec-
tations of Philadelphia patriots. One
reason for this is the abominable
weather prevailing much OF the time;
another reason has been the incom-
pleteness of the show; and very
potent reason is found in the extor-
tionate prices charged for all grades
of entertainment. Perhaps the most
unscrupulous set of sharks whom
visitors are obliged to encounter are
the proprietors of restaurants and
eating-houses within the exhibition
grounds, They prey upon the hu-
man pocket-book with disregard
of justice aud honor that would
shame a cannibal. There is not,
however, much trouble in identify
ing
CENTENNIAL RESTAURANT.
The bread, to all appearances, is
one hundred years old. The beef is
from some bovine that browsed
around in the vicinity of Indepen-
dence Hall about the time John Han
cock signed the Declaration. The
tea is made by heating little water
taken from Boston harbor soon after
the Yankees had tumbled cargo of
tea chests into it. The butter is
powerful enough to inspire guest
with the most profound belief in its
existence for the past century and
its ability to survive through another
one. The deceased flies in the mus
tard are the same whose corpses
were thus embalmed at the out
break of the revolutionary war. By
these and other peculiarities you can
always tell when you have got into
centennial restaurant. There are
large number of them on the
grounds. Patronize whichever one
you please, and you will wish you
had gone somewhere else-especially
when you find that the price charged
for the refreshlnentsis just one hun
dred times as much as they are real
ly worth.
THE ART GALLERY.
As one wanders from one portion
to another Of the art gallery and
turns from looking at inanimate ex-
hibits to studying the people, the
fact is apparent that Americans have
not learned to look placidly upon
the bare human figure as put on can
vas or in stone. In European cities
art galleries are numerous and easily
accessible, and the public becomes
thoroughly familiar with such sights.
Hundreds of paintings are there, OF
which nudeness is a striking feature.
Here is a life-size picture of an ut
terly naked woman. The subject is
not classical-is French woman of
the present time. OF course one
cannot know that by her anatomy,
for nature follows. no changes of
fashion in molding human forms;
nor BY clothing, for there isn't ves-
tige Of any; but by the fact that her
hair is arranged in one of the elabo-
rate styles of the present. The cat
alogue simply says she is "a Wo-
man" and there could be no mis-
take about that. Another frame
shows recumbent woman-the 9TH
er is erect; and third reveals one
who has stripped herself to the
waist to pray, as a pugilist would
for fight. If Americans desire to
learn the lesson alluded to they may
make rapid progress in the French
department. | notice that the cheeks
of the pretty girl, who, as she leans
on her escorts arm, is made-to face
the picture of a Jewish Mother de-
Tending her seven sons, grow roster
in tinge, and that her eyes droop.
John Mulvaney's celebrated scene of
"Trial of a Horse thief before Wes-
tern Justice" scene from the davs
of Lynch law, shows a group of bor-
der types. Several shelves contain
Chinese books, including the works
of Confucius, but they are not much
read by visitors.
The contributions from the Navy
Department consist of munitions of
war, models of ships, scenes sketched
during noteworthy voyages, ETC., and
attract much attention. The only
thing lacking to make the collection
complete is a chunk of wood from
Noah's ark. If Barnum had charge
of the exhibit, such a relic would
soon be fshed up. If he could not
produce it. | do not Noah man who