The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-14
THE srRANoER,s VOTE NOOK.
The PhiIa dclpbin Exbibition-The way 30 go
thither -Prcsent condition of the Grounds
and Buildings How mach Of the Exhibi-
tion can be Opened on the 10Th OF NAV.

George and Fred are my oldest American
friends, and most amiablc gentlemen they are.
IL was they who introduced me into the mystic
ries Of mixed American drinks on my FIRST land e
Ing In this country; and It was they again who
proposed to me tie other day trip to Phiadel-
phia for the purpose OF paying preliminary
visit to the grounds on which the United States
intend tn fight the exhibition propensities Of
the English, the French. and the Austrians. The
acquaintance OF my friends with the Quaker
City Is OF long standing, and one Of them being
himself an exhibitor, I could not have bad any
better guides for this kind Of an excursion.
The day decided upon proved a horrid one.
dismal rain poured all night through but my
friend justly remarked that New York was not
Philadelphia, and that the H,rdlds weather pre-
dietions are not TO DO relied upon further than
gunshot from that newspapers once.
The quickest train to take In the morning Is
that starting from Desbrosses street at 1880.
The hour Is rather alarming, but for peo-
pie who, like my friends, are accustomed to 20
TO bed early In the morning, this did not seem
TO make any difference. A heavy fog was hang
ing over the Hudson river we crossed IL In
the ferry; influenza, rheumatics. and catarrh
were deeply rooted IN every particle of air that
one inhaled but that, too, did not make any
difference to us, for we had all three been afiict-
ed with these innrmitIes for many years past.
Besides, do not both moralists and physicians
say that there is nothing like getting up early
and taking a stroll in the bracing morning at
mosphere2
Always anxious to strike an average in every
thing, had In my pocket a copy OF lHE SrN
and one OF the Tribune but my companions
were not satisfied with these two papers. and as
soon as we reached the New jersey shore we
had n Herald. World, and Times added to
them. Five leading New York papers contain
more reading matter than could possibly be alb
sorbed In Journey OF some two hours and
half, and expected accordingly to reach
Philadelphia better and wiser man. But the
moment we left the depot II turned out That II
was too dark yet to read the pa pers. and George
suggested that the most suitable pastime would
be to give me a lesson In draw poker. The con
ductor was ready TO supply us with a pack Of
cards, and a few matches and box Of bronchial
lozenges, which Fred had in his pocket, were to
serve a. chips. A table was brought into the
private compartment we occupied. and a few
minutes later I was thoroughly Initiated in all
the mysteries OF "straiehts," "aushes," Jack
pots" and the rest Of IL.
To teach me the great American game was,
however, not the only object OF my friends.
They we're anxious to provide for the expenses
OF the day by means OF a kitty" and, a. far as
I was concerned, the plan proved a great sue
cess. Providence, Always anxious TO protect the
Innocent, saw me through the game, and when
we reached Germantown Junction we had over
Nifty dollars In the kitty," without my original
stake OF lozenges and matches being In any way
impaired.
The sun shone brightly, the good Quaker City
was sL hustle, and there was nothing TO trouble
our anticipation OF q bright and happy day.
The American code OF morality prohibits a
man from avowine that he plays draw poker,
especially In a railway train, and At such
early hour but make this confession pro bono
publeo, as have found out that without
kitty" providing for the expenses Of the day,
a trip to Philadelphia becomes very expensive
amusement. 1t 10 difficult to realize how the
sveIsRe New Yorker will manage to see the Cen
tenniI show, especially II lie be blessed with
the possession OF q wife and few daughters to
be carried with him. The railway fare IL over
Is apiece, the carriage expenses to and about
the grounds will make at least ~ much again,
and the meals to be taken during the day, with
the fees to be paid for admission, will bring the
total TO at least SIS head, without indulging
10 any extravagant extras. The Frenchman or
German who, with 80 francs, or $50, can take
fortnights trip to Switzerland, and see ali the
marvels OF Alpine nature, will be very unpleas-
and will have to spend the same amount Of
money In three or four days. The promoters Of
the Exhibition promise In their circulars
and pamphlet that they will do their best
TO prevent any extortion on the part Of
Motel keepers, restaurant keepers, cab drivers,
and all the people who Will have to provide for
the discomfort Of the visitors. But all this is a
mere promise, and the prices charged even now
clearly indicate that the future rates Will exceed
the paying capacities Of com mon mortals.
1. may seem that In the above estimate the
carrisge Is an item OF luxury; but It Ia by no
means so. The Exhibition grounds extend over
such that a man will have to be posse -sed
OF the walking capacities OF a Weston OF James
Gordon Bennett to see what there Ia TO be seen
without the aid OF some sort Of vehicle to trans
port him to and from the station and the princ-
pal buildings. II must also be said that, unless
superhumsn Efforts are exerted ON the part Of
the Exhit ition authorities 10 improve the condi-
tion Of the roads aud avenues, walking will be
out OF the question. The ground of Paramount
Park consists at the present moment OF red m I'D
about couple OF feet deep. When the hot sea-
sets In this red mud will naturally be trans
formed into red dust OF about the same depth.
An approximately correct idea Of the nature OF
this mud might be obtained from the fact too
the Commissioners OF the Exhibition and the
NbltOIs VINO nave attempted as Yet 10 ptIdtnOh-
late about the grounds have invariably left in
the mud both boots and ealoshes. One Of the
Commissioners ia even said to have lost his wife
| IN this way, and since that time gentlemen who
| do not want To go to the expense OF carriage
| have TO carry about plank to be stretched over
| the most dangerous spots which their ladies
have to pass.
| As matter OF course this state OF affairs will
| be improved between now and the l0th day of
Nav but the time left Is very short indeed
| and the work 10 be done overwhe miugly large.
| Some bits of macndamizng have been begun In
| one or two OF the most favored avenues, but
there IA stili very little macadam to be seem and
| the bits that are 20 be seen remain in an unpleas
antly soft condition. One walks on them as OF
| heated gutta percha pavement, and an imures-
sion Is conveyed to ones mind that the first hot
| or wet day will transform these macadam ed
roads into black mud instead OF the original rcd
The sad condition Of the grounds becomes al
the m ore striking through the contrast with the
| handsome buildings which are scattered all oyel
| the immense extent OF the park. Americana
| having immensely on the brain, the dimension
| Of the buildings are not so very surprising
though the exhibitions OF London, Paris, anC
| Vienna are, ss the popular phrase goes, " al
| beaten to pieces" by the magnitude OF the edi
| dcas whtch American Qe MUS haa produCed he re