Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-05-27
THE CENTENNIAL.


I have been to Philadelphia, and
have seen the great show. 1t is q
big thing, and everybody in the
United States ought to see it. Make
no mistake-y0u ought to see the
Exposition. The display Of ma.
chinery is wonderful; the display OF
minerals and other productions OF
that nature is still more so. and the
art department is as rich as rich
can be. Europe and America have
contributed the best of their works.
There has been the most generous
provisions made to show everything
that is rich, rare, curious, and in.
structive, and there can be no bet.
Ter month or week spent than at
the great Exposition. 1t is O liber.
al education to go through the vari.
Gus departments and study what is
Of interest. The ancient .jewelry,
that goes back to the time of Char
lemagne, the ancient pottery from
Herculaneum and Pompe;i, and still
father back Of that; the pottery OF
modern days, showing by contrast
the difference between the ancient
and the modern; the world of EN-
brOideries, laces, fancy work of taste
and utility-in short the wilderness
of everything, ancient and modern,
that can be used and that can de.
light the eye or the other senses.
Such collection will not be seen
again for a hundred years, and prob
ably never will again. But while ]
advise everybody to come to Phila.
delphia this season, l am equally
earnest in advising them not TO come
now. The fact is, as gigantic as the
Exposition is to-day, it is still in a
very cru de and unsatisfactory con-
dition. There is an entire lack OF
order, as yet; the classification is
imperfect, and consequently it takes
twice as long to see what you want
to see as it ought. All this will be
lemedied in time, and the show will
be in better shape. The wonderful
aggregation will be classified and
order will finally reign where chaos
now is. But this alone is not why
[ advise your readers to stay away
for the present. There is a reason,
beyond that. The fact is, the Phil.
adelphian has not vet found out
that there is bottom to the purse
of the people, and that the world
was not made for Philadelphia to
pluck this year. The city is specu.
lating. Presuming that the people
would come, any how, the Philadel-
phian. from the hotel keeper to the
boOt.black, sat down and calculat-
ed, not how to make the visit of the
stranger agreeable, but how best to
pluck him. The Philadelphia has
spent nights in calculation as to how
much the stranger would stand with.
out rebelIing, and lie is going to the
outside of that limit.
The Hotels have forgotten that
the war is over, and the best of them
charge s. per day, with everything
under heaven that impndent and in
geniOus clerks can pile on in the
way of extras. The smaller hotels
are equally extortionatc. the board
ing houses are equally grasping, the
bars are simply outrageous; the rail-
roads have made 10 concessions to
speak of--.in stort Philadelphia has
its hand on the purse of every one
who comes, with its "stand and
deliver"
There is just one way to beat this
game, and only one-don't come.
Stay away until these people get
sick and come down. Show them
that there is no especial necessity
for going to Philadelphia this year,
and that to get you, Philadelphia
has got to make bid. Let Phila.
delphia understand that you must
be ensured good, square, honest
treatment, if you come, and the de.
cent people of Philadelphia will see
that you get it. Three mechanics
went into the regularly authorized
restaurant, on the grounds, the 9th
er day, for lunch, and were compel
led to pay $3.50, for a lunch that
would have been dear at S1.OO a
month ago. Stay away till PhiIa-
delphia invites you by promising
you protection against organized
robbery, If you stay away long
enough they will want you badly
enough to do this-if not. stay away
altogether. Philadelphia, precisely
as Vienna did, is killing its goose
while it is yet ii gosling. But make
your arrangements to come. All
his was to have been expected, and
in a week or two it will cure ITSELF
There is plenty Of room, and the
people will find where they can get
'air treatment.
FASHIONS,
The most gorgeous contrast OF
color upon white, or the yellowish
;inges in vogue, will be seen in dres.
" costumes the coming summer.
Because it is centennial year, and
everybody is under the necessity OF
wearing the red, white and blue
aste goes a step farther, and sane
ions such unions as cardinal red,
With either brighter Marie Louise
,lue, or, what is more effective, deep
lavy blue, and ecru yellow. The
hree colOrs are worn in bows and
ashes on black silks, grenadine es.
and on white muslin dress
IS. Please observe the distinction
he warmest, richest shades must he
lsed, not merely bright ones. 1t
rill not do to wear cherry color and
zure together, for stylish effect on
White dress or a black one; the reds
nd blues are to be deep and bright
Ogether. Instead Of the uniform
elief OF black and brown trimmings
cen so long, street suits of pale
rOwn and the fashionable pearl