The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-05-26
CENTENNIAL.
The Exhibition Increasing in POpu.
larity-ThP Chinese Display-Of
Handicraft-NOtes.

Handlcra1t-N0teS.
PHILADELPHIA. May 23.-The at
| tendance at the Centennial grounds is
| steadily on the increase. Nearly all the
exhibits have arrived. The flower beds
about Horticultural Hall are beginning
to bloom and present a beautiful sight
PHILADELPHIA May 22--The wealth
er to day was delightful, and the attend
ance at the Exhibition much larger
than for some days past.
The weather on Saturday was all that
could be desired, and, as a consequence,
the different lines of street and steam
railroad cars leading to the Exhibition
carried more than a full quota of pas
-engers. Long before the hour for op
ming the gates to the general pnblic
had arrived lines of persons anxious TO
gain admittance were to he seen, adinis-
sion fee in hand, waiting their turn.
Each succeeding passenger car and
transfer coach added To the long array,
md as each person took his or her place
lin line" merry remarks were made at
their expense, and in all cases good ma
turedly received. An hour aiterward
he scenes in the different Exhibition
buildings and about the grounds were
as interesting and as instructive as they
we're varied.
THE CHINESE DISPLAY.
To visit Machinery Hall, where all
the marvellous inventions Of the past
century are congregated, or even to gaze
ON many of the products of modern
achievement exhibited in the Main Z
Building, and then enter The Chinese
department, will necessarily indnce a
train of thought very complimentary TO |
ourselves and not very complimentary to |
the ingenuity Of our Celestial neighhors;
but to make tour Of the main build |
ing, and after examining all the finest /
specimens of real workmanship exhibit !
ed by Europeans or Americans. then to |
return to the Chinese department will /
enable any one ofaverage intelligence to |
estimate the exhibits of the Celestial !!
Empire at their true value. The de- /
partment is filled to repletion with the |
most elaborately carved. inlaid and en- |
bossed articles of ornament and actual |
utility, and every inch, every line Of
this work is the product not of mechani-
cal contrivances but of human labor d. |
rected by an unerring though somewhat
incongruous sense of the beautiful, and |
aided by endless patience and persever-
ance. The entire exhibit of China is |
composed. not of mighty engines for I
economizing labor, nor the apparently |
delicate yet actually coarse fabrics man
ufactured in astonishing quantities by |
implicated machines, but of artistical- |
ly beautiful though nsthetically grotes-
que ornamentation, which has been cul- |
tivated until even the most ordinary ar
ticles of household use have been trans
formed into visions of unique beauty.
CENTENNIAL NOTES.
There were %, ,622 cash entries on Fri
day.
At least 1000 residents of Mississippi |
are expected to visit the display between
July and September.
The great demonstration of the Ma
tional Division Of the Sons of Temper
ance will take place June 18th.
No action has been taken on Mr.. Bid
dies argument before the Executive
Committee of the Commission in favor |
of opening on Sunday.
1t is stated, as one reason why the
Exposition should not be opened on
Sunday, that it "wonld be a Aagrant
breach of the well-settled law of the State |
of Pennsylvania"
The insertion of the photograph of
the holder of each upon all tickets of ad-
mission requiring the same, including |
those to the press, is to be insisted upon ,
after the 1st prox.
Various additional conveniences for |
visitors were supplied on Saturday, in
cluding a number of various wooden
settees, arranged at convenient distances
along the avenues directly leading to the |
entrance gates.
Information has been received that
the Hebrew Monument of Religious Lib
erty, intended for dedication on the
Fourth Of July, as to which apprehen-
sions of delay have been expressed, will
arrive from abroad in time for the cere-
monies on the day appointed.
Announcement is made that the Aus
trian section in the Art Gallery has been
temporarily closed in order to perfect
arrangements for the better protection Of
valuable paintings and statuary. portions
of which, as alleged. have been defaced
by marks from umbrellas, knives, &c.
What remains of Commodore Perry's |
flagship Lawrence will shortly be plac.
ed upon exhibition. 1t has been taken
from the harbor of Erie and will be
shipped piecemeal. At the close it will |
be cut up and sold for canes, chairs. &c
The hull ofthe Lawrence has laid for 80 |
years in Misery Bay, where it was sunk
after the battle.
Large and Small.