The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-05-29
CENTENNIAL FEATURES.

q. -" VIC uesC VI u NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. lItIit Isliu~
way between the art-gl0riese etf Memorial
Hall and the fiowery beauties of the Han OF
horticulture, surrounding q leafy ravine
which is spanned by rustic bridges, adj
Joining the Educational Building of Penn
sylvania, which offers food for the mind.
and not far from the Restaurant LAFAYETTE,
which affords equally desirable refreshment
for the body, stands s3t ~
ThE PRETTIEST PRIVATE STRUCTURES ON THE
GROUNDS, 's.s -
erected by the Singer Sewing Machine Com
pany-thc only sewing-machine company
which has separate building for its own
uses on the Centennial-G Grounds. The struc-
turc is in itself an exhibition Of the me-
chanical resources OF the company, For it
was built entirely by the employees thereof,
without any "outside" assistance what
ever, and is therefore, rs the president Of
the company remarked, with, under the
circumstances, little justifiablc pride,
"cntirely OF home manufacture" The
building is cottage orncc, OF considerable
size. and two stories in height. 1t is OF the
composite style Of architecture, and what
with its numerous windows, its gables, its
mullons. its varicgatcd slaty roof in red,
blue, and black, and its abundant bunting
displaying the flags Of all nations, with the
star-sI,angled banner in the place of honor,
presents gay, picturesque, and An attrac-
tive appearance. 1t is essentially summer
structurc-chccrful, cool, well ventilated
for comfort as well as show. There is n
wholesome profllsion OF glass about it; it
is intended to hold plenty OF sunlight and
fresh air in the mornings and evenings, while
in the full glare and heat Of MONDAY it can
be rendered rs secure from the sun rs any
t.,f hn 7
rounded by ample piazzaS, and wears q
chronic look OF cosy hoSpitality-an APP
pearance which is true index OF its charac-
ter For il is the intention of the Singer
Manufacturing Company to render their
building during the season Of the ExpQsi-
ton species OF
LADIES' EXCHANGE,
to which ladies and their escorts from all
sections Of this country and all portions OF
the world will be heartily welcomed, and
where they will be made to feel thoroughly
at home. Every convenience is prepared
for their accommodation, and every facility
that liberality can supply is placed at their
disposal. \ visitors registry, superbly
bound, is kept on one Of the tables in the
reception room, and already several of its
large pages are filled with autographs OF many
OF our most fair and fashionable country
women. In order still further to add to the
attractions of the place Il gOr@eouSly orna-
mcntcd machine, inlaid with pearl and
valued at $500. is exhibited in the corner OF
the reception-room in glass case. This
" beauty" us the ladies enthusiastically style
it. is marked with the startling figures
2,00Q.000. which signify that it is
TIE Two-Mu.L!oNTH sEwING-MAcuuNE
manufactured by the Singer Machine Com
pany-a simple numerical fact which will
better illustrate the enormous business done
bv. and the worldwide popularity attained
by this company, than any additional words
Of ours This gem OF Il machine is designed
as gift or prize. 1t is to be awarded, at
or before the close OF the season by lot, to
some one OF the registered visitors, so that
every lady who pays her respects to the
Singer Machine Company, ut It's cosy quar-
tiers. undcrgocs the pleasing risk OF rcceiT-
in%, is 4 present, the handsomcSt sewing
machine at the Centennial Exhibition. But,
altogether independent OF this delightful
chance. the building which we are attempt
inc TO describe is worthy OF visit on its
own account, and on account OF the Spccl-
mems OF skill and ingenuity which, contains.
1t comprises two large and elegant public
rooms, besides various rctiring-rooms and
I
toward the main building, the Pennsylvania
Educational Department and Memorial Hall.
1t is twcnty-sevcn feet by twcnty-four, and
is furnished with mingled elegance and good
taste. 1t is well lighted by four windows,
has two wide entrances, and is reception
room worthy OF the name. Comfortable
chairs, cosy lounges, soft, rich moquette
carpet, elaborate pier-glaSses, vases, and OBJ
iects OF yertu crafty the eye and satisfy the
needs OF the visitors while in the centre Of
the department, in one OF the largest OF
showcases, stands
AN OBJECT OF INTEREST TO THE WORLD OF
WOMEN
such q spectacle As a woman can see no.
where else. 1t is female figure clad in 4
dress OF white and pink silk and satin,
which, as a combination dress, has no equal
probably on the earth. In its texture are
illustrated eight different styles OF work,
each style being accomplished by the aid OF
Singer scwing-machine, no other instrr-
mentality being employed in the production
OF this work OF art. Hemming and sewing
OF lace is illustrated around the edges OF this
dress. Tucking is shown in the plates
around the cdging. Straight cording Is
shown in the pink plating, which lays over
the white. Then the ruche of cream-whitc
Sallll, IIlnHcu, us pay Stln dllOlncI sly IL VI
work, rs do the braided pyramids OF white
satin, each of which four pyramids is sur
rounded by delicate white cording, gradually
and imperceptibly merging into points and
curves. The heavy white cording which
cnvelops, as it were, each pyramid, illus
trates sixth variety OF Singer sewing
machine work. A seventh is furnished by
the quilting and cording on the front OF the
skirt, which is very elaborate; while the
superb embroidery around the pockets COM
plctes the varied display OF art labor. This
magnificent dress represents about twelve
weeks Of hard work Though it was really
| accomplished by two Of the employees OF the
firm, MessrS. Mccall e Clark, in about three
weeks, working double time), and is worth,
| even i'll the present state Of the market, from
$1,000 to $4,000. 1t probably could not be
duplicated for less than the latter sum. 1t
| is noteworthy fact that, although the
Singer Manufacturing Company has agen-
cieS in every city in the civilized world,
and although every agency was placed I'M
der rcquiSition to contribute to the Centen-
NAL department, the dress Just described
the finest i'll the known world-was fur
nished by the Iowa agency. The figure
has. therefore, been christened the Prairie
Girl In the same case, in strong contra
distinction to this republican beauty Of the
West, is life-like and liie-siZe portrait OF
the Princess Of Wales in her robes Of state.
The blending OF