Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-02-23
THE GREAT AMERICAN E.K.
HIBIIION.
MIR. JOHN WELSH: BEAUTY OF PHILApEL-
PHIA: A WESTERN LAWYERS LESSONS /.
THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION: ELE-
GANcE, EXTENT AND FITNESS OF
GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS; MoRALAN
RELIGIOUS ASPECTS.

i lfUm thc Now oTh VDtcrvcr
Having seen some OF the European
International Exhibitions, or World'l
Fairs, and having made n patient stud,
for several weeks Of the one in Paris il
1861, the greatest of them ALL an
free to say that tho approaching Cen
tennial Fair in Philadelphia promises
to excel any and everything of the
kind, that the modern world has seen
This remark will be readily set down
to the American halit Of exaggeration
into grand proportions, while distance
dwarfs the same objects. Well, Let US
spend a few minutes in rapid survey
OF what il required busy but very
pleasant day to see.
The right man in the right place Ii
Mr.. John Welsh, President Of the Board
of Finance and General Overseer OF
the Centennial preparations. The
office and headquarters are at 9Oi
Walnut street, Philadelphia. Into this
office stepped at ten o'clock IN the
morning, and handing my card, as o
stranger, TO Mr.. Welsh, he said after q
cordial greeting
GLOW long do you remain in Phila-
delphia?"
"Five hours and ten minutes
"What have you TO do besides the
Centennial ?"
"Nothing. came solely to sec
what you have done, and must leave
the city this afternoon"
In few moments his carriage was
at the door, and we were off to Fair
mount Park.
As We rode through the city. Mr..
Welsh called nv attention to lis extra,
ordinary growth, the City Hall, Of
proportions costly indeed but honestly
built he did not intend to remind me
of orr Court House by pointing TO his
the clusters of churches and public
buildings. making a fine show of vari.
ous orders of architecture, which re.
minded me of visit TO PHILADELPHIA
more Than thirty years AGO when /
met nj tho General Assembly n LAWYER
from beyond the M,ssissippi River. Hc
said 10 me. 81 have never been East
before have read and learned all that
| could of the world from books; have
studied Latin and Greek but / never
saw a Gothic building and do not
know, exccpt from pictures and de.
scrintions tbe difference between Cor.
intLianand Doric STYLES of architecture,
will Won be so kind as 10 point ont 10
me as wo walk the several forms and
give me their names?p
| led him TO the old United States
Rank and 10 other edifices and rarely
have / since then epioycd more pleas
ure than in the pleasure this intelligent
student found IN the sipbt and per1sal
of Art familiar 10 his imagination. but
now for the first time real in his eve,
When he returned 10 his far West
home, he sent me a box OF ancient
Indian art. wrought centuries before
PHILADELPHIA was invented.
In Fairmount Park. including 2.740
acres within Tho citv limits but really
IN Tho rural districts connected with
Tho heart az the citv Nv lines of street
ears too Hundred and Hirfy.sir acres of
land have been enclosed with a sub.
stantial fence This vast area lies on
the banks Of the Scbuvlkill river. span.
ned with beautiful BRIDGES: tho grounds
are diversified with bill and dale and
plaip: forests of lofty trees. gardens
and flowers; fountains ever flowing
ravines, dells and pleasant walks; and
in the midst Of this wide and wonder
fully beautiful domain, have risen, as il
by enchantment, groups of graceful
and magnificent buildings, exceeding
in their magnitude, convenience, vari.
ETY. and architectural elegance and
fitness for the purpose, the preparations
made for any international exhibition IN
London, Dublin, Paris or Vienna. IL
is impossible to convey by description
an idea of building, or group OF build
ings. ] had no more correct impression
Of the Alhambra opthc kremlin than
n child has, until ] saw them. But II
you will fancy yourself with Mr. welsh
and your friend on Georges Hill, over
looking oil the grounds, with the trees
denuded so that they do not hide las
by-and-by they will with thor dlvlner
beauty, mans handiwork, you VIII take
in, at one grand view, the many palaces
Of art now shining in the brightness ol