New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-05-12
PROGRESS AT TIE EXHIBITION.
ryGLANp's AND JAPAN'S GREAT SHOWS OF CERAM-
ICs-GIfMoRE'S DEBUT AT THE CENTENNIAL


ICs-GIGMoRE's DEBUT AT THE CENTENNIAL
PLACES WHERE CONFUSION STILL LINGEEs.
IrROM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
PHILADELPHIA, May LITTLE general appearance
of the Exhibition to-day is vastly more satisfactory
than was yesterday, and the prospects look more
and moro encouraging every hour. mean OF course
the prospects of getting before the Summer fairly
opeDs perfectly well ordered and beautiful display
in the midst of the pleasanest and pTettlest grounds
ever devoted to such purpose. OF the financial
prospects it would be rash, after the great
blunder in the estimates last night, to venture
nnv opipiOn The statement of the num-
Der of persons on the ground at the opening
telecraphed to all the papers was obtained from
official sources, aud yet it turns out to have been
nearly three times too high. We must wait till the
money IS counted before we speculate upon the at
tendance to-day The fact is, it is sheer inpossi-
bilIty 70 make rational estimate of the number of
people in such place. The ground to be covered Is
so vast, and the buildings are so many that ten
or fifteen thousand persons may be lost 10 sght
almost as soon as they have passed the gates
and nobody will know where in the laby-
ninth to look for them. The general aspect
of the Enclosure. however, this afternoon is P0Tu-
lous The walking Is now good, and all day the
walks have been dotted with ramblers and n steady
stream of people has been flowing from one center
of interest TO another The character of the attend
ance has changed very much, as l predicted that il
would The best features of the Exhibition, such
as the English display of ceramics, are throngcd
with eonnoisseurs, and the exhibitors and their
sstans are kept busy explaining the pecuaritles of
their goods to apprcciative listeners. Many pup
chases seem to have been made also, especially of
English porcelain and Doulton ware, and there are
constant inquiries about prices in the japanese sec
ton, where may remark, nobody need try 20 buy
without long purse. OF course none Of the goods
sold can be removed until the close of the Fair
The work goes on steadily IN the Main Building,
but not with the frantic haste that was put forth
during the last few days before the opening Even
Portugal has made little progress, and the slow
but steady Chinese have made formidable attack
upon their pile of boxes, pulling out pagodas, and
Ife-size figures intended to display costumes and
models Of the female foot deformed, and still
further supply of tea-caddy gatewsys The French
ore slow, and though they keep at work see little
change as vet in their dsordery interior Great
Britain had not much to do but she has very much
improved the appearance of some of the most con-
spcuous sites in her territory; and our own people,
who have more energy for squirt than all the other
nations put together. are eettngOn fanously.
There has been good deal Of speculation as to the
meaning of the circular stand erecting at the center
of the great open space where the main transept in
terseets the middle nave. A great many people.
principally old ladies from the country, apparently
supposed it for tired visitors to sit upon III all
sorts OF dolorous attitudes. But this afternoon the
question " as cred, when GilmOres band marched
in about o'clock, turned away the carpenters,
and began an overture. An orchestrlon was playing
tunes at the same time two or three aisles TO the
west and the war of the piano-forte makers was
doubtless raging as usual south-sOuth-west-and-by
south but the waves of harmony did not seem to
meet one another and dare say if even steam
calliopo were introduced it would not send more
than two or three of its nearest neignbOrs TO the
lunatic asylum. A geutleman has been playing
Shoe Fly" and other classical compositions on the
chimes for the past tbrty-sx hours, and nobody is
the worse for it,
more scientific correspondent than pretend TO
be has made you aware OF bc Progress in that neigh
boring structure whereof l may borrow the words
of poet who wrote Of the first Crystal Palace IN
Hyde Park, just quarter Of century ago
There's staym ngyues
That stands IN lines,
Enormous and amazing
Like whales in sport,
Or elephants a-grazins"
The truth is have had no time to do moro than
walk huTriedly through the Machinery Hall fr
determined to devote half hour or 30 this morning
before attempted anything else to a rapid survey
the RESULT began as soon as the doors were open
with the pottery department. which was nearest the
entrance, and when they turned everybody
out of the building this evening l had only
glanced at the ceramics admired the heavy furni-
ture, and walked around Elkingtons of silver
ware You may Judge from this how rich the British
section is in its strongest departments and what
serious task hes before tho nan who thinks OF
seeing the Exhibition" The plain truth is that if
you wish really to "see" the Fair, you must stay
hall the Summer; If you only want to run through
II, you must stay not less than a week.
Your regular correspondent must supply you also
win an account of the state Of things in Agricul-
tnral Hail. where, besides the natural products Get
me borrow again the apt language of Thackeray's
Sir Moloney whose delicious verses fit Philadelphia
as II they were made for ~:
"Theres carts aud gigs,
And pins for pigs,
There's dbblers ana there's barrows
Ana pl0ws Ike toys
For little bows,
And Elegant wheelbarrows,"
ior have not succeeded in getting there either.
started from the Memorial Art Gallery but on the
way came across the Japanese bazaar, and there
was plasteTer at work on scaifod, and japanese
iaborer, with great round white inscription on his
due back, handing up plaster in wooden spoon
aslght which seemed TO me so funny that could
not tear myself away from it, AS for the Art Col
ec.ion that appears BE getting worse and worse
"aiy Is distracted by the process Of
anpacung statuary. Great Britain is locked
Up until railing is erected. Austria is still not
ready, and the crowd which is always deDser in the
Art Department than anywhere else. only adds to