, 1876-10-21

'hc Queen Of Shcba, on a certain mr""f.
able OCCASION. or to parody the express
sion OF another rcsd rcr,,nogr, | went
say. was overwhelmed.
To descend to the common speech OF
every day modern life; have been to
the Centennial.
took notes to ail oycrtaskcl mem
org, but even by the help OF these, ! tear
little can be done to give You any adc-
uuatc idea OF the wonders and beauties
that await your inspection. You must
see for your self. Still, AS | read with
Nidty, before going there, everything
that fell in my way upon the subject, and
continue to do 50, now that 1t is no long
or wholly t2ra iacognta, | may without
vanity. hope that what write will he of
interest, though 50 much is being said
and written on all sides, and by all pens.
The first glimpse of the city Of a sum
mcr, which has sprung up like magic
and mushrooms outside the Fail cnClo.
sure, was by gas light. The pavilion.
like structures were all open to the street,
with flags flying, pillars gaily wreathed
and painted, and stands OF fruit and
bright coorcd small wares bordering the
steps. Inside great many little tables
and chairs suggested ice cream, and 9th
rr dclcacies, while in the far end of sew
eral could be seen stage with gay hang
ings, upon which were performers in
fantastic dress, or a minstrel band, for
the alluremcnt of the idle and curious,
who might then be lnveigIed into some
other indulgence or expenditure.
Outside again were huge bills or pla-
cards setting forth the curiosites and
monstrosities Of the side shows A two
legged horse upreared himself on his
hind tect--if they cun be called hind
feet, when there are no fore mot tour
ieet. What the creatures fashion of
lOcomotion might be, | did not learn.
Perhaps he walks upright like man,
hut without arms to balance himself it
must be at an awkward gait. His pict-
ure looks like some fabulous monster OF
the deep, or the creation of night
mare, (no pun intended.)
Near by was placadrtd "Ghost Show"
the tall white letters on black ground,
themselves suggestive totne fearful fancy
of train OF gibberin spooks.
Afterwards, on an open lot near the
same place, was funny little short-leg-
ged man, who seemed to be trotting
around at some game of spegs in the
ground. His head and body were as
large as those of an ordinary man, but
his legs were so short that he looked like
boy of seven or eight years. He was
always surrounded by q group of men
and boys, but what the little monster
was doing, never could make out.
At this tituc, or from this point, the
buildings Of the exhibition proper, were
lost in the gloom of night, except the
long line of dim radiance, shining
through the latticed glass of the main
building which is only lighted for safety
and the needs OF the guards But there
were glimpses of towers, pinnacles, and
graceful perspectiyes, and the memory of
it all is now like veritable mid summer
nights dream.
On Monday morning, I passed by the
proy turnstile into the enchanted ground.
1t may surely he called thus, when one
thinks of the numberess powers ofearth,
air, fire, water, human patience, skill and
study, that have gone into the creation
and combination of this great display.
But not TO moraliao' or philosophize, let
us materialize, so to speak, some OF the
memories Of those COOL bright, delight
tul days--days which make life richer
and broader, and the future even, seem
better worth striving for.
Once within The Main building, l found
myself transported to China, for the mo-
ment, and group OF natives in costume,
was quite as attractive as any of the ex-
hibit, bringing with the pagodas, lively
rccolections of the pictures in child
hoods geography Exquisite carvings
and inlaying, are displayed here-a mag
njhcent bedstead attracting a great deal
of attcnton-so costly and elaborate,
however, that only an Alladin palace