Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-06-09
OPINIONS on THE cEsTENNIAL-


The Exhibition in Philadelphia, the direct
ans of most of the large banks gave their
clerks holiday for fOrty-sight hours, and
Dsid their expenses to the Centennial. This
was a treat to men who were tied down to
the desk the year round, and about 200 Of
the gavest men rode of In the bright morn
ing with their wives and sWeethearts. to do
the Exhibition. Brown Brothers, one Of
largest banking firms in the city, gave each
Of their married employees $50, and the
single ones $25, so that all might have
taste of the pleasure. Another firm pro-
vided a draWing-rOom car for their en-
ployees. Such liberal dealings character
ne firms Of standing, who keep their
trusted clerks for years, till their customers
know the very peculisrities Of their hand
1riting and fold of the letters, and would
hardly recognize correspondence coming
N any other way.
But the Centennial did not seem to i'm
press ali its visitors in an extremely favor
able way. One Of the young men who
went in this excursion expressed himself
without reserve on has return as to the
value Of the Exhibition, and his remarks
are given for what they are worth.
s'See it ally' he broke out, in answer to
question, 81 saw it all in six hours.
went through all the buildings, took two
lunches, and was back in New York the
next morning. In my opinion, the Cen
tennial is the biggest f-r-O-d ever perpe-
trsted on an unsuspecting public. There
is hardly a thing to be seen that one can't
find in the Broadway shop windows. There
is an enormous display Of fine dry goods
and furniture, but nothing better than we
see every day. There isn't $50 700 worth
Of jewelry in the whole exhibition, and not
more than 2,0OO pictures. The machinery
Is wonderful, and the buildings are large
and showy. The Women's Pavilion is
nearly as large as any of them, and was
full Of bric-a-brae, which my lady friend
with me said was rather cheaply done"
And he expressed in other language that
he didn't want any more Centennial in his.
This is only an opinion, and, as Josh Bill
hngs says, opinions are like other Yegeta-
bles, worth only what they will fetch, but
it may console the few who are prevented
from going to the Centennial, to know that
they have not lost all there is in the world
by not going.
But, notwithstanding the adverse opin-
ion of these bank clerks, say the Centen-
NAL is big thing; and one which every
body ought to see. There are art pictures
in plenty, and the best in the world; there
IS statuary; there is machinery; there are
goods from every country in the world,
and there is everything that can delight
and instruct. 1t is precisely what was in
tended-an exhibition Of the worlds pro-
gress; and whoever does not see it, misses
an exceedingly good thing. But don't let
it cost you too much. There are not
enough people in Philadelphia to stock the
boarding houses, by a long way; and there
are rooms for a hundred thousand more
than are there now, or will be there at any
time. Pay no high prices. Stop by the
day till you get what you want at the price
you want, and then settle down quietly to
see what is to be seen. The hotels and
boarding houses are more anxious to have
you than you are to have them. There
has not been that rush that was expected,
nor will there be. Six months is a long
time, andit will spread out the exhibition
tolersbly thin, so far as people in attend
ance is concerned. There is no necessity
for paying exorbitant prices. One can live
in Philadelphia this summer as cheapiy as
in any other city, if one knows how. The
secret is: wait. Go till you find what you
want; and don't be frightened by any re-
ports of crowds. There is no such thing.
There are more rooms than people, and will
be to the end Of the exhibition. But go,
by all means. 1t is worth going ten thous-
and miles to see.
METROPOLITAN ExTRAYAGANcE.
There is money in the country some
where, or people could not afford such in
dulgencies as are offered by our mefropoli-
tan shops of luxury. At fashionable fur
Westinghouse, where the designs are al
ways in the best OF taste, was SHOWN some
Of the new fashions for decorating houses.
The heavy hand-wOve Japanese broeades,
in rich, subdued colors, made raw silk,
mixed with gold, were certainly very hand
some for chair coverings, and looked as if
they might be JOY forever, like all truly
beautiful things. They were of ordinary
width, but when the attendant mentioned
the price-only fifteen dollars per yard
awe took possession Of my soul. s.How
much would toe Quantity sufficient for up
holstering a sci OF furniture costY' 1 ven
tured to inquire. g From one thousand to
fifteen hundred dollars, was the answer.
And didn't ask any more questions. But
the dealer went on to show me satin, fig
ured with gold embroidery. at SIS yard,
with which he was to cover large room in
place of Wallpaper, and l thought of the
country suffering from stagnation of bust
ness, and grew sick. This is no exaggera-
ton, and no more are SOME different fact:
with which I am going to contrast this.
SHADOWS OF CITY LIFE.
At a desk in the room where this letter is
written, sits one of the best stock actors in
the city, who two months ago was receiv-
ing salary Of $50 per week, with steady
employment for the summer. In an evil
hodr, in hopes of making a big success, he
was persuaded to give it up and go " in q
star part. " as it is called, in the country, al
large salary, to be sure, but still ona ven,
ture. 1t was not a foolish thing to do, in
fact his friends congratulated him Wher
they heard of it, that ne had chance tc
distinguish himself, and make reputation
like Mulberry Sellers, which would make
him rich for life. But the play proved NOT
a success as was anticipated, and the man
left out Of employment, with a family on
his hands, and not stroke of work to b,
had. The companies are ell full for tn,
season, and the poor man sits there within
reach, penniless, living on one meal day
Of bread and water, supplied through tn
chance gift Of his friends, Ight-heade'
with faintness, and unable to keep hi
children fror, h1noar Farmers who psth