Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-06-02
PHILADEL; HIA LETTER.
PHILADELPHIA, Nav 2S.

PHILADELPHIA, May Is.
The number Of visitors to the Ex-
hibitioi has not SO far come up to the
expectations of the least sanguine of
those immediately interested in it,
but they are keeping up their cheer
fuiness and courage re markedly well
drawing hopeful auguries from the
smallest increase of daily attendance,
ever ready with an excuse for poor
day" while the staff sticians have been
showing by figures that the paying
attendance so far has been nearly
treble that of Vienna during the first
eighteen days of her Exposi ion.
The daily expenses of the show are,
it is said, about $4,000 while the
daily receipts since May 10th have not
averaged one half that snm. The
country has about $1,000, 900 invested
in the Exhibition, and, in order to
make it pay, the net receipts must aV
erage about 500, 900 daily; there can be
no reasonable hope, even among the
most hopeful. that the daily net re-
ceipts will average one fifth of that
sum. Indeed it Is now generally All
mitted that the exposition in merely
pecuniary sense will not pay but it is
being improved dairy both in extent
and beauty as we'll as in systematnZa-
ton ana arrangement for the comfort
of visitors. 1t is still IL new machine,
with jars and imperfections here and
there, but enough may now be seen
to warrant the assurance that it will
pay i'll a higher sense than money.
Two very desirable ends to be
attained are the reduction of the adj
mission fee to twenty-five cents, and
such concessions from the various rail
roads as will place the Exposition within
reach of the largest possible number.
1t is not of the supremest Importance
that men and women of taste and
leisure should come here, they have
refined pleasures in books, pictures
and travel; but there is a less wealthy
class that cannot appreciate books and
pictures, but to whom this exposition
will address itself with the light OF II
revelation, supplying, i'll d@gree, :he
| want of travel and culture. am not
so insane as to suppose that 1t can be
made possible for all or even one
| fourth of the men, women and children
of America to enjoy this cosmos, bui
[ cannot help urging that it be placed
| within the reach of the largest posi-
BILE number to enjoy and transmit.
| The advantages to be derived from II
| great natural, industrial and artistic
representation, an illustrated pan
| tology, like this, are not of course at
tanned iii Immediate spectacular en-
| iOyment; the reductions s:tggeateL
would place the exhibition within reach
of many children in the public schools
in Philadelphia and the surrounding
| towns, aud while some of the children
would doubtless find less immediate
pleasure III the display, than III a
monkey show, the impressions that
! others would carry away with them
would be Invaluable n after life.
1t is encouraging to know that somo
| of the city restaurants, bosrdlug
houses and hotels have reduced their
rates so that living III Philadelphia Is
now but little more expensive than III
| other cities. There are places where
pretty good rooms and board can be
obtained for ten dollars per week, but
it requires time TO find them, many
houses ask that much for a room with
out board. Theyare very soclable here
in Philadelphia, very much disposed
to put five or six men into one
room. Their object is not to
promote ''brotherly love" but to
get a dollar apiece per night from
them. The charges of the restaurants
on the grounds were for the first few
days enormously high, but the pro
prietors were called to account by the
centennial managers and compelled 20
scale their prices which are now wi hin
reasonable bounds. 4 majority Of the
visitors seem to be Independent OF the
eating houses they bring their
lncheons with them ana may he see;
about noon improvislng picnicS IN the
numerous suitable places about the
buildings and grounds.
On entering the enclosure the visitor
who follows the directions of the
"Visitors' Guide" OF Lippincott & Go.
CAS- you value your money, buy no
other) will first get into car on the
marrow gauge railroad, and make n
tour Of the entire grounds III about
twenty minutes at cost of five cents.
BY this ride an excellent general idea
of the grounds and location of tt,
buildings will DO obtained and the
visitor will be prepared for more
careful and systematic inspection OF
the exhibits in tho various Buildings
There he must see for himself. | am
daily impressed by al j see. read, o,
attempt tn write, of the inadequacy
ttt'I IoiiN VI IitSt tlIoit ~ t'i'tiIaN ltiiS
stnpendoIs show, or any part of it, by
mere word sketches. 1t is impossible
to present picture worth reading OF
retained i'll this way Most readers
have little patience wit, what CariY lie
calls Ii erary flirtations with Dame
Nature, such as descriptions of storms,
sunsets, landscapes, etc. but Irritation
with Dame Nature is more tOierablo
than Irritation with Damsel Art. A
description of Mont Blanc or Niagar
may not fall utterly fiat. for almost
every reader is acquainted with noun
tains, and it is to be hoped with water
also. lie IS therefore assisted by 2
standard of comparison, and wien
Bayard Taylor or Walter Scott writes
about them. he obtains as correct au
impression as the student obtained OF
Shakespeare when he read the sentence
1.-The bard Of Avon is great spirit
and moves majestically along"
But to Say nothing of the uninter-
esting reading, it would be as tedious
as counting the sands of the sea, tC
attempt to write minutely about the
metals, furs, fEgree specimens, and
wax groups representing folk-hfe il
the Swedish department; the curious
mixture OF the exquisite and grotes Iue
seen IN the arpIamentation Of the
Japanese bronzes, cloths, screens an6
carvings; the antiquities in the Egypt
ian section; and the imposing exhibit
of the natural products of Australasia
These cannot be treated infinitely anC
IN detail, short of the labor of Hum
boldt and the scope of Cosmos. He
will succeed best who attempts only tc
prevent salient features; this your cor
respondent will try to do when his
Impressions are more mature, in /
wetk or two, perhaps. G. A. s.