The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-01-09
Centennial CuriOsities.

To the Editor OF the STAR:
Mr. James Abel, late Chief Janitor of
the Centennial Main Building and an
nexes, has just returned home. MIR.
Alb / brought with him a splendid gold
medal, awarded to him by the Centen-
NAL Commission for his fidelity and
ability as Chief Janitor. When it is re-
membered that this Commission is COM
posed OF representatives from all the
principal nations in the world, and that
everything pertaining to the manage
ment Of tho Great Exposition was car
| ried on Dramatically, this medal must
| be looked upon as very high compli-
ment.
While Cincinnati may well feel proud
of her Director General, A. L. Goshorn,
and her l.. IL. Norton, superintendent
of Steam, we feel an equal, If not a
greater pride in our Chiel Janitor, MI.
| Abel.
Being one OF those unfortunate gen.
tlemen who failed 10 visit The Centen-
MAJ, | concluded TO do the next best
| thing, and that was to get all the in
| formation could from our distinguished
| towhsman, VINO seemed very wiling to
crafty my curiosity. The first thing he
| exhibited was a small cabinet composed
O.; great variety of agates ana rough
! precious stones from the 'Orange Free
States" This is a little German Re
public in the interior OF South Africa,
which has, it seems, escaped the oDser-
yation of modern geographers. Mr..
| Abel informs me that it required one
year to transport articles from this Re-
| nuplic to Philadelphia, as they had to
| be borne thou sands of miles in Africa
| on the backs of human beings. Here we
have another grand Illustration OF re-
| publican enterprise. We hope this glo.
| rious little Republic will continue to
grow and prosper, aud never be an
moved with ''Returning Boards"
| Mr.. Abel then showed Us what the
| Chinese call the "Sea Horse" This an.
| imul is about SIX inches long by one aud
a half inches broad, having head re.
| sembling that of horse, and u tail g.
sembllng that of a serpeat. 1t is u very
singular little animal, and differs SUn
derlully from the 'RiVer Horse r hip
! popotamus, that were ancient found
along the river Nile. The Sea dorse is
AN innabitant Of the Chinese ,eas.
Our attention Was then Jailed to 9
Ismall box very artisticalIy constructed,
aud composed OF woods from all nations
lrepresenled at the Exposition. These
woods contained u great many varietIe.
from the beautiful white pine Of Russia
to the olive OF Palestine.
Interlaid in the center Of the
cover OF this box, and in tAc
form of star, is a piece 0
the ship "BOna Homa Rcnards," the
first American vessel that unturled the
American flag on the Higu Seas, Paul
Homes, OF undying fame, being her CON-
mander. ..,...
The next thing that claimed our atten
ton was small cabinet composed OF
mineral specimens from the principal
linations of the world. This, thought l
would be splendid treat for a mnerar
Iogist. Among others there were live
Ispecimens from the crater Of Ktlauea
EHawaian Islands, the mostremal kable o
which was what is called ''Pelals Hair
a siliciOus substance OF yellowish COZ
For, and resembling human hair. Many
Iother curiosities were exhibited by Mr.
Il Abel, but we will not weary our readers
with further details. At some future
time we will resume our article, ant
give some additional interesting partic
uIars Of the great exposition.
W. Ii. M.
/ CALIFORNIA, Jan. 8, 1876