Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1877-02-27

Number 10.
Centennial Correspondence.
Nv last left us in Agricultural Hall,
and my next explorations were IN
BRAZIL,
where the immense variety Of rare
and beautiful specimens OF wood were
mt once conspicuous. These were
cross sections, sawn from the trunks
Of trees, including the barks. The
great eXl ibit Of raw cottous surprised
ne, and if Dom Pedro had 40 more
than the diamonds and timbers and
cotton productions which he has cX-
hibItei, Brazil would stll rank as "A
great Empire. In .ar..
FRANCE
there were the usual evidences of su-
pcrior manufacturing skill that have
made that wonderful people famous
everywhere on the globe ] can only
note few of the many lines OF goods;
Demijohns, wickered with cane
Pickles in very attractive style. 1t
you'd seem difficult to show anything
peculiar in the way Of pickles. but the
French lave done so with brilliant
succeas. noted great quantities Of
Trutlies or Mushrooms, All article used
for dressing many French dishes.
Asparagus, seemingly as white as
Alabaster, and SO beautiful as to ap-
pear artificial ; Champignons, Sar
dimes, Lobsters, Legumes, in cakes
like va.i,gated marble. Sago, Loaf
Sugar of surprising beauty, and Of
course va t displays of Cognac Bran
dy, much Of it of the vintage of 1920,
dating back to the era of Napoleon
the great.
VENEZUELA.
Here WAS TO be seen the fine displays
of costly noots and shoes in the eXhi-
bition. Patent leathern boots, trim
med with go'd lace, and ladies CATERS
that must he seen to be appreciated.
\ giIt-bound portrait of The ImmOr-
tai Washington " worked in human
ha'r of various shades, was an artistic
wonder. In
GETMANY, AUSTRIA, &C,
there were surp rising displays. a
single article of Hops attracted my
attention among n thousand These
were so beautifully pressed into hand
some, solid packages that the Obser-
yer would not recognize them easily,
except by the unmistakable fragrance
which carried him back to the shaded
gardens and homes of his youth. -
Among the vast wilderness of wires
Of the,latter that contained a gallon.
The sun had set, and the thousand
wonderful machines that with their
Eiuews of leather, muscles of iron and
fingers of steel had under the hot
breath Of the steam king been busy
with their wonderfully cunning work
to save the moments and sweat of
man had, OF the touch of some skilled
hand on the governing lever, stopped
their iunumerable wheels and the
great net work Of shafting overhead
was motiouless. The police began to
warn visitors that the day was done
md the pOnderous doors would i'm a
few minutes be closed Shadows
crapt across the aisles, and the great
rats, that had gathered from the sums
and sinks of the city to depredate up.
on and glory in the good things of the
exhibition, began to move stealthily
from beneath the cases and tables Of
the Hall. We had not seen half its
wonders, hut we had to march out n
thing we did with much of the un-
willingness of our forefathers, who
disobeyed one command but could not
dlsohey the next one.
As we Stepped out upon the sloping
i'm of the park the twilight landscape
was the most charming had ever
seen. Art and nature in their lOftiest
development were softened by the
hour, The moon hung like a silver
shield In the clOudless southern sky
and the bells on Machinery Hall were
with the Dpnderous notes Ginning out
Home Sweet Home,n hint which
ninety thousand people seemed to APP
propriate al they slowly filed out of the
Centennial grounds.
On our return to the grounds next
day we made the usual hasty detour
though the main building, and then
Undertook
MACHINERY HALL,
a hasty journey down the main
aisle revealed to us such "A wilderness
OF subjects for curious study that the
thought Of the undertaking appalled,
US A single machine, Of the thous-
and visible, demanded an hours in
yestigation.
The great Corliss Engine, that
caused Il million wheels to whtr above
our heads and spin at our feet, seemed
IKE some mysterious and gigantic
power organized to run miniature
universe. At the end Of the fifty year