Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-06-08
Tales aud SketeAss.
For the journal.
THE PERMANENT EXHIBITION, Or THE
6RtAT CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION CUN.
DENSED.

| mosphere being redolent of the sweet fragrance
| of its perfumes, which would afford pleasure even
| to the blind, and proceeding onward among the
| rare and tasteful displays of tie Industrial De-
partment, a magnificent painting, grouped with
many flags, appears in the distance, attracting the
| visitor with the magnetic beauty Of its brilliant
hues. This group is an historical trophy by w.
III. Wilcox of Philadelphia; (now resident of Ger
mantown Penrsylvania) one of the great ar
| lists chosen by the United States Centennial Com
mission to select from the numerous offerings for
Memorial Hall such paintings as would credtably
represent the American Department.
In illustration of the artists conception that the
American flag like the country it represents, is
growth and development, the painting, central in
| the trophy, denotes "the Birth of the National
| Flag" or "the change in the character of the
struggle from that of few colonies contending
for their rights, TO that of new nation struggling
into existence The banners of ST., George and
st. Andrew, the ancient devices OF England and
Scotland are displayed at The top of the design
| the right and left the other flags show the trans-
ton fIom these TO the stars and stripes.
The picture is a most interesting and beautiful
| illustration; sky at early dawn, a hazy, mellow
| light along the horizon over a distant mountain
| range series Of long belt-like clouds having
formed in the gorgeous approaching sunrise, red
| and white stripes which with blue sky to the left
studded with stars, present striking resemblance
| to the "Fag of our Union," the moon, vet linger-
ing sheds her fading light upon the landscape, the
| foreground of which is alcove within the out
skirts of a forest, sentinel seen resting on his
gun and pointing to the wonderful appearance in
| the sky. The watchful, thoughtful patriot dis
covers in the dawn the birth of the national flag and
shouts his new allegiance, calling the attention OF
his soldier comrade, evidently just awakening who
is arising from under his blanket. Their camp
fire is still burning, and the light of the glowing
phenomenon casts the shadows of the sentinel ard
| his musket to the foreground of the picture.
"Wben Freedom, from her mountain height
Unfurled her standard to the air, r-.ll a4
She tore the azure robe of night
And set the stars OF glory there.
She mingled with its gorgeous dyes
The milky baldrc of the skies.
And striped its pure celestial white
With streakings of the morning light
Pendant from the picture is shield upon
| which is grouped in one design the American arms
and the American flag. The latter is also en-
twined with the French flag in two groups which
placed equi-disaGt either side of the trophy,
, as an Acknowledgement of our obligation to the
French for their timely aid in the achievement Of
our independence. s.... I'D.
In the record of the American flag, written by
this artists the following statement "fhere seems
to have been no one among the founders OF the
Republic, who felt the importance OF collecting the
facts in the history OF the hag for TRANSMISSION to
| future generations; aud although its history is
| con prised within the brief space of one hundred
years, we have yet no knowledge to whom we are
indebted for its soul-inspiring devices.
| But from whatever source 1t may have been de-
| rived, whether it was by accident or design, our
fathers would have had great difficulty in finding
| any other symbol which in fitness, simplicity and
beauty could have equalled our glorious flag; and
now that it comes to us robed in all its hallowed
| associations, no other possible device could take
| its place in the hearts of the American people.
Its red signifies ardor martial prowess, boldness
and hardness its white, purity, innocence, beauty
and gentleness, its blue justice, perseverance and
/ tuile lfs nf a npy w fsAr
| IN the heavens, symbolizlng many states in one
| nationality; and its thirteen stripes indicate the
number of the original states and denote the SUI
| bordnaton of the states to the union, as well as
| equality among themselves.
| Among the many interesting exhibits in this
| Department, the world renowned manufacturers,
| Richard Esterbrook 4 Richard EsIeIbrook Jr.,
| firm in New 1ork-have very arts-
| tic display of their choice steel pens, in
| handsome case, resembling wide secreta-
ny; the lower part containing pens ornamen-
tally arranged, boxes of pens, sample cards, hand
| some pen-holdeTs, and steel representing the diff
ferent stages of pen manufacture. also narrow
strips Of the materia FROM which pens had been
cut in regular rows, their nbs towards the center,
leaving the refuse quite Ike an ornamental design.
The upright portion of the case. showing NAM
| moth pens and varied assortment of pens for
practical purposes; the latter forming flowers and
leaves, veined with pens of gold, also the figures
| 1858 and 1876, giving the age of the establish
| ment; and above all, as part of this ingenious
|
| seeming 10 suggest their use by transcribing the
| name of their manufacturers, II. Esterbrook &
| TO. The active tradesman, indcting business
communications, the anxious parent advice 10 an
| absent child, the youth missiyes of affection
the juvenile. copying first lessons in chirogaphy,
| as well the experienced tutor in his skillful
man ipulations, alike unschooled in the arts of
manufacture, little realize the numerous opera
tions accurate machinery, and great mechanical
| skill required to produce one perfect pen. The
steel used is of the finest temper brought from Shelf
field, England, in sheets evenly rolled out to one
| sixteenth of inch in thickness, five feet long,
and foot six inches in width and the most OF
the pens pass through from - to 70 distinct oper-
| ations the works stlord employment to about 800
hands. No doubt thousands of the Centennial
| visitors will long remember Messrs. Esrerbrooks
beautiful exhibit. These gentlemen cordially re-
celye all friends and customers at their factory in
Camden, New Jersey, where those interested in
the processes of manufacture can have their Gu
rosity gratifed.
Carter, Dinsmore e. Co.. firms in Boston and
| New 1oik, manufacturers OF Carters Ink and
Muc,lage, have most amusing illustration of the
merits of their mucilage which could scarcely fail
to force an audible smile to as sedate countenauce
as even General Washington during the Revo-
| lutionaiy War; of whom it said he was not
| known to laugh except on one occasion. When
passing, in company with another oficer, log
house, then occupied by family of ''porkers" one
| of which jumped up ard looked out OF the win
| dow, bis comrade remarked that the inhabitants
| of that house were rather long favored. Samples
IF the ink and muciage are shown IN handsome
case of oak, carved in leaves aud fine ornamental
work. traced alternately with black and scarlet jthe
case having five glass sides with mirror back re-
tectiLg their exhibit, pyramida! stand in the
center, displaying bottles of ink, one much
larger than the rest at the top, aud between tho
windows columns of bottles containing mucsge.
Within the case is also a written advertisement,
framed; headed elbow is this D" giving state.
ment OF the comparative percentage of the differ
ent varieties of nks used in the United States, of
which Csrter's claimed to be 36 per cent. The
case rests upon q square base having q neat rail-
ing around it. On either side of the fropt is
selpentne crystal rod, one led, one black, made
to revolve, giving them the appearance of q per
pendiculsr stream of ink which emptes into hit
tie wooden basin beneath 1t. Their ingenious IL
lustranon, before mentioned, exemphies the viz
tue of the mucsge by three lie size figures on
the top of the case. lad stands In the rear who,
it SEE ms, had overturned bottle Of the solution
on bench upon which dandy, clad IN light
brown suit, with drab hat and gloves to match.
god-bowed glss es chain, etc., had careiessly
seated himself, and on attempting TO rise discovefs
the accident, and finds to his dsmay that be Is de-