The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-05-09
CENTENNIAL ECHOES.
The Exhibition in Miniature.

Paramount Park has come to City Hall. This
statement may be open to some objections,
geographical and other, and there are those
who, dramatically welded to truth, will de-
nounce it for gross exaggeration. But if
Paramount Park has not come it has sent its
Xix eness.
Seriously the great imposition" at City Hall
is no imposition at all, but one of the neatest
parodies which the wit of woman ever con-
ceived. No one who visited Philadelphia last
summer can afford to neglect this admirable
| burlesque, for it recalls and emphasizes the
chief attractions Of the great show. and mis-
chievously initiates its most prominent features.
A stroll in the hall is much like looking at the
exhibition through the little end of the tele-
scope. The show is as good as one of Bret
Harte's condensed novels.
From entrance to exit the parody is preserv-
ed. One goes in through the turnstile (happy
to find that the vexatious regulation in regard
to fifty-cent pieces has been abolished, and
happier to discover that every day is halt-price
day. and Immediately the sound of the chimes
on Machinery Hall strikes his ear. Indeed it
may strike her ear if one of that kind. Pres
emily the full glories of the Exposition greet
the eyes, The Main Building in its long ex-
tent stretches before the retrospective gaze'
and the courts of the nations invite the won
dering attention of the visitor. AS the great
organ gives out its music the stro'ling sight
seer pushes his way through the surging
crowds skillfully avoids the rolling chairs,
plies the Centennial Guard with useless ques-
tons, touches the articles which are labelled
''Do not hande,' and amuses his felow-travel-
ers by absurd remarks upon the sights with
which they happen to be familiar. IF he
knows his business he strokes the pg-tail of
the Chinaman, asks the Jap where he got that
yellow gown, and lifts the bright fez of the
Tunisian from its resting-place. The first
sight which meets his wonder-Seeking eye is
the Turkish bazaar, and if he be devotee of the
great plant he will pass under the silken cur
tains and over the bright-colored rugs, seat
himself on the purple divan and play for a
good quarter of an hour the Unspeakable Turk
with hookah or chibouk to lip. Then, with a
muttered "Kismet' as he pays the fee, he will
pass to other strange countries. The MFR
schaum and amber display of Germany, the
merchandise de Paris of France, and the goods
of other marts command lingering attention.
But the visitor will not be wrought up to en-
thusiasm until he reaches the mummies under
the temple-porch of Soudan and Egypt. The
inscriptions upon these works in clay are cal
culated to excite wonder and awe. and the tales
of the Talmud or the marvellous stories of that
appendix to the Koran which the Mussulman
devoutly believes in are wildly probable in
cnn Tho disn1ov nv no Init
should not be neglected, for in that department
are exposed to view the most interesting relics
ever seen outside Of canvas. The boot which
Andre wore on his bootless errand (the most
capacious despatchbox whereof history has
record) the original anvil of Valley Forge, the
shoes worn by the bare.footed soldiery at the
same place during the terrible winter of their
discomfort, and the famous3 torso of the Venus
of the Mound-Builders the first result of the
gravitation of the savage mind toward the sub.
lime and the beautiful ian image of chaste
grandeur, as the affixed placard sets FORTH de-
mand long and admiring regard. Not less
worthy of attention perhaps than this interest
ing relic of the Mound-Builders Though vastly
Inferior in intrinsic value and historic WORTH
is the Tiffany display. There the lover of
gauds can feast his eye upon the fatal opal
which Anne of Gierstein owned, the great dia-
mond of the Cape, and the ruby which flashed
in the turban of Aurungzeba. Here, too, are
to be found some of the most notable llstra-
tions of American history.
After sauntering through the Main Hall the
spectator turns his attention to those other
buildings which are only less noticeable be-
cause of their smaller size. Taking a rolling
chair he soon finds himself within the doors of
Machinery Hall, where the great Corliss en-
CINE keeps time with its strokes to the rhythm
of the chimes in the tower above. Passing
hastily by the Krupp gun and the other pro-
ducts of the effete despotisms of Europe he
comes to the machines which the ingenuity of
the Yankee has contrived for the tightening of
the labors of the world. The first object which
should strike his attention is the corn-cr1sher,
an ingenious piece of mechanicsm which can
not fail to excite his wondering regard The
propeller, the elevator upon which letters pa
tent have not yet been granted by the state) the
apparatus for combustion, the thrashing ma
chine, and other results of the intellect of the
practical mechanic will not escape his notice.
After passing through the two large build
ings the delighted visitor cannot be content I'm.
til he has seen the others. horticultural Hall
will detain him some hours on his Journey
about the grounds, and the wonderful fruit of
the date palm, ported within its confines, will
yield him untold if not unfeigned enjoyment.
The Women's Pavilion strikingly illustrates
the aggressive disposition of that sex which
mankind misnames the genter. and upon its
broad tables are displayed the terrible enginery
of feminine warfare. Passing hastily by this
formidable display the weary wanderer chances
at the improved method of archery of the Kin
dergarten and makes his first stop for refresh.
ments at the New England log cabin. There
while he partakes of dishes of the olden time
he is permitted to look upon Prisclla's spin
ming wheel, and John Alden's table, and Lady
Wentworth's chair, and Miles Standish's settle,
and Gov Carvers Bible, and Oliver Walcott's
dresser, and the Bradford table, and the Win
throp clock, and some famous China ware rich
with the memories of hundred years. (genu-
inc relics all), and last upon that idol of New
Eogland, Peregrne White, (whose Graded
image the skeptical denounce as an imposi-
tion.)
From the New England cabin he passes to
the art gallery at the upper end of the hall,
and there revels in the work of the chisel and
the brush. Time fails US now, and no more
than brief mention can be made of its glories.
But the hasty visitor must be cautioned not to
neglect the Castellani collection of antiques.
So long an expedition suggests lunch, and if
one does not care to stay and partake of the
exquisite coffee and ices of the Vienna Bakery,
he will repair to Lauber's on the Trois Soeurs,
whose cartes are subjoined:
LAUBER'S.
SPEISEN LISTE,
Hummer Suppe. |
Kartotfel Suppe.
Rind6eisch-Sauce la Bismarck
Kalb braten. Zunge
Hammel Braten. Wurst.
Fleisch-raucheD, Sauer-Kraut
Kartotfel Salat.
Hummer Salat.
Hummer Salat
observation-disclosures.
Vanlle-getrornes.
Allerlei Kuchen,