Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-11-01
BOSTON LETTER.
BosroN, Oct. 2s, 1881.

L
BosroN, Oct. 20, 1881
Raised on pedestal In the main hall OF
the New England Manufacturers and Me-
chanics' Institute Fair, Is French's sturdy
figure of Steam bound to wheel. 1t Is
sculptured allegory Of the practical slavery
Of steam In the working Of the great en-
gines on either side. There are eight Of
these of various makes, and they are SO
situated that the characteristics OF each,
In form and operation, may easily be com.
pared. Besides these standard engines,
there are several others, which, from their
novelty, attract much attention. Scient-
lists and inventors have long had Fremont
tions that steam, though the giant motor
OF the present, Is destined, in the near fu-
ture, to be superseded. One result OF
their experiments on exhibition at the Fair
is a gas-engine, which, If II can substanti-
ate any respectable proportion of the
claim OF its inventor, will be OF great econ
omic value. Another result is miniatur.
machine run by electricity. A third, and
the most notable, is a large engine OF
alternate expansion and contraction of air.
Expensive and well-nigh innumerable ex-
perimeuts Were undertaken in order To-
overcome the obstacles that attended the
utilization OF this force. The most impOr-
taIt claims ia its favor are that no expio-
sion can occur under any circumstances,
and that there Is saving of seventy per
cent of fuel a. compared with steam. The
| Of ht.sh h..r. fnfr af rItt
that with no difficulty whatever IL can be
constructed 10 exert five hundred or more
horsepower. 1t at present works an cleo
trio light machine, and the steadiness,
puiselessness and rapidity OF its operation
argues we'll for It's practicability.
There Is probably no department at the
Fair that has occasioncd more interest and
favorable comment than the textile exhibit
both OF fabrics aud machinery. Many
competent judges pronounce IL superior In
the exhibit at the Centennial. 1t is well
worth examining In n systematic way.
There are up-rooted plants from the Red
River district, classified bulbs from the
eight cotton-growing States OF the South,
aud an extensive collection of the raw sta
pie from foreign fields. Having seen these,
one should inspect the processes OF card
ing, spinning and weaving, aud finally the
enormous showcases containing almost
countless varieties of cotton goods. The
textile and leather manufactures, beng the
'e ding industries OF New Engli ii, ere
W v appropriately the most prominent At
the Fair. The exhibits OF iron aud wood
working mac .iines are also very extensive.
In fact the visitor 10 the Institute may Oh
serve In nutshell-though assuredly
| somewhat spacious one-most OF the im-
portsnt processes In all the great industries
OF the country.
There Is certain exhibit In the main
/ hall. which, though not conspicuous by it,
size, Is OF peculiar interest at present.
| Comparatively few people notice II, but
probably there Is not q visitor 10 the exhi-
bition who would fail 10 inspect II were he
aware OF It's character. IL consists OF a
small pyramidal glass case with cone In
tile centre, studded with many varieties OF
caps, shells, aud bullets, and surmounted
| by brass statuette OF Mercury. poising Il
cartridge In its upraised hand. In cor
ner At the base, with Its ugly muzkle bear
lug iull upon the visitor ~ he approaches
! from the main aisle, Is British bulldog
/ pistol OF the same make. and the same N
every particular, as that with which Gu
itesu sho. the President. There are also
| IN the same case specimens OF the empty
shell, the bare bullet, aud the compl-tr
cartridge. Another minor exhibit that de.
| ,ervvs attention aud gets II, l. the cabinet
case OF Gettysburg relies, located about
midway In the right gallery. One choice
item of TIE collection il the telcscopcd
lead of a fed .ral miuie and q rebel round
| bullet The veteran In charge states that
the only similar relic in this country i At
| Concord, among the Revolutionary sOuye-
| Mrs. Near AZ hand. there l. Ia De - en- for
/ a limited period, the favorite iiag OF Capt.
/ Raphael Scmmes, whom sundry people
viii recall as "A yuyHgrr OF somewhat un-
conventional propen>ities. The bunting is
AT pre- ent the property OF Mr.. l.. W. Boyn-
ton OF Hartford, who prizes II AZ ten thou
sand dollars. IL Is accompanied by auto
graph letters from Srmmrs aud Others,
which bear testimony To It's gcuuineness,
and j. said Ia bee the only authentic relic
OF the privatcer In existence.
To many people not especially Informed
in matters of art technique, hcliutyin- -
subject cn>hrOudrd In vaguencss. The
mysteries OF this process by which steel
IN pavugS are 50 closely Initiated can
eIsily be comprehended by deyotiug ten
minutes u 4 certain section In the lcIt
gall, v. Here the various operations are
rer erred perfectly Ineligible by u series
OF specimens, aud 4 press In practical OPP
-ratlou. Several hundred copies OF Pass
! in Boots. At Last AloLe, and other popular
pictures are being produced this week.
The ladies, a proportion OF whom in
their Efforts To understand and appreciate
the intricate meChsnisms ON the main
| floor, do not always meet with the most
| flatteTipg success, continue ~ find them
selves particularly at home among the fan
cy goods exhibits aud the music aud sew
| Ing machine psgodas. Visitors of tender
years are apt 10 look with tender approba-
ton upon the class-blowrrs, the wax
workers and the corn-ball man. One thing
that every body should do is To register for
the huudred-dollar gold watch witch is 10
ne given away. This is the mlldest form
of lottery imaginable. The number ,000,-
00l Is To be divided by the whole number
OF registered names and the prize awarded
TO the name Indicated by the remainder.
| Among the curios at the Fair worthy OF
noe are pair OF socks made OF canine
yarn by Boston lady, four-pound frag-
mrnt OF fallen star, and petrihed birds
nest containing three eggs, the identity OF
which are puzzle 10 the ornithologists.
If one has time, it is well to interview the
phrenologist, and visit the lady In the
s,me section, whose flowing tresses fall TO
- a,I hsr fka clio