McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1885-04-16
OUR EXPOSITION LETTER.

Gu Wy lnuulSence-Gllat OF looking upon
beautiful pictures. We gaze and gaze,
depart and come again, to drink in the
lights and shades, and beauties of the
painters wondrous art. So it is with
the crowds who daily throng the Art
Gallery of the Exposition-from morn
ing till night, continuous stream of
visitors are going and departing from
this attractive resort. 1t may be that
there is nothing so extraordinary in the
collection, but what there is there, has
the remarkable power to draw a full
house every day, and the mention of a
few pieces may not be without interest
to your readers.
"Bracing up, small painting, about
12x24, attracts much attention, as its
wonderful realism touches a tender
chord in the memory of many specta-
tor, who recalls the tremulous mornings
experienced after being out with the
boys 1t is the picture of vigorous
old topper uusteadily pouring an "eye-
opener into glass, giving it mean
while look of most comical satisfac-
ton, his only companion cat, sleeping
quietly on her chair. Thomas Hill has
a larger painting entitled-"The Last
Spike" -representing the act of uniting
the Union and Central Pacific railways
in 1860, which contains many life-size
figures of the persons present on that
occasion, including the since
noted Sanford, who holds the silver
sledge with which the golden spike was
driven, while mounted on ladder in
The distance stands telegraph opera.
tor ready, at signal, to flash the news
Of the completed connections to all the
cities and towns of the land among
The group of spectators are Indians,
section men, and the inevitable station
oafer. Like all visitors, your cores
oondent will often be lured to the Gal
cry, but at present must go over to the
states" and fill an appointment with
friend.
CALIFORNIA AT NEW ORLEANS.
The older reader will remember how,
hat forty years ago, California was
scarcely heard mentioned in the United
states, and if read of at all only as a |
ar-off country, sort Of desert land in
labited by barbarians and pirates,
mong whom life and property were dis
egarded and unsafe. Nor was it till |
ong in '49 and so, that Americans
new that there was such country.
hen, and for years after, it was look
d upon as a mere sterile mining camp,
Productive of nothing but gold: and
ven that in uncertain quantities, in
he pursuit Of which disappointment
as the rule and success the exception.
Who ever in 1850 or even in later years,
ad predicted that California would be-
ONE in his generation, one of the first
gricultural states in the Union, might
ell have been arrested on the charge
F lunacy. Yet here today she presents
erself in the Worlds Exposition, not
My as one of the first agricultural
,ates of our Union, but challenging
lie oldest states and countries as hor-
cultural section of the world, and COM
citing even with the West Indies in
lie quality and excellence of her semi
'opical fruits. Her exhibit here, made
Y the Southern Pacific railroad compa-
Y, is one of marvellous richness and va
10 her exhibit every variety of grain
I'd seeds occupy leading place, the
hole crowned with the heavy corn
alks Is feet high, and samples of
heat and flour than which there never
i've been better produced, having more
ian 5000 specimens from every part
the great state. One of her private
ETY., and of such general interest to
e whole country that your correspond
1T has given it much attention, as the
'omised completion of the Ship Rail
ay across the 1sthmus, adds increas-
interest to the entire Pacific Coast.
tizens, in order to aid in making known
e excellence of his state as an agri-
lltural garden, Gen. Jno. Bidwell, of
ute county,) has vast private ex
BIT of grains, vines, fruits, nuts, etc, :
his own production. There are over
10 samples of grains in the sheaf from
e State University, in this particular
ceiling any of the other colleges of
e older states In this display is in
uded hemp, ramie, flax, wheat, etc.
lere is shown also model of the eel
rated Young harvesting machine in L
q in no other cOuntry because of its