San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-03-26
Our Observations, at The Exposition.
SECOND PAPER

on this subject "broEe % in the mid
die" We had only fairly intro
dueod the reader into the Government
Building and given some idea OF It's
different compartments and their
arrangement The o2h!bils furnish
ed by tho General Government, ~ We
stated, occupy most of tho central
part OF this space, and are designated
20 the eyeby thoprofuaion Of National
aags overhead, This department IL
full Of interest throughout. contain
ing, as it does, great part OF tho
treasures Of the Smithsonian Inst
tute and others FROM the various de-
partmonts at Washington. We can
only notice few points.
There is Il completely appointed
post Office in full operation, designed
10 show the latest improvements in
that branch Of tho public service. 1t
is better than many large towns
or cities can boast, rpd is of great
practical utility. The exhibits per
tanning to the Greedy expedition APP
pear to attract az much attention. rs
ANYTHING else. These comprise nc
rics Of figures dressed in the various
costumes actually used by members
OF the expedition, consisting OF the
heaviest and finest urgarments. Their
mode Of sleeping, boats. provisions,
etc, are also shown, The Indian AZ.
tiquities, relics, etc, comprised in
this department are humorous and Of
great interest. Tho United States
hospital and medical service is illus.
trated at large. whaling vessels
and Accomplishments, etc. But we can
not further particularize in this de
partment.
Tuning to the several state de
partments, we naturally begin with
Texas. From what we had heard,
we were agreeably disappointed to
find the Texas exhibits so large and
complete. II is true that ihcy arc
not by any means all that the state
was justly entitled to. but consider
ing all the circumstances, arc quite
creditable Much of the credit for
this is due to the efforts Of tho Com
missioner, Major Elliott, a gentleman
justly popular with the citizens of
the state he 80 ably represents. The
Texas section is conspicuously locat
cd near that of Uncle Sam. Next to
the Office of the Commissioner and
his secretary, is large room whore
visitors from Texas most do congre-
gate. There are kept files of nearly
MI the newspapers of tho state, docu
monts relating therGto, etc.
Here stands conspicuous very
notable piece of handiwork. 1t is a
large desk made flom tho various
woods Of Walker county, Texas The
upper surface is beautiful mosaic of
these woods, mingled with elegant
prtiatic designs, Ill admirably eXocu-
ted This work attracts unusual nd
miration. which is heightened when
the visitor is informed of the fact that
the whole Is the work of Charles Mil
Ter, convict of the Huntsville peni-
tentiary--in for life, and having scrv-
ed nine years, for murder We leave
it for casuists to consider, how opwhy
n man capable Ct such work should
have prohted 80 poorly by his gifts.
In front OF this apartment come
the various exhibits in detail The
samples of Texas timbars are numer-
Gus and sufficient to astonish n citi-
zen of the drier portions of the state.
Cherokee county alone presents fine
samples of nearly al the t.mberS of
the best timherol Gtates, including
sugar maple and the rest We had
no IDEA IF seeing them from Texas soil
There are also good samples Of coal.
Then there is Il collection OF insects.
etc. of America. north OF the Brazos.
10y s. Heilighadt, Of BIstrop, which
10 admirable aud exccllcntly arrang
ed, and would bring him fortune
If he wished 10 sell it. Tho fine arts
are well represented in the way Of
paintings and ornamental Wo.k. The
china -et manipulated with news Of
the old missions, etc, b, ladies' Of
San Antonio. one Of the hest Of them.
has already been noticed III our col.
umns In the limo q cur.cz.ii.s are
20 be seen Gen HOustcns arms and
military efuipage, santa Anuas sad
de, captured e. san Jscirto, &c
We cannot att apt furihos details
On the ini,riC. extremity oftL. Texas
sTaoo is al a,hor SHAPED small build
iLg, IL shiel. ale LeT,l lo-istois cftLe
=