The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1885-05-13
Our Exposition Letter.
from our regular correspondent,
New ORLEANS, la, May 1st. 1885.

NEW OhLEANbf llAss May ISL, lNhb.
Among the United States exhibits, that
of he Fish Commission is Of interest to
the whole people. IT, as sometimes claim
ed fish is brain food, there can hardly be
too much Of il, and it ought to be very lib
orally distributed among politicians, states
mou and newspaper correspondents The
exhibit hero represents the entire process
Of fish culture, from the taking away Of
eggs, all the way up to the full grown fish
A large model includes the efigy Of an op-
orator opening a large salmon, when mil
lions of eggs are disclosed, and the curious
thing about it is, That the process does not
injure the mother fish, Which is often re-
placed in the wuter alive aud eggs taken
from her the next year The eggs, as here
exhibited, are placed in vorious jars, being
removed from Que to the other as they in
crease in size, or are shipped to order.
There are also various models of inclined
"Fish Ways designed to assist fish in
swimming over the falls Of streams, one
representing that in use at the Great Falls
of the Potomac, which are 70 feet high,
aud over which, by means of inclined
Ways" causing the water to flow back
ward, the fish swim with perfect ease. A
singular fact in the life of the California
trout is, that it is sent into the world pro-
vided with ratious for six weeks which are
carried in a haversNck affixed to its
stomach, and which serves to sustain its
life until able to work for its own susie
nance. IL any of your readers wish to es-
tablish a fish pond and want a supply of
carp, they eau address Mr. l. T. Ellis, U.
S. Fish Commissioner, Exposition Post
Office, New Orleans, when their requests
will be promptly attended to. Ours is a
fraternal government, and will not permit
any Of her children to needlessly suffer
from want of fsh-any "carping' crti-
cisms to the contrary.
So much for fish and a word about
'fowl" may not be out of place. In various
legislative bodies next winter, propositions
will be made for appropriations to foot a
great many bills incurred by various
Commissioners" in charge of State exhib-
its. While doubtless most of these bills
will be found correct and fair, it has, in
more than one instance, been openly
charged that some have been lavishly and
unnecessarily contracted 1t has been
charged that deputies" have been and are
attached to some commissions, at so per
day, whose sole duty consisted in spending
few minutes each morning in busting the
exhibits, work that any boy could have as
well done for a few cents, as some are so
engaged. And it is notorious fact that
very often, when some of these deputies
or "superintendents" have been really
wanted, they were off on pleasure trips, or
hidden away in some secure nook, engaged
in the luborious work of sparkling" or in
sucking iced brandies through straws.
While it is to be hoped that these criticisms
cannot be applied to many commissions, il
is certainly true that some so-called "assist.
ants" or acting commissioners, when they
even had duties to perform, have neglected
them, being absent from their posts when
wanted, and of no earthly use except to
draw fat salaries. 1t might be we'll for
some legislatures, before paying bills, to
do as the government is doing before pay.
ing out its late appropriation to the Expo,
sition, require an itemized statement OF
account or appoint investigating commit.
tees, etc, Honestly conducted commissions
could not object, and ornamental deputies
who have idled the winter away here at $9
per day, might look elsewhere for pay fol
useless, or no services at all.
But criticism of this sort is not so pleas
ant as to indulge in just praise and leave
it for more agreeable subjects. While
'loafng about the throne" the other day
and passing through the model educationa
exhibit of Iowa, found an exhibit there
which, in complication, variety and orna
mentotion and beauty and finish, riyiall
the five thousand dollar dressing case from
Mexico. 1t is piece, or work, of penman
ship which has never been equaled among
its class. In size, it is SKI feet, and con
sists of a dozen varieties of lettering, will
winged figures of Mercury, Corinthial
columns, vine-wreathed border, shading
as eXquisitely fno as gossamer, the Who'll,
80 perfect and picturesque as to be frequent
ly mistaken for a fine steel engraving. Thu
artist whose work it is, Mr.. c. S. Chap
man, student Of Prof. Bailie's CONNER
oiol College at Dubuque, was engaged min
months in the production Of this splendit
"Pen Picture, his only instrument beinl
an ordinary steel pen It has on it hi
perfect portrait and that of his instructor
and is valued at 81 800 Among the beau
tiful lettering, we are informed that hi
school is the oldest of its class in the North
west and the still more gratifying fact tina
it is designed to fit it's students for the &C
- tive pursuits of business, what can mot b
7 said of many old institutions, which often
er unit their graduates for making an hon
orablo living, turning them rather int
very Indifferent specimens Of the dude, o
into professional failures.
The weather is now exceedingly fine
and the people are still coming in larg
numbers to see the Fair, A promiuen
Iowa farmer who has been here a week
Just said TO me THAI he would not hav