The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-12-01
Fairfield County.
STEPNEY.

A. B. Curtias and son, Arthur, return
ed, Saturday, from trip to the exposi
| tion at Philadelphia, stopping at Trento
4 with relatives one Night. The following
p is a account furnished by them
Tuesday, the 2lst, was one of those per
feet days which seem to assure success
to a trip. Leaving Stepney at noon, VI
reached Trenton by the Pennsylvania
road at 4 80 p. H., remaining that nigh
with hospitable relatives, among whom
is Richard Lawren an Ovt rseer at the
States Prison. Through his kindness WI
were taken within the MASSIVE walls anC
shown where 1900 striped prisoners are
safely guarded and made to work fol-
their ''board and Clothes" Contrasting
strangely with this scene was visit tc
the Ceramic Art Works, ranking with the
finest pottery establishments in the coun-
try, where $50 lamps, vases and many
decorative novelties are made by high
salaried artists. The historic associations
of Trenton are Of int rest to every tray
eler, and it Is the site where Washington,
after perilously crossing the Delaware,
surprised and captured the Hessians, that
is pointed out by the natives with becOm-
ing pride (Read Paul Leicester FCrd's
new novel, Janice Meredith'O. Here
| is erected a tall, stately monument sur
mounted by q bronze statue Of Washing
ton. The afternoon OF Wednesday, We
pushed on to Philadelphia and were
there entertained by friends to whom we
are indeb ted for much Of our enjoyment.
Their spacious house on Diamond street
near Broad, the finest street in Philade l.
phia, furniehed the pleasantest and most
comfortable headquarters. Naturally
the first point of interest was Indepen
dence hail, and what true American can
enter that grand old building and not ex-
perience thrill of just pride at sight of
the great cracked bell, the room where
our patriots sat and signed the Declare
tion of Independence, the 100 paintings
of our heroes and the articles of furni-
ture that belonged to the bIavest Gener-
al the world has ever known. Our first
view of the exposition was obtained on
Wednesday evening from the bridge
crossing Schuylklll. The brilliantly
lighted buildings and the gay avenues of
side shows, like the Midway Plaisance,
made picture that instantly recalled
the Chicago fair, not in grandeur, but
similar effect Of white buildings and
sparkling lights. Two large bdildings
contained the main expositions, in one an
endless variety Of exhibits and the other
furniture, farm implements and vehicles,
including many of the latest improved
automobiles, the Stanley exhibit being
much in evidence. Record Of the largest
attendance at any one day is 90 600. The
fair civses on December 2. Our program
Thursday embraced the United 5taGes
E4inC, the Mammoth City Lall and Wanna
makers famous store.
catering the reception hall of the
mint, we were requested to take seats
and after Is or mole visitors had arrived
one of the guides, furnished by the Gov
ern ment, announced that he was ready
and led the way to sights that might
have done credit to the magic of Alad-
din's lamp. There were scores of boxes
filed with gold bars each box valued at
about $4,000. Nearing the coming
room we passed an king
workman hauling Car filled with many
hundred pounds of scrap silver from
which half dollars had been stamped,
but, strange as it may seem, we were
offered none of the pieces for souvenirs.
A large room up stairs ia set apart for
rare and valuable coins, dating back to
700 B. c. A duplicate of the Widows
Mite and the smallest gold coin in exist
ence, valued at seven cents, are among
the collection. Hardly a stones throw
from the mint Is City hall, % years In
the process of building at q cost of
1913, 600 900. At the top Of Its tower, 500
feet high, stands q gigantic bronze figure
of William Penn or BILLY Penn" "a he
ia aft ectionaly called. In the immediate
vicinity, occupying an entire block, is
perhaps the largest department store In
the country, q living monument to the
great executive ability of John Wanna
maker. From the material to the spirit
ual, we were shown Russell Fl. Conwell's
we'll known Temple of Baptist denomi-
nation with it's active membership of
| $500. Connected with this Ia co-educa-
tional institution, Temple college, of
5000 students, and tuition for evening
pupils of only $5, providing excellent
educational advantages for the poorest.
Friday, the closing day of our trip, was
occupied at Fairmont Park, the Peniten.
tiary, Girard college and Grand Opera
House ia the evening. A long trolley
line threads its way through the most
picturesque portions of Fairmons Park,
terminating near Memorial and Rorti-
cultural Halls, the last signs of the Cen
tenial. The thousands OF priceless curios
have remained at Memorial Hall and
since '76 many valuable and interesting
subjects have been added. Twenty three
wears have also made q marked improve.
ment at Horticulture hall, so that many
of the palms and rubber plants, though
slow growing, are now struggling &c
break through the root, 90 feet or more
ia height. AS all states have their pecu
liar methods Of management, the Phila'
delpkia prison Lis sometimes called the
house Of solitary confinement, from tht
rules that compel 81 inmates to laboi
alone in their cells and the provision fol
solitary exercise ig yard four pacei
long, II by necessity they are brough
together their faces are invariably GOV
cred with q mask. When Stephen
Girard left his 1000. 600 to the found
ING of colieQe for fatherIegg children