Year: 1876

The Centennial Exhibition.


PHILADELPHIA, May 27.


While every one admits that the


Centennial Exhibition is emphatically


"a big thing" eclipsing all its prede


cessors in many respects, there seems


to be much doubt in the minds of many


as to whether it will pay, in pecuniary


sense F; in fact it looks 10 them very


much as if there would be large bal


ance on the wrong side Of the ledger


when it comes to the final settlement of


the little bills which are constantly


growing bigger. 1t is true that the


frantic rush of visitors from abroad, so


confidently anticipated by enthusiastic


Philadelphians, has not yet justified


popular expectation, but it is likely


that as the season advances there will


be an improvement in this respect


| learn from conversation with rail-


road and other officials that my own
anticipation of a large attendance in
June and the first part of July is gen.
orally shared by them, and for this
belief | think there are good grounds.
In the first place summer vacations
begin to be taken about that time, and
in the second place people generally
think that the first month Of the show is
really month Of preparation after all,
and as most people can expect but
short visit at best they naturally wish
to have everything finished and to ''get
good ready" themselves as we'll before
setting out-again, presume, there
are thousands upon thousands of people
in the country who are undecided about
going anyway and being unable to
make up their minds fully from the
papers as to whether it is worth while
or not are waiting to hear the eye-wit-
ness reports of more courageous neigh
bors.


If this is a correct supposition the
success of the later months is assured;
for the most base or Indifferent traveller
can hardly 60 through this wonderful
scene without having his enthusiasm
sufficiently aroused to insure his giving
a glowing account of its attractions to
all inquirers. A fair example of this,
is a Western friend Of mine who, re-
Gently returned, was, of course, be-
sieged by questions to which he made
the invariable and laconic reply, $50,
if you have to scrimp yourself to death
for the next year" The exposition is
too grand to fail of success, and l am
greatly mistaken if the showing of the
results next November is not at least
reasonably satisfactory.


The cataract in the annex Machinery
Hall will be in operation on Monday
next. The sheet Of water is thirty
three feet in length and has fall of
thirty-fve feet. The great Krupp gun
will arrive on the ground to-day. Its
arrival has been delayed owing to its
immense weight and the necessity for
precautions in Strengthening the road
way and bridges over which it will
pass. The gun weighs eighty tons and
the carriage on which it rests ten tons.
Over thirty wagon and car loads of
were delivered in Machinery
Hall on Thursday In this department
Russia is erecting extensive partitions
in order to utilize the wall space


The new steam elevator in the south
western tower supporting the centre Of
the Main Exhibition Building, now
was tested on Thursday and
will be put in operation for. the public
on Monday. The panoramic view from
the top Of the tower, which is 1870 feet
high, is one of the most beautiful
and extensive in the United States,
and on clear day takes in almost the
whole valley Of the Delaware.


The State buildings and other minor
ediices about the grounds are progress
sing rapidly to completion. The Cali
fornia building will be opened about
the middle of June. when all the State
exhibits, neglected in the Main Build
ing, will be displayed there The
opening is to be commemorated by a
banquet to the press, at which Mark
Twain, as a representative Of Pacific
coast journalism, will oficiate as master
of ceremonies.


One Of the most distinguished per-
sonages within the whole enclosure is
"Old Abe. the war eagle, whose sud-
den fame Of twelve years ago has
proved more enduring than that Of
most Of his human comrades in arms.
He sits upon his perch all day long
with the dignifed mien Of the renowned |
veteran that he is. Although but fifteen
years old be has seen three years actual
service and been through fifteen battles.
It is good record, and he is Justly
proud Of it


The week just upon US will be quite
a notable one. Besides the occurrence
Of Decoration Day, which will be duly
observed, several excursions are to
occur. Tuesday just mentioned is the
day fixed for the opening Of the Bank
ers' Building and Department To this
occasion at least thousand bank Off
cials and employees are expected from
New York alone and it is probable that
at least as many more will come from
other points


On the same day large number of
Knights Templar, including nearly all
the Commanderies of New York and
Brooklyn, are coming over for the
great parade Of the Order, which is to
take place during the week. Other