Year: 1876

PORTLAND, June, 1876.
Mr.. EDITOR Il have read with a great
deal OF interest, in late issue of the Oper-
ator, the sprightly and animated ac-
count of the great Centennial Exhibition,
Dy your talented correspondent "Nuf
Ced,' and though will not deny what
the name might imply, l think there will
have to be some more "Ced" about the
great topic of the period before the public
mind is set at rest with regard to it.


have just returned to the bosom of my
family, or rather, we all returned together,
for carried bosom and all with me when
| went to the great show, and am now
looking over my ''notes by the wayside"
written while in Philadelphia. l was by
the wayside good deal while there; it is
cheap and respectable place-ihe way
side, and as friend says, 1.-THE cheaper
place is the more respectable consider
it," How happy was that day we set
out for the big show! How free from
every anxious thought Ia recalling that
day gentle memory comes back to me-
After we had locked the house, and were
well on our way, was persuaded to go
back to see if we had locked the cat in.
1t was very fortunate that went back as
| did. Two of my creditors and book
agent stood before the door their counte-
nances frightened at my approach. 1t
was cheering reunion said i: "My
friends, we have met again as it were, but
ah. we must sever sOon."


One of them holding out 'slttle bill,
remarked that he did not object to sever
ing, but he intended to settle that little ac-
count with me first.


The book-agent said he had view of
England from back window" which led
the other creditor to remark that should
have view of Portland from grated
window If | didn't square up my little ac-
count with him pretty sudden.


My friends" said |, pensively, ''let US
go in and talk the matter over. Stay, l
havn't the key. I'll run round to the back
door and come through the house and un-
bolt the door,"


ran round to the back door, but did
not go through the house and admit my
friends. My faculty for making promises
is much better developed than my faculty
tor keeping them. II only said:
Though lost to sight to memory DEAR"
as busted round the corner and over the
back fence to side street, and reached
the depot without a moment to spare. As
every moment widened the distance be-
tween me and-the cares that infest the
day, | grew more and more confident. |
even yentured to take ont my wallet and
invest in pop corn, court plaster, etc.
This reminds ME that among other luxu-
ries | indulged in an Accident Ticket
on the Fall River boat to New York-the
only money really thrown away for the
sole accident that happened during that
voyage was the accidental manner in
which | threw boot-]ack and clothes
brush into what supposed was my own
state-room. A strong minded female who
has not the honor of my acquaintance Oc-
cuped that room. The clothes-brush was
a striking" success. and the boot-iack lift
ed her headdress off as neatly as if in
tended for that purpose.


She intmated these facts to me in a
brief but impressive manner. standing at
the door of her room in a somewhat
abridged costume of red flannel. l tried
to convince her it was an accident, and
produced my accident ticket by way of
confirmation. She didn't convince easy.
She was German. Til never try to con-
vince German again in the English lam
9uase; there's no satisfaction in it, |





dent. Let us, draw the curtain, till the
seething, surging, vascilating crowd in
the streets OF Philadelphia jostle each
other and push onward in any and every
destination.


Just stop and cast your eyes up Chest
nut street, and look away through the
long perspective, and the whole range of
your vision shall embrace waving forest
of Ha rS nd bpptipn. daoorafionS nf
less variety wave welcome to the tray
eler. and almost whisper in an audible
voice where he can get larger beer for
five cents, and good, square meal free


The Centennial buildings are at West
Philadelphia, some hours ride in the horse
cars from most anywhere. Admission to
the big show fifty cents, including all the
side shows, as understood it, the fat wo-
man. the zebra, and the skeleton.


Once inside the turnstile of the great
main building, the eye, the ear, the
thought, the brain, every sense and every
faculty are presently overloaded in the
vain attempt to make each wonder spe-
ciality. The mind at its utmost tension is
disposed, ere long, to take refuge in the
contemplation OF very Indifferent object
After this fashion my mind took refuge in





.iect in sight. His guide had left him for
moment. and he stood at my side before
some exquisite fabrics of foreign manu-
facture, in listening attitude. his head
bent down. The wonders of the loom,
the marvels of machinery. the achieve
ments OF art, the very perfection of man
utacture were all counted out" of his en-
tertainment. What then could be his en-
tertainment?


just then Gilmore's band struck up a
beautiful air, and the man was transform
ed His head was lifted quickly, a smile
came over his features. He was enter
tanned. He was reading by sound.


was satisfied, and hurried away to
see the whistle made of pigs tail. It's
big thing. You ought to hear that pigs
tail set up and squeal just as natural as
though it had the rest OF him there.


While we were in this department a
Chnaman asked me the time of day. or
something to that effect. don't think he
got my reply 20 X" for by his gestures
he seemed aOolouizinp Gan right - /