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Show THE CENTENNIAL. From Illiaca Ut Hie Quaker City. A (Jlaiu-f at Phihuli'lnhh. How to View lh firml .Show. Too .TIucli of un Exhibition to bo Nceu In a liiy. (iSpocial Correspondenco ) Ithaca, S.pt. 23, 187u. The journey from Ithaca to Philadelphia Phila-delphia is a very pleasant one. The Lehigh valley through which we past is decidedly picturesque, presenting many changes which - relieve any tendency to monotony. After -leav-. ing Athens, the first station in Pcnn sylvania, for a distance of ninety miles the railroad ruuu almost parallel paral-lel to the Susquehanna river, and the greater portion of tho way through the valley just mentioned. This valley val-ley varies in width from half a mile to two or threo miles, aud in several places forms eligible lownsites containing con-taining twenty-five or fifty square miles. Tho high hills enclosing the valley are covered mostly with forests made dense by luxuriant undergrowth, under-growth, but in some places devoted to 'farming, are beautifully checkered with colored fields, varying from green to yellow, and bright gold, A -refreshing eiiower bud washed all dust from the vegetation, and when uscendmg the Alleghany mountains the setting of the Bun, whose golden rays sported about the varied hues of 'tiuld and forest, presented a scene of such beauty as might command the admiration oi an artist. The railroad rail-road winds around the mountains to reat:h tho BUtumit, and then proceeds in a similar serpentine course to the lands below. Lehigh valley contains some of the greatest coal mines ol Pennsylvania, nearly every turn in our travel ra-vealiog ra-vealiog small clcuds of vapor, showing show-ing where tho steam escapes from the mine below. Our roiid passes by the celebrated coal producing places of Wilkenbarro, Scrantou and Pitteton, whose production ot anthracite must he immense. Iu one small station near Clarkston there were from 1,500 to 2,000 tons of coal of the various kinds chestnut, walnut, egg, etc. Arriving at Philadelphia, we readily read-ily procured board and luduiugin-a ' private house on Fair mount aveuue, j and were prepared to commence , sight-seeing. Visitors to the Centcn- nial with no great abundance of money would do well to secure places in private families, where good board cau be got for one dollar per day and a room for fiily cents. There are two ' considerations which should lead to the adoption ol this course. The hotels are generally public and noisy, and do not atlord the opportunity for nniet rpst: and tha "billn of fare" em- quiei rest; ana ms onis oi tare employed em-ployed by them are an annoyance to an amateur, who would much rather eat what is given him than have the trouble of choosing for himself. In making an estimate of your expenses fur tho trip, after all other considerations consider-ations are noted, add about ten dollars dol-lars for each week, tor many little items that will be needed. (It is rather late to give any hints, but some persons may still be goinir.) The city of Puiladelpdia covers, as I should judge, ten or twelve square ! miles, generally built up solidly. The streets are laid off alright angles, but several avenues have been opened, passing irregularly and marring the primary good order. The blocks seem to have been about the same size as in Salt Lake,' but streets have been opened through the centres in both directions, Alt streets are i paved and are generally very narrow, I about wide enough lor a wagon on both sides of street cars, with sidewalks side-walks about eight feet wide. There are a few better streets among them: Girard avenue, Brod, Arch, Chestnut, Chest-nut, Walnut and Market. The last four are in tho business part, and are well-adorned by many fine buildings of brick, brown stone, aud some marble. mar-ble. The houses along Broad etreet are mostly private residences and arc very fine, built chiefly of brown stone and' marble. The good taste of the proprietors of these mansions is generally gen-erally shown by very beautiful lawns, decorated with 6tatuary, groups of shrubs, and beds of the finest flowers and ornamental foliaged plants. The bu i Id ings and gi ou nda j ust mentioned men-tioned extend for two miles. Broad street is about 130 teet wide, and is the finest I remember to have seen in my estimation far surpassing Fifth avenue in New York. The secret of the finer appearance of the former is due to its broad sidewalks, which muit be twenty-fivs feet. When any of the street of Salt Lake are permanently paved, it would be worth the additional expense to make the sidewalks five or bix feet wider, and thereby greatly enhance their beauty, Delaware street, running along the river of the same name, s the receiving receiv-ing depot for all cargoes, and the buildings are generally warehouses. The principal articles Been are all kinds of fruits, watermelons, Irish and sweet potatoes, etc., besides bales, boxes and barrels of dry goods, i groceries, etc. Delaware river i3 dotted with many small steamers and ferry boats, and the shore- is constantly con-stantly lined with sailing vessels, steamers, etc., discharging their burdens bur-dens of freight. The men employed on and about the river seem to belong to a different degree of civilization from tho regular city folks. There are as fine looking and, no doubt, many as houest men here as anywhere, any-where, but the characteristics of most so employed are coarseness aud vulgarity, vul-garity, which are repuguant to enlightened en-lightened minds. As a business place this city does not rank very high, and it U evident that Philadclphians re disappointed in the tralfic done this season, and in the demand there would be foi residences. Many large buikungs havo been erected to accommodate visitors, hut have no occupants. Near the exhibition grounds and, in fact, throughout the entire city, many signs "House to rent," "Tuis house for sale," etc.,may be seen. One of the most attractive places in tho city is the old Independence hall, venerated by all who have enjoyed the privileges which followed the establishment es-tablishment of this republic. Within those sacred walls were congregated soiue of the most enthusiastic reformers, reform-ers, a band of patriot whoso virtues cannot be impugned. The patriots of Greece and Rome were not more sacrificing for their country's good, aud throughout all time with the names of thoje ancient heroes will be placed Wanhinptou, Franklin, Patrick Pat-rick Henry and iho hundreds of others who supported them. The world, in spite ol corruption, cannot Inrget true merit which is found inosi surt ly among such men as those just mentioned. The ideal greatness ol Alexander, Napoleon and others sinks into insignificance in comparison with that genuine desire to sacrifice all for the gixxi of humanity. The original Declaration of Independence Inde-pendence U kept in a strong safe in Independence half; tho old hell thai dint rung ui1 I he i-oics liberty if , uIh then-, h ,iil, s inatiy chairs, dtrikc, table, etc.; i.i.'i .u'lun ni inosi of Mie Klni i s ul the tleelaral lull and oIliL-crsof the army uud navy. Unking ut ihrnt things m; do Mil xperu'iii that leehng ul' rvcivuct slich rulicd might inspire, We look ilii-rcly lf gratify curioily and ae-i-umuliahing this go awny; wiint w have seen hjcii p it-s from mind and we probably give not a thought to honor them who- gave all they possessed pos-sessed on earth for the perpetuation of the cause iu which they labored. Kvcry moment of rtfiVctionon such actions is a bciuiit to the thinker, and every thought helps to strengthen lhat monument of memory which: the world cannot atlord to havo do-; slroyed through neglect and injifier-enec. injifier-enec. " May the honest groalnesa of the heroes of 1770 never be forgotten forgot-ten I Having been to the Ceutennial. no doubt nine tenths of your renders would say it is an ea?y matter to write a letter upon the s ghts. Abstract Ab-stract subjects are dillijult to beginners, begin-ners, but compared to this, they are easy. 1 havo seen enough to make a large volume in their description, but how or where to begin is diQicult to determine. The truth is there is no much to see that we cannot remember re-member it; there iB too much. Hoping to remember many things, I started to take notes but there was not lime. A person wishing to make a memorandum of all he would like to retain in memory, would require at least ten hours a day for two tenths; and it may be said safely inai any one, Bpuiunug iuo enure six months in the buildings, could see something new every time he entered. en-tered. Many will bo inclined to think this statement exaggerated, but tb one who have not been to this or similar exhibitions cannot form any correct idea of iut immensity. Walking at an ordinary rate it requires re-quires halt an hour to go around tho outer aislfi of lh main building. U you would get an idea of what this building contains, learn from some source the number ot" manufactures in wool, cotton, hemp, flax, etc.; in steel, iron, copper, brass, lead, tin, silver, cold, etc.; in short all articles used in manufacturing. After this learn the number of articles made from the products of each of the first (it will i each into thousands); multiply these together and then by five, the number num-ber of samples of each, and you have an idea of a portion; added to all these must he relics of the manufactures manufac-tures of 2,000 years; fossils and other geological evidences; minerals from all quarters of tho globe; hideous mummies, and grinniug skulls from Chili and a thousand other things entirely lost to memory, and possibly you can form an approximate idea of this room. You have now an idea of the immensity, but the beauty and variety of designs and tho exquisite delicacy of colors arc indescribable. The art gallery and annex contain about 5,000 specimens, oil paintings, sculpture, engravings and othor things pertaining to the fine arts. The pictures are in size from a few inohes square to seventeen by thirty-four thirty-four feet, aud of all varieties and four teet, aud ol all varieties auu styles. There are some works of the old masters which would aot attract as much attention as more modern and highly colored pictures do. There ' are very few people who view any of these finer workB with a proper comprehension com-prehension of their merit. Specimens Speci-mens of art are always items of curi- ' osity, but beyond the desire to see i what is highly praised, and regarding j the colors as fine or the outline as ( beautiful, not one in a thousand could intelligently judge of their great ' claim to attention. We must admire ' them because it is fashionable, and i we might seem to be ignorant by keeping still, but only display our real ignorance by attempting to con- ' ceal it. Agricultural ball contains speci- mens of the agricultural products of nearly all parts ot the world. Each state has a display of its own products, pro-ducts, and ionic of the railroad companies com-panies show the soils and products of the land through which their lines run. There are also almost all kinds of agricultural implements and machinery. ma-chinery. Threshers, bay rakes, mowers, mow-ers, drills and plows made of rosewood, rose-wood, walnut and maple, the metal portions plated with silver, make ornaments fit to deeorate a parlor, for many of them are really beautiful. One of the most pleasing features of the exhibition is the wonderful taste displayed in the arrangement of the various article. You all know that coflee pots, bread pans, hoes, forks, plows, etc., arc not very beautiful in themselves, and especially when in large numbers, but all these articles are arranged t"0 well that they seem to possess some attraction. Everything, Every-thing, from the finest to the coarsest, Beems to have been put just where it ought to bo. The grounds surrounding the buildings build-ings are well laid off with wide walks and roads, most of which are made of cement, and arc almost free from dirt. The floral displays are very fine. Many of our celebrated florists have laid ofl a plat to show their stock, and it is always done to advantage. advan-tage. Tne ornamental leaved plants are very abundant and have some advantages ad-vantages over flowers, inasmuch as the latter soon fade, while the lormer, ; though as beautifully colored, are the same all season. These foliage plants are likely to become general favorites. They are already fashionable in the best gardens in the east, and when massed iu lame beds produce a strikingly strik-ingly beautiful ornament. Wilb these highly-colored leaves the Ricinus castor oil bean Canna and Cal-aduims Cal-aduims aro much used, their large green leaves forming an agreeable contrast, All the flower beds are surrounded sur-rounded by lawns, well-kept and beautiful to behold, (Being a devotee of Ceres, you can excuse the interest I take in all agricultural matters.) In closing, allow me to plagiarize from tho newspapers ft young lady's description of the Centennial: "Oh ! Oh ! I Oh ! 1 I " If you do not understand how to express the last part, ask some Salt Lake school girl what she would say if you showed her something vary beautiful. Her answer will in every 1 way be satisfactory. Amateur. |