the history of our century, of a reigning crowned head visiting the United States, with the exception of Kalakaua, king of the Sandwich Islands, whose tour occurred in 1874-5.

And here may be cited one of the most notable scenes which transpired on this wonderful occasion, namely, the starting of the stupendous engine constructed by Mr. Corliss, which was to move the fourteen acres of machinery, comprising some eight thousand different machines, in the building devoted to that specialty. This starting operation was performed jointly by President Grant and Emperor Dom Pedro II., under the direction of Mr. Corliss. These two great personages took the

positions assigned them by Mr. Corliss, who explained by a motion of the hands and a word or two, as to how the engines were to be started by the single turning of a slender steel arm, like the brake of a street railway car, this action opening the throttle valve, and then the vast but quiet building would be instantly alive with all the functions of every kind of a factory in full practice. The time had arrived for the movement, and a most imposing array of eminent officials surrounded the president and emperor. "Now, Mr. President," said Mr. Corliss. "Well," said the president, quietly, "how

shall I do it?" The answer was, "Turn that little crank around six times." President Grant made a motion with his fingers, inquiringly, "This way?" "Yes." In another half minute, the screw was turned by the president, the colossal machine above him began to move, the miles of shafting along the building began to revolve, innumerable steel and iron organisms were set going, and a visitor who retraced his steps could examine the processes of half the important manufactures on the globe. At the wave of Mr. Corliss's hand, the emperor gave a sharp turn of his wrist and started his engine a moment in advance of the president; but the response of the machinery at the single touch of these two men-countless wheels turning, bands beginning their rounds, cogs fitting into their places, pistons driving backward and forward and up and down, performing their infinitely varied functions-was so almost simultaneous, that few suspected that the Brazilian monarch had outstripped his host. This engine weighs eight hundred tons; will drive eight miles of shafting; has a flywheel thirty feet in diameter and weighing seventy tons; is of fourteen hundred horse-power, with a capacity of being forced to twenty-five hundred; has two walking-beams, weighing twenty-two tons each; two forty-inch cylinders, a ten-feet stroke, a crank-shaft nineteen inches in diameter and twelve feet in length; connecting rods twenty-four feet in length, and piston rods six and one-fourth inches in diameter; height from the floor to the top of the walking-beams, thirty-nine feet. It was in vastness, power, and ingenuity, the mechanical marvel of the exhibition.

The plan of construction for the accommodation of the several grand features of the exposition, comprised five main buildings conveniently located at different points on the five hundred acres devoted to centennial purposes, being about onesixth of the area of Fairmount Park, on the Schuylkill river, than which no more delightful locality could have been selected. These structures consisted, respectively, of

the main building, having an area of about twenty-one and a-half acres; that for ma chinery, fourteen acres; for agriculture, ten acres; for horticulture, one and a-half; for art, one and a-half. In addition to these, the number of special structures, including the memorial hall, and those erected by the United States government, by foreign nations, by the different States, by the women, etc., etc., was among the hundreds. Many of these were of great cost and striking architectural beauty, and, with statues, fountains, flower plots, and other decorative objects innumerable, produced a scene of surpassing attraction.

The variety of special celebrative events, in combination with the wondrous display of every marvel and masterpiece gathered from art and nature in the four continents, attending this centennial commemoration, may be judged of by the following programme: Harvesting display; trials of steam plows and tillage implements; exhibition of horses and mules,-of horned cattle,―of sheep, swine, goats, and dogs, -of poultry; national gathering of the Order of Good Templars; international regatta; yacht regatta; gathering of the Sons of Temperance; the Grand Army of the Republic; Knights Templars; women's temperance union; Am. musical association; international series of cricket matches; congress of authors in Independence Hall; parade of Roman Catholic societies and dedication of their magnificent fountain; parade of military organizations; parade of the Knights of Pythias; international rowing regatta; international rifle matches; international medical congress; parade of the Odd Fellows; reunions of the army of the Potomac, Cumberland, and James; etc., etc.

Memorial Hall, or the art gallery, a most beautiful structure, was erected at the expense of the state of Pennsylvania and the city of Philadelphia, as a permanent commemoration of the centennial. In its construction, nothing but granite, brick, glass and iron, were used. Its superb hall, pavilions, galleries and arcades, are surmounted with a dome of crystal

and iron, terminating in a colossal bell, and, at the apex, Columbia rises, with protecting hands. Within these walls, the treasures of painting and sculpture displayed were almost beyond enumeration-certainly beyond description.

The colossal proportions of the main building struck every visitor's wondering attention,-relieved, however, by its exquisitely artistic form and endless expanse of complementary colors,-and, within, a universe of the wonderful and beautiful, such as the eye of man never before beheld nor his hand created. The position of the nations in this vast structure was an interesting matter to determine, being finally decided as follows: Within the line of railing extending across the entrance, trance, to the north of the nave, the pavilions of Italy; passing east, the arrangement comprised Norway, then Sweden, with the English colonies as a neighbor; Canada adjoined, and then the mother country, Great Britain, occupying a large space down to the transept; beyond England was France, and the next in line, still on the north of the nave, Switzerland; near the eastern end, and covering as much room as France, Switzerland, Belgium, Brazil, the Netherlands, and Mexico combined, the United States exhibited her wonderful progress, in innumerable illustrations; opposite to Great Britain, appeared the German Empire, alongside Austria, and Hungary in the rear; approaching still towards the west, but on the south side of the nave, came Russia and Spain, and, along the nave, followed Egypt, Turkey, Denmark, and Sweden, while in the rear of these were Tunis, Portugal, and the Sandwich Islands; in the front rank was Japan, facing Norway and Sweden, and, next to the latter, and back of her, was China; Chili had a place near the entrance from the west, and, near by, was the Argentine Republic. These were the locations of the principal nationalities.

Handsome, and grand in its amplitude, and tasty in its harmonies of form and color, the machinery building fairly be

reau, light-house board, and all the subordinate departments and bureaus in any way connected with the government.

In making reference to special objects of interest, brief mention is due in the case of a magnificent piece of silver bullion, in one mass, valued at a prodigious sum, and showing, in a conspicuous manner, the metallic riches yet to be unearthed in the remote West.

The Smithsonian Institution showed every kind of American bird in an immense group by itself, also every kind of fish, mollusk, reptile and quadruped.

Queen Victoria's personal contributions comprised a number of etchings by her own hand, also table napkins spun by herself, and drawings and embroideries from her princess daughters.

The Pennsylvania Bible Society circulated the scriptures in the language of every nationality represented on the grounds, a pure white flag floating from the top of its pavilion, bearing the words of Jer. xxii, 29: "O Earth, Earth, Earth, hear the word of the Lord!"

Among the evidences of Connecticut's skill was the huge centennial time-piece, -a clock weighing six tons and having eleven hundred pieces, with wheels four feet in diameter.

A collection of models, sent by Massachusetts, of the various marine craft which have been employed in her waters, since the first settlement of Plymouth colony -some fifty or sixty, most elaborately executed, and all perfect in type-from the Indian birch canoes and first fishing boats used on the coast, up to the most improved modern iron-clad, attracted much notice. From the Pennsylvania coal mines came two blocks of coal, weighing, respectively, about two and one-fourth and five tons; and, from her steel works, a solid ingot of steel weighing 25,000 pounds, also a perfect steel rail, rolled, 120 feet long, and weighing 62 pounds per yard.

In the navy department, the government exhibited curious specimens of shot and shells, small arms of all kinds, ships' guns and howitzers, Gatling guns, and

other terrible instruments of warfare; marine engines and boilers, showing the improvement made in marine engineering; immense cables, with mammoth iron links; likewise, beautifully finished models of every class of ship on the naval list, including lines of the famous craft on which Lawrence, Decatur, and Decatur, and McDonough fought and conquered, and the original appearance of "Old Ironsides " was finely reproduced. The patent office poured forth its treasures and curiosities — devices that have revolutionized labor the world over. More than one case was filled with relics of the great Washington-the clothes worn by him on memorable occasions, his swords, camp furniture, tents, etc. A complete set of maps showed the different areas of the United States where farm improvements have been made, where woods are most abundant,—every tree, shrub, flower, root, cereal and fiber, in their respective sections, the fungi that destroy the different plants,-and so on.

Louisiana's products included a tree loaded with the somber, hanging moss, that renders some of her landscapes so gloomy, but which is now being used as a substitute for hair in mattresses and upholstery. California sent gold quartz of surpassing richness, and wonderful grain and cacti as well. Of the Indian races, the leading features were aptly epitomized, and their habitations, manners, and customs, represented by delegations from different tribes. Of universal interest, of course, was the original draft of the Declaration of Independence-to be looked at, not touched. Whitefield's portable pulpit, which he usually took with him, and from which, he once said, the gospel had been preached to more than ten millions of people, was another interesting relic; also, General Stark's spurs, John Alden's desk, Governor Endicott's folding-chair, the silver pitcher used by Lafayette in Boston,

etc.

The inventions and handiwork of boys included, among other things, a heavy tenwheel draft locomotive, cylinder eighteen by twenty-two inches, and all of consum