“The Most Brilliant Lights of the Washington Era” were a few lighted candles. “The Lone Picket” was a single fence-picket. “The Tax on Tea” showed a few carpet-tacks on some tea.
“A Little Indian” was a small portion of Indian meal.
“An Old-Time Fancy Ball” was a child’s gay-colored worsted ball, much torn.
“Washington at One Hundred Years of Age” was a bird’s-eye map of the city of Washington.
“Away down on the Suwanee River” was a map of Georgia showing plainly the Suwanee River, on which was pasted a tiny bit of down.
“The Last of the Army” was simply the letter Y.
“A Member of Washington’s Cabinet” was an old brass handle from a mahogany cabinet.
These and many other such quips made up an exhibition that amused people quite as much as the display of real relics edified them.
The preparation of all these features meant a great deal of hard work, but it was the sort of work made light by many hands, and so it was enjoyed by all who engaged in it.
And so, by midday on the Fourth of July, everything was in readiness, and the willing workers went to their homes, to return later, ready to reap the results of their labors.