THE HON. ALFRED TIMOTHY GOSHORN,
Director General of the Exposition, was born in the State of New Jersey. This was, however, without collusion upon his part, and no one more sincerely regrets the circumstance than himself. His father cruised about the Spanish main, from Burlington to Gloucester. Some folks called him a free-booter; he was only this, however, when young Alfred misbehaved himself or the tide ran the wrong way. Our hero was a very promising lad. He was ever ready to promise anything. He was of a domestic turn of mind and could generally be found in the vicinity of the kitchen, especially when cakes and pies were in process of preparation. After a course of studies at Yale, Harvard, Princeton, and Cornell, his parents transferred him to a public school to acquire the arts of reading and writing and the rudiments of arithmetic.
Early in life he joined the temperance movement, but resigned when he grew too big to parade with the cadets. He adopted the profession of the law, and rose as rapidly as a schoolmaster from a tack-lined chair. He was appointed minister to the court of St. James. He preached there until the Saint moved out of the court, and he then took entire charge of the Crystal Palace Exhibition of ’44, after which he swam across the Hellespont and returned to Philadelphia.
An aunt in Cincinnati died and left him a large pork sausage manufactory. After entering into a contract with the Philadelphia dog-catchers, he moved West to take possession of, and run the mill. He assumed a leading position in the city’s trade, was made president of the Commercial Exchange, and in this capacity was selected as director of the Cincinnati Industrial Exhibition.
This double experience made him of course THE
RIGHT MAN.the most available citizen to take charge of the Centennial Celebration. The manner in which he performed the arduous duties of the office, and their effect upon his once robust constitution, may be conceived if the reader will but glance at Gutekunst’s latest photograph of Timothy, which may be found, full length, upon the [back cover] of this volume. He is going into the sausage business again to recuperate.
Taken altogether and without exception, we may feel justly proud of our countrymen and women who labored so faithfully for the honor of our common nationality. We trust our country may be as blessed in noble hearts, generous souls and gifted minds, at her next Centennial Anniversary, and that we may all be here to meet them.
CHAPTER IV.
“THE LOOKERS ON.” ... Who came to be warmed.
Early in 1876 the actual hard work of the Commissioners began.WELL DONE,
OH RARE OFFICIALS! During the months of February, March, and April, they were kept busy day and night, receiving, sorting, and arranging the goods forwarded for exhibition. The Adams Express Company ran its wagons directly up to the back door of the buildings, but as usual left all the packages on the sidewalk. It was a goodly, a grandly beautiful sight, to behold the Director General carrying huge packing boxes upon his shoulders while the dew of honest toil coursed adown his noble brow, or to look upon the great Orestes heaving bags and bundles to Willie Bigler, who stood in the doorway and caught them on the fly. The boys of the District Telegraph Company stood around watching the exhilarating sight, only finding tongue in their admiring wonder to encourage the gentlemen with kind remarks and well-meant advice. Many Foreign Commissioners were also on hand during this time. To look upon their varied costumes was suggestive of the grand army in a spectacular drama, with the managers short of uniforms; to listen to their varied tongues was suggestive of the building of Babel’s tower.
The daily travel to the Park and the vicinity of the buildings was immense. Thousands hurried thither regularly to see what they could pick up. Broken china, Japan ware, German silver, French glass, half Spanish cigars—nothing came amiss.