Early in 1876 the actual hard work of the Commissioners began. 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. [LODGINGS FOR SINGLE GENTLEMEN.] The Market Street Passenger Railway Company reduced fares to five cents to catch the bulk of the traffic. Next day the Chestnut and Walnut Street line lowered their rates to four cents, carrying bundles free and no questions asked. The Race and Vine Street Company, appreciating the situation, carried passengers for three cents, presenting each one with a chromo of the Bridge across the Delaware. This was but the beginning of the famous tramway war, which continued with variations during the entire Exposition. Before its close the Market Street line was paying passengers seven cents apiece to ride with them, while the newly established “People’s Line” presented each patron with four shares of stock and a night’s lodging in their spacious depot. But the city, ah, the city! It really seemed as if everybody who proposed attending the Exposition had resolved to be present at its opening. Every nook and corner, highway and byway, where a tired stranger could rest his wearied head, was engaged, taken up, appropriated; and those dilatory ones who delayed securing accommodations (notably some of the most distinguished guests) were obliged to pay the penalty of their procrastination. Imagine it to be the month of May. According to a popular fallacy this is the month of flowers and gentle zephyrs; according to Jayne’s almanac it is a first-rate time to take one of his excellent remedies for invigorating the system.