EASTERN PORTAL OF MACHINERY HALL.—The view here given is an admirable one of the eastern entrance to Machinery Hall and makes plain the remarkable architectural style of that great edifice. The entrance has been described at length, but only such a view as this, the reproduction of a photograph taken from the Agriculture Building at a point directly across the canal, could bring out the charming details. The portico of this entrance was a popular resort because here was a regular stopping place for the boats, a couple of gondolas which are in the picture showing where the landing was. In addition to this, the south canal was at times the theatre of most interesting and amusing contests, one in particular occurring on what was known as ” Machinery Day,” affording vast recreation to visitors. A contest between steam pumps was on and one of its features was, for the sake of sport, made especially droll. Stout rafts were placed upon the canal and on these sturdy fellows, managing hose through which water was forced by the contesting pumps, were stationed to do battle. The test was to determine which men could, by the force of the streams from their hose, drive their opponents from the other rafts. The result may not have materially affected the ultimate decision of the judges of machinery, but it was a great naval victory for the successful combatants and a source of great delight to the public.