was complete we believe there are things � artistic things in which america may measure her powers with europe which now owing to their being above lie standard of vulgar determination are not recognized by their countrymen let it then be fairly and fully understood that the crystal palace is a permanent foundation let it be recognized that every possible artistic and production can he sent there and seen and by competent persons whether it be iron wood or ivory gold silver velvet or cotton whether it appeal to the eye or the ear or the or to general or special let there he a standing court and jury to determine or seek to determine its relative and positive value its realities its suggestions its its triumphs then the sickening which talent or genius suffer would be greatly done away with if the public cannot be taught to embrace a great thing at once � aa they never have there may at least be great machinery in processes leading in part to such a result the best largest and most potent machine for such a is surely tbe crystal palace � not simply in its present moral and physical state but connected with the possible which are inherent in its national and character in another point of view the crystal palace as a standard place of exhibition ia of the highest value the original acquaintance which tbe american public at large had with a good statue may be dated from the of a single one by some few back however we have in the palace a whole gallery of statues not to mention paintings and introduction xii the force of comparison which works cannot be tested is available the reasons too appear for our pursuing high art in order to produce � works wherein our inferiority is evident we cannot survey the rich collection of articles which europe presents without being made sensible of we must feel too the economical beauty of ourselves whatever noble art is practised in other countries the persons it may be stated have accepted the office of to determine and honorable for the of the ci palace are now engaged in their work those who have not looked into the matter cannot fully imagine the extent of the labors so assumed by a considerable number of our fellow citizens besides the toil of travel � and the must often come from a distance as they have been chosen from various parts of the union in order that all may have a fair chance � there is a degree of separate and labor required that must prevent rapid however desirable from taking place we are particularly of one jury the individual members of which spend much of he day examining carefully and the hundreds of things within their taking down at the same time copious positive and comparative notes besides this they hold the day a secret where the utmost latitude of debate is indulged in the maintaining due order and seeing that every one has a full chance for equal discussion this morning lasts sometimes three hours or more and it is an excellent study to the vast amount of information then brought forward whole of knowledge come forth the most accurate and experience of men almost every one of whom is a in his department are detailed and often a discussion of an hour is held in unbroken upon the more intricate parts of the question we could also name a jury tliat meets at ten o clock at night and goes through in combination the work of investigation which had been pursued by its members this is the most of all rival artists are summoned on the stand in their works at least the great exhibition before this body how different the high talk on this occasion from th ordinary which passes with the world deemed are shattered by a single keen and remark some unexpected is suddenly suggested new and more difficult standard of excellence agreed upon and then the great works for competition already are placed side by side for comparison sometimes ranged as in battle array come the and artistic hosts of france britain germany italy america carefully cold is the decision now enthusiasm is out of the question the words are few and the s book is out the various shades of excellence and inferiority are by a list of of genial or merciless import as they or the object before them the opinion of each is separately asked is this or that quality a of the work examined of the first second third fourth or fifth order is this other quality so and so is this at such or such a point of excellence j and so through the whole searching catalogue if the reader in his more inquiring moods has ever attended a room if he has seen the fearfully made body laid its vitality fled on a deal table if he has observed the surgeon s knife piercing the wondrous texture of the outward skin and all the startling economy of glory and beauty which god has arrayed to perfect bis greatest work man revealed heart brain all patent to the eye and the mysteries of their trance and relations developed as they lie almost undisturbed save as to their outward � he can by comparison imagine the body of an idea laid before such a jury in such a place nothing is to escape them no partiality no flattery to win the dull cold ear of death is needed for the first and in its way the last hears naught but words of searching truth the puff s of the or foolish to this or that thing are in especial contrast with the scenes we have hinted at the great force and dignity of truth are here exhibited the value of such a high court of appeals � th f f th p f th 