The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-05 00:00:00

THE COLOGNE EXHIBITION.

(From the Times Correspondent.)
COLOGNE. June 2.
Coming to Cologne from Berlin one is struck by
the extraordinary and highly significant contrast
between the two towns—the one a bran new affair,
a place in which a thousand palatial structures were
but yesterday erected, and where hardly a house is
to be found standing in those spacious streets be-
tween the Brandenburg and Silesian gates that is
old and respectable at the same time ; the other
abounding ill majestic piles and ancient mansions,
huddled together with the most absolute contempt
of appearances, and telling the history of 50 gene-
rations and more in their durable and eloquent
stones. The one elegant, fashionable, and essentially
modern in its every feature, but not without a tinge
of the parvenu, and a rather manifest tendency to
live beyond its means ; the other, solid, growing
slowly, recovering surely whenever stunted, and
existing, it would appear, from time immemorial
and for time without end. Berlin busy, but noisy ;
Cologne active and doing in many branches of
commerce and art, but instinct with a quiet com-
posure and placidity that seems to be certain of
success, without hurrying it on. The manner
of the people, their conversation—nay, their
very faces, will confirm the evidence furnished
by the architectural diversity of the two towns.
With all their immense superiority in point of
numbers and wealth, the Berliners will always im-
press you as being more or less dissatised with what
they have achieved and striving rather anxiously for
more; the Cologner, while he has certainly no objec-
tion to go ahead and 'prosper, does not show any
symptoms of feeling uneasy at not having built
Cologne in a day.
To leave aside comparisons, Cologne is, however,
a fast Browning place enough, and within the last 20
years has more than double the number of its in-
habitants. From the 66,000 it had in 1844 it has
within less than a generation grown to be a city of
something like 140,000 in 1865. Trade is flourish-
ing, and not a trace left of the 12,000 mendicants
who, under the ecclesiastical government, subverted
as late as 60 years ago, used to infest the streets in
a professional way, and plant themselves at fixed
stations. From the north-east, the coal and iron
districts of the Lower Rhine are pouring a flood of
riches into the ancient but ever youthful metropolis
of the land; in the south-west the mines and cloth
manufactories of the Julich and Moselle country
have been rendered tributary to the commercial en-
terprise and the financial resources of Cologne ; while
the wine trade and the Rhine trade generally have
here found one of their busiest and most lucrative
centres. Among the peculiar advantages of Cologne
it ought to be mentioned also that a Rhinelander,
when he has feathered his nest and wants to enjoy
his remaining years, will hardly ever retire to Berlin,
but, if he likes town life at all, is almost sure to
prefer old " Colle." •
It was a happy idea, then, to open an Exhibition
of Industry in a place devoted to the pursuit of it ;
and being situate in a central position, and about
the same distance from the three leading capitals
of this quarter of the globe—London, Paris, and
Berlin—the plan to make the show an international
one naturally suggested itself to the deserving gen-
tlemen who started the enterprise. It appears that
to avoid competition with other undertakings of the
kind, planned and partly in course of execution else-
where, the Exhibition was confined to " agricultural
produce and implements " this time. But these
terms, as will be seen from the subjoined remarks,
must be taken in the widest sense if they are to give
the reader anything like an adequate idea of the
number and multiplicity of the articles contributed.
Orlce started by the Flora Horticultural Society, the
scheme was vigorously taken up and. supported by
the manufacturing community not only of the neigh-
bourhood, but of Northern Germany and the adjoin-
ing countries at large. Considering the short in-
terval that has elapsed between the first announce-
ment and the actual opening of the show, everything
practicable seems to have been achieved, thanks to
the energy of an intelligent and influential committee
and the cordial co-operation of the mercantile and
agricultural classes. There are no less than 1,370
exhibitors registered in the catalogue, among whom
are many who reckon their contributions by the
dozen. Many others, who would have been glad to
send in the choicest produce of their factories, were
too late, and had their offers unavoidably declined.
But even their luckier competitors have, very many
of them, found it impossible to get everything ready
acid the goods unpacked and displayed to advantage
by the day fixed.
As you enter the immense plot of ground set
apart for agricultural machinery, you find yourself
in the midst of a cast-iron tohu bohu, which, as
yet, the managing hand of committee and chairmen
has been unable to reduce to order and the laws of
symmetrical collocation. In the open area, which
occupies the gTeater part of the ground , being hemmed
in only by a continuous row of narrow, primitive-
looking sheds, no trace of arrangement can be
discovered by this time, except a landmark here and
there. A goodly array of locomotives in the centre,
with thrashing and other machines attached, will
point out the spot devoted to the giants of the show.
With these fittingly associate locomotives. A corn
and fodder boiling machine, perfuming the air with
sweet vapour as it prepares the delicious repast of
ox and cow, is the next in size ; mills for chopping
straw,reaping, and other manifold and many-named
engines, are standing and lying about, partly in the
sheds, partly al fresco. Any attempt at describing
them individually would be premature, and besides
a Herculean task. The number of exhibitors in this
particular department is 313, among them Herr
Krupp, of cast steel renown, who has a good slice
of the ground specially allotted to him.
In a sort of annex to this, the largest portion of
the enclosure, is exhibited " the second section" (to
preserve the divisions established in the catalogue),
comprehending building materials, household uten-
sils, and different appliances connected with rural
industry. There you get a fair earnest of the thou-
sand and one articles to be displayed in a few days
or so. Bricks and window panes, washing machines
and money safes, fireproof roofing felt and draining
pipes, kettles, candles, brushes, ovens, stoves and
crockery, are, with many other useful things, to be
put together in this comprehensive corner of the
show. Part of the articles are to be stowed away
in a roofed erection of moderate proportions. The
number of exhibitors in this class is 352.

Leaving the meadow land enclosed for the occa-
sion, and just walking over the way, we enter the
garden of the Flora Horticultural Society. Tho
garden was laid out but a year ago, and is destitute
of shade as yet. With an imposing background of
terrace, conservatory, and fountains, it presents,
however, a noble view even in the infancy of the
grounds. The conservatory more especially—a
miniature imitation of Sydenham Palace—is quite
large and tasteful enough to serve as a point d'appui
for the eye, and render the vista a thing beautiful
andtu raT Serfect in itself, independent of the horticul-
oundings. By judiciously blending the
architectural effect of solid masses of masonry with
the light and transparent beauty of crystal and glass,
the society have produced a building superior to
anything of the kind I have ever seen. At the back
of this wide and lofty pile,
palms, where you may imbibe
lagerbier under magnificentlistening to the
sound of the prattling f nt
ain,
anumber of garden
seats and tables, along with
other ornaments, are disposedo vases,t flower pots, and
the lawn. Opposite
to
the portal, and in close vicinity:
caught some
byzinc statues
of uncommon merit, your eye
head of enormous dimensions—not an a copper
American
copperhead, though, who has been transported for
his derelictions, and put up to serve as a butt forh
No, the most Germanicishetade
the foreigners' wit.
that ever existed, embossed in copper. It
head of the famous Herman statue, which some en-
thusiastic Fatherlanders resolved some 30 years ago,
with more patriotism than knowledge of the world,
should be erected in the Teutoberger Wald. As soon
as a trunk to fit a head 15 feet in height can be pro-
duced from the scanty subscriptions dribbling in at
the rate of 6d. per week, the whole will be taken to
theb ancient battlefield that witnessed the defeat of
e Romans, and placed on the top of some lofty
hill. The head, a work of Herr Pantel, looks very
grand at a distance, but, strange to say, is little
better than a caricature when viewed too closely.

Only 86 exhibitors are mentioned in this depart-
ment.

Section IV. is allotted to specimens of L kinds of
wood and timber used for shipbuilding and other
purposes ; to a large assortment of ra. v ay sleepers
impregnated with different chemic Ll übstances to
prevent dry rot ; to bark, planks, and carved furni-
ture ; to fowling guns and rifles; and, in fact, to
everything coming under the head of the " forest
science," as German scientific terminology has it.
In Class V. is collected a vast variety of agricultural
produce, such as corn and flour, flax and hemp, hops
and oil seeds, wool, wine, beer, spirits, cheese, but-
ter, ham, sausages, sugar, chocolate, manure, &c.
There are 367 exhibitors enumerated in these two
classes, for which a low structure of great length,
consisting of a single narrow chamber, and lighted
from the top, has been built in the Flora Gardens.
Class VI. is to include mining produce of all sorts,
but, as we learn from the catalogue, as yet confined
to coal samples from Rhineland and Westphalia.
The entries under this head amount to 52.

The General Committee, which consists of 30
members, among whom are many of the most distin-
guished names of the town, is assisted for working
purposes by seven special committees, six of them
attending to the various divisions of the show, and
the seventh acting as grand master of ceremonies on
this popular and festal occasion. The General Com-
mittee is presided over by Herr Bachem, the Burgo-
master of Cologne, and Herr Edward Oppenheim,
the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Flora
Horticultural Society, with which the chief merit
and responsibility of the affair seems to rest. Of
German and foreign Government representatives
who, I believe, will be all present at the opening
ceremony, I will only mention Herr von Nathusius
and Herr von Salviati (secretary to the Board of
Agriculture at Berlin) for Prussia ; Baron Hohen-
bruck and Herr Wotitz for Austria ; Colonel Scott
for England ; Mr. Tappan for the United States of
America ; M. Tisserand, chef de division des e'tablisse-
mentsagricoles de la Couronne, for France ; and M.
Consul Engels for Italy.

From a commercial point of view the Exhibition,
it is to be presumed, will also prove a success. The
costs cannot be very heavy. The greater part of
the articles allowing of being exhibited in open
sheds, there have been two buildings only, and these
of moderate size and most unpretending style, run up
.for the occasion. The grounds, too, were placed at
the disposal of the Committee gratuitously, partly by
the Flora Society, partly by Herr Kauffmann. A
lottery will be got up in connexion with the expo-
sition, and a considerable influx of strangers is ex-
pected shortly.
The Exhibition will be open a month only, at
prices varying between ls. and 6s. Season tickets
are to be had at 15fl. The prizes—to be awarded by
nine special committees, already appointed for the
purpose—consist of eight silver medals and two
large silver meda.lB given by the Prussian Ministry
of Agriculture ; of 150 fredericks d'or for the best
steam plough, presented by Geheimrath Oppen-
heim ; of 500 thalers for the best fire engine, and
500 thalers for the best street locomotive, offered by
the Concordia Fire Insurance Company ; and 18
gold medals, 100 silver medals, and 150 bronze
medals, the gift of the committee. The committee
medal shows on the reverse the portraits of the
Crown Prince and Princess, who have graciously
accepted the patronage of the Exhibition. It is
said to be an exquisite little piece of art in itself,
and worthy of the society distributing it. Honour-
able mention will be made of other persons coming
under the favourable notice of the adjudicating
committees.

6 O'CLOCK.

Two hours ago the inauguration of the Inter-
national Exhibition of Agriculture took place with
all the solemnity befitting the occasion. It drew
together a greater assemblage of people than could
be expected from the quiet and everyday aspect of
the town. Upon the whole the day was beautiful ;
one passing shower, which fell shortly before the
Prince made his appearance, served but to lay the
dust and to give greater freshness to the air. With
that punctuality which is the courtesy of Kings, his
Royal Highness drove up to the principal entrance
at the appointed hour. He was received by Herr
Bachem, the burgomaster, and the members of the
General Committee, and, amid the cheers of the
assembled multitude and the spirited strains of a
Prussian popular song, proceeded to an open tent
erected in the engine ground. The ladies and gen-
tlemen who had been waiting there saluted the Prince
respectfully, and the Prince acknowledged the com-
pliment with an air of natural and good-natured
dignity which became him exceedingly well. The
proceedings began with the delivery of an appro-
priate address by the burgomaster, which recorded
the benefits and emphatically dwelt upon the many
and manifest advantages the province enjoyed under
the Prussian rule. It was owing to the facilities.
offered by an enlightened Government, he said that
the resources of the province had been so rapidly
developed, and the sterling qualities of the Rhenish
race so splendidly come out. Further progress, how-
ever, was necessary here, as everywhere else. There
was, perhaps, not everything as it ought to be on the
Rhine, too. Upon him it devolved to return to his
Royal Highness the thanks of the Committee for
having graciously allowed himself to be created Pro-
tector of the Exhibition, and come to open it in per-
son. Here the burgomaster ended. The steam en-
gines in the adjoining field, which had been inconve-
niently noisy during the first part of the ceremony,
were silent at length, and his Royal Highness pro-
ceeded to read his reply. From beginning to end it
was a panegyric of peace. Peace was the great pro-
moter of industry, the cement of nations, the gua-
rantee of steady and prosperous progress. They
had just celebrated another festival in this ancient
and time-honoured city to commemorate the bles-
sings of 50 years of continuous peace. This was
the only allusion his royal highness made to the
late anniversary of the embodiment of the Rhine
provinces with Prussia. It was natural for them to
follow up that celebration by another, showing the
actual results and exhibiting the tangible products
of peace, and they had acted in the spirit of him
who had been the first to start these useful exposi-
tions by making it an international one. His royal
highness never opens an exhibition without availing
himself of the opportunity of acknowledging with
pious gratitude the merits of the late Prince Con-
sort. His royal mother took the most lively in-
terest in this enterprise, and, being unable to accept
the protectorate they had offered her, had charged
him to accept it in her stead. He was to find him-
self once more in their midst, and declared the ex-
hibition open. Three cheers for the king closed the
oration. His royal highness, who had come alone,
unattended by any of the Ministers, Generals, or
high dignitaries of State, and wore the uniform of
a Rhenish regiment, then shook hands with Colonel
Scott, the British Commissary, and conversed with
the gallant officer and the other Commissaries
for upwards of an hour. His affability and cordial
frankness of manner and speech easily won him the
hearts of the spectators, who crowded into the tent
and evidently felt quite at home in the immediate
vicinity of the heir to the Throne. A loose sort of
procession having been formed, his royal high-
ness next went the round of the grounds, es-
corted by Herr Muller, the head of the Civil Service
at Cologne, the foreign Commissaries, the members
of the Committee, and the cheering and loving
public generally. There was an air of familiarity
spread over the scene which suited well the rural
surroundings and provincial character of the cere-
mony. Part of the machinery was closely inspected
by the Royal visitor. Looking at one of the new
Prussian cast-steel grenades, 2201 b. in weight, the
Crown Prince smilingly observed that " that, at
any rate, would shorten one's sufferings." The
grounds looked wonderfully improved since yester-
day. The Exhibition is not in a finished state even
now, but the arrangements are being completed
rapidly.

When your correspondent left to jot down a few
hasty lines in time for post, his Royal Highness
was just sitting down for dinner with a party of 150
ladies and gentlemen in the beautiful conservatory
of the Flora Gardens.

Porpoises are sold in San Francisco fish markets.
The tongue, brains, and liver of the porpoise are consi-
dered delicacies by the San Franciscans.—Californian
paper.