The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-07-31
.Y.nksss, and "southernsrs, Abroad.

at Westehestsr.
"Yankees' and "southerners'' Abroad.
There is no rule of more universal accept
ance amongst those who respect the rites of
hospitality than that an invitation given with
the semblance of sincerity protects the guest
from insult. We believe that this social guar
antee is respected even by Indians and Arabs.
We are, therefore, the more surprised and
concerned because of the encouragement to ma
tional jealousy which has arisen from the course
pursued by the citizens of Great Britain towards
those Americans who have visited the Worlds
Fair So far as we have observed the senti-
ment towards those products or inventions
which our people have offered for inspection, it
has been one of ridicule and contempt. We
quote the language of several journals. The
first is from the London Times:
ssTheir furniture is grotesque-their carriages
and harness are ginger bread-their carpets are
tawdry-their patchwork quilts surpass even the in
variable ugliness of this fabrictheir cut glass is
clumsy-their pianos sound of nothing butiron and
wood--there book binding is that of journey
man-their daguerreotypes are the sternest and
gloomiest of all daguerreoypes- printed cali
respectable to wear even Their ingenuity, great as
it is, becomes ridiculous when it attempts compe-
titon with Europe. Double pianos, a combination
of piano and violin-a chair with cigar case
in its back, and other mongrel constructions, be-
longing to people that would be centaurs and
mermen if they could, and always rebelling
against the trammels ofunity.''
The Erening Mail follows in the same strain:
4
their originality, sometimes degeneratng into gro
tesqueness, is always entertaining.
-
They have rocking chairs, expansive tables,
and uaoss astonishing of afor sohat does their ca
outcnoue notinsade they display specimens of in
dia rubber veneering.''
British artisans are also advised that " even
e,the humble standard of excellence aspired at
by the Yankee may suggest to them some
useful notions.'''
This spirit has naturally excited the dissatis-
faction of our respectable artisans, who, with
no other recommendation than integrity and
skill, have visited the World Bazaar, expect
ing only justice and civilty Of treatment.
We are not surprised at the following card,
which is said by the Cincinnati Gazette to be
"from one of our respectable citizens who has
Just returned from the Worlds Fair He
is able to make good the stake proposed Let
8 the John Bulls, official or unofficial, face
the muslc.'"
CHALLENGE IN THE SUM OF TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS
To the Editors of the "London Iymss," the Commits
sionsrs of the London Fair, Others ,ohom IL may
concern IN Great Britain:
AS comparisons have been invidousy and insult
ingly made toward Americans and their contribu
tions by the London Times, the organ Of that
factious clique who control the London Fair,
hereby challenge the editors of the London Times
the commissioners of the London Fair, or others
whom it may concern in Great Britain, in the SUM
of ten thousand dollars that they cannot find an
Englishman-a British subject-who can equal in
superiority of style delicacy of execution and per-
lection Of workmanship, articles which were ex-
hibited at the Mechanics Institute, in Cincinnati
in 1912.
will take these articles, with the dust of nine
years upon them. and place them against British
ingenuity and skill l seek TO produce nothing
particular for this OCCASION and will expose
to the world, without any further effort, the preju
dice, stupidity, and folly Of those who control that
Fair--and dare them to the trial.
These articles. which can be brought forward at
moments notice, made by American
dent for almost one-third of the period since the
white feled the forest where this city stands.
The winner of the ten thousand dollars must
bind himself TO appropriate the money to some be-
nevolent institution object in Europe or Anne
rica.
Twelve judges to be appointed-who must be
approved practical mechanics-six from Europe
and ak from the United States. The decision of
the majority to be final and binding.
If this challenge be accepted, will name the ar
ticles; for the present merely sate that they
tout of the province Of rugged utility
If this challenge be not accepted before the
piration of the Fair being held in London,
will give, as reward, the sum Of thousand
dollars to any mechanic Of Europe whose work
manshp, now exhibiting at the Crystal Palace,
will equal Cincinnati manufacture.
SAMUEL LUMsDEN.
CiscIsSATI, July 26th, 1851.
p. s. Should "Bold Britons'' % ''feel shy' of an
American mechanc-in the face Of this challenge
and the staggering folly and aisehood of the LON.
don Tynss-they be accommodated The
challenger has no objection to meet any mechanic
Of the more ingenious and skilful nations Of CONT
mental Europe.
1t is thus that the skill of the " yankees" is
derided. 1t is unnecessary to cite the hume
rous instances in which our national morality
and verscty has been heretofore impugned, our
manners caricatured, our language ridiculed, oil
our enterprise attributed to mercenary motives
They abound throughout the history and litera-
ture of England. The treatment Of visitors