Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-07-04
From the London Times.


Arnericn the Worlds Fair.
The Americans, If we are to judge from their
newspapers, puzzled what to say about the figure
thew cut in the Exhibition From the remarks not
only of the English press but of their own CORES
pondents, they are aware of certain short coming
Up to the day of opening, indeed, they were still
confident that they would astonish the world, but
since that fatal day they longer disguise from
themselves the fact, that, unapproachable as they
are in the New World, they have not yet acquired
that position in the Old The more sensible OF them
refer with honest and well grounded satisfaction 10
the utility and to extent, the novelty OF thelr
contributions Others show considerable soreness,
and are scolding rather Unfortunately he lines
is scolded for its sneers. The Federal government
is scolded for not having granted money as the
European States said to have done 1of not ha'nS
disseminated information done other things which
citizens are usually supposed to do for themselves
Oueeu Victoria and Prince Albert are scolded, we
suppose for having caught the Americans mapping ;
the manufacturers and tradesmen of the continent OF
Europe are scolded for their mercenary intentions In
exhibiting what they think will bring customers ;
and the American manufacturers scolded for not
contributing what will not bring them customers.
The correspondent of the New York Tribune, ex-
pressing himself asOnished with the Exhibition Is
nevertheless rather pleased to find that his country
is not the only in arrears and leaves 1T to be IN
ferred that England also was behind hand This is
not fair. On the lst of May are were quite ready,
with the single exception of two or three OF the
working machines not quite IN gear. Russia and
France of course, must speak for themselves. Asst
bappens the ge of news has been rather
dy since the 1st of last month but II we can judge
from the papers that have arrived, we expect some
unpleasant remarks, especially there writers
on this side the Atlantic who wish to represent The
Times as the exponent of national pfe]udces, and
the natural enemy of the United States.
After ALL there is not the least occasion that the
Americans should be either puzzled sore. The
peculiar greatness of their nation is that which
not be represented in a " glass house, they are
pleased to call it, They cannot exhibit their mag
nifcent territory except in maps, and. as it hap
pens their maps and their Tndiarubber are among
their most effective contributions They cannot ex-
hibit their triumphs the forest, except they
do in their cheap and handy little ploughs adapted
to wind round stumps. They cannot exhibit Niagara
except in model. A few bales of cotton WOOL
snow white and closely packed as they are make
very poor figure compared with Gobeln tapestry,
or even Bohemian glass but, while England would
hardly miss that tapestry and that glass, slight
decline In the annual import OF those bales, be it
" from three to two spreads ruin difficulty and dis
tress throughout the whole of these isles. The
trophy of Indian corn in glass case in one of the
American courts, looks rather too like the old fash
toned ornaments that are sometimes in the par
lor of small public house; but those few husks re-
present the timely supply by which millions in these
isles were lately rescued from famine. The energy
and the power of selfgOvernment by which nation,
younger than the youngest State in Europe now
rGckOnS more tnan million cltlZenS, is
very inadequately imaged by the view of - En-
pire City combining the picturesque situation of
Venice, the commerce of Liverpool and population
equal to that of any city but the first in these isles
A large and handsome bridge, though bulby con-
tribution to glass case is nevertheless made
quate representation of the Mississippi and whole
arsenal Of India rubber boats: pontoons, camels
carpets, ard garments of every kind, do very poor
justice to the lakes, and creeks, and swamps for
which they seem principally intended. If America
is true to herself and follows her line, it is not
to be expected that she should come out very strong
in Exhibition the chief contributors to which
wealthy and long settled States the heirs by lineal
descent of ancient civilization.
If the Americans do excite smile, it is by their
pretensions. Whenever they come out of their own
province of rugged utility and enter into communi-
cation with European elegance. they certainly do
make themselves ridiculous. Their furniture is gro
tesque; Their carriages and harness and ginger
bread; their carpets are tawdry: their patchwork
quilts surpass even the nvariable uglness of this
fabric their cut glass is clumsy their pianos sound
of nothing but iron and wood their book binding
is that of journeyman working on his own account
in an English market-town their daguerreotypes
the serneS and glOomiest of all daguerreOtypes
their printed calicoes are such as our hOusemaids
would not think it respectable to Even theil
ingenuity great as it is, becomes ridiculous when il
attempts competition with Europe. Double pianos
combination of piano and a violin, chair with
cigarcase in its back, and other mongrel construc
lions belong 70 people that would be ccntaurS
mermen it they could, and always rebellins
against the trammels Of unity But why should the
Americans take it so much to heart if they canno
be all things at once Would it be reasonable tina
Paris should envy them the possession of continent
Then why should they envy Paris, any Othe1
city, its natural aptitude for art
The Americans cannot be all things at once. II
some things they claim to surpass the whole world
and expect their supremacy to be allowed as mat
ter of course In other respects they are as painl.
behind hand, and must remain SO for ages. Thu
Americans have really occasion to fret at TIT
homely and even uncouth figure they cut by the sid
OF their neighbors. Even surprising they heard {
few "sneers," they may say, with the wealthy men
''Populus mhi sibat, at mih plaudo
Use dOmi.'
nation with continent in it's pocket can affort
to be laughed at. After ALL the American section
is the fttest possible picture of the geographical
part, not merely fastidious Europeans ght des
cribe it. but it would strike American
Missouri the Rio Grande. Is America not con
tent with being America, but does it want to b
Europe also Let it beware in time of that fata
ambition. IF the United States are wise they viii
be more anxious to ascertain their place an
keep to it, than to be many nations in The
will see that as Europe cannot be America, so Anne
riea cannot be Europe.
From the Philadelphia Bulletin.
The United States in the Crystal Palace.
There is rather more reason and Gberality in tn
recent remarks of the London Times on the Amer
can Contributions to the great exhibition than hav
hitherto been found in similar articles from the sam
To be sure there is one paragraph full
vulgar abuse of American products but in the other
there is an admission reluctant and ungraceful,
is true, but still admiSson-of some of the glorie
al - L. l.