The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-06
The Great Exhibition.

About week has elapsed since we last sketched
the progress Of the interior That space Of time,
small as il Is under ordinary circumstances covers
great changes, and yields i'm results of labor
Preparations necessarily driven forward by thou
sands of hands do not grow slowly, or advance in
maturity with a iatering step. The rough, unfn-
ished aspect which would be true day is COM
pletey transformed the next, and rapidly is the
work carried on, that even a few hours cause
sensible difference. In presence Of much des-
patch, such vigorous execution, and such magical
progress, the ordinary results OF labor appear tame
and insignificant; yet the efforts which made
are not than required, and must be still more
severely taxed for the next fortnight. The Crystal
Palace is now, for the second time in its brief his.
tory emerging from chaos. First, it struggled into
architectural symmetry and proportions from piles
Of timber and iron, collected for It's orderly construc
ton. It, pared aisles, its terraeed elevations and
its details and outlines were all evolved
from huge masses of material, which at first sight
seemed TO defy arrangement. That conversion was
executed with speed and success which excited
general astonishment. Armies of GLACIERS and
painters surrounded the anatomy of the vast ia brio
with vitreous covering, and decorated the interior
with brilliant aud well chosen colors The galleries
were up, the flooring of the basement laid, and
the industrial world had its limits and divisions
fully determined. In this early stage of its exist
ence, When FORCES occupied the centre aisle, when
the ringing of hammers filed the ears, and every
thing seemed rough and unfinished, the Crystal
Palace might be compared to a new creation-its
foundations hardly settled, it, security doubted,
vast unoccupied territories still remained to be peo-
pied, and wide fields of labor to be occupied. HUI
man industry had found world TO inhabit, but it
had not yet taken possession. In that state
Of matters a deluge Of packing eases and con-
tributors flowed in upon the building, and
all was once more IN confusion. Chaos seemed
TO have come again For some time the task Of
arranging those vast piles Of material was con-
tnued without much apparent effect. But new ac-
tors appeared on the scene. Every portion of the
interior had its occupant. Nationalites became
realized. Each man put up stall for his property,
sla 0Igla oil. L..slI
disposed Of in orderly manner. Now contrbu-
tors begin in earnest to furnish and adorn theirres
pectiye allotments. Having made every suitable
arrangement for the change, they have commenced
TO cast their shells, and To come out like many
butterflies in their best and brightest colors. The
transformation is a remarkable process and We in
vito readers in order that they may understand
II, 10 accompany u through the building. Wepro-
misc not 10 drag them over every inch Of those in.
terminabl, passage, nor to fatigue them by too mi
mute n survey, but rather TO take the most attrac
tive points far these have become distinctly de-
yeloped There will be ample opportunity hereaf
ter for closer inspection Of the entire display; but,
IN the meantime, and before the opening takes
place, the chief features Of probable interest are
those only which ii seems desirable to sketch.
The grouping and arrangement q statuary and
industrial tTophie. IN the transtrt and along the
centre aisle now approach completion, and. on the
whole. promise 10 be most effective. 1hornycrofts
equestrian representation Of her majesty still re-
tains its prominent position in front Of the main
Of British art, and stiil for the reputation
Of The artist, but which respect for the subject APP
pears to render unavoidable. Other specimens OF
sculpture, possessing, with one or two exceptions
70 very extraordinary merit, I'll up the space to-
wards the centre Of the transcpt. where, within
species Of covered tent wOrLmen are busily engag-
~ ~ constructing the great crystal fountain.
IutuIil ting 10 the pleasant c0Olnes likely TO be
caused b. tie vicinity Of thi. object, stand the
colossal statues the Duke Of Rutland and Dr. Jcn-
nor. lis Grace, executed in bronze. stoops forward
a. Il anxious % say something e. somebody who il
Lot visible, ard the civilian. seated In ponderous
easy chair, reminds ono strongly Of that great
fundamental Law Of matter, /" that body at rest
will continue al rest Mr.. Owen Jones appears
70 have disposed ihcsc gigantic objects more
with refcrcncc TO the effect III large masses upon
he eye. in such position, than Tor any other rea.
son. They have placed near them groups and
rgle figures, represerting classics and mythology
cal suhjects-among them a charming little statue
&c Puck, in which the Tricky, frolicsomc. and fairy
character Of tho eli are most happily bodied forth
w the artist. From the transept down the eastern
hall ~ the centre aisle the eye Is carried over
Perfect sea q empty packing which, tumblcd
out Ot the different foreign compartments, are
swept away Iapdly TO the end II the building,
where they disappear ia wagons. In the midst OF
this a,tgis RE the organ and gigantic plaster sta
iges = rerch, the Austrian group Of Mezeppa,
their pref aratons for a magnificent stained glass
window, the Amazon group from Berlin. the great
hon from bayaria. and the horses from Stuttgart
1he horses have lot yet had their tails appended
" NV H. AuH ihtie are several bFOnzcS and statues
intervening between the larger objects, which still
present very strange appearance For instance. op.
osite Belgium there i piece Of sculpture repre-
senting Cain. bis hands outstretched, and his
attitude q horror distinctly visible through mixed
swathirg Of old newspaper and green cloth Be-
tween the two sections Of the Zollveren are seve-
raj castings Of nude figures in zinc the blue mefcu-
rial color Of which looks very odd. Bronres Of male
aud female forms observed standing erect in
their packing cases if 10th to leave that shelter
and attract public observation. Two stage too,
might be observed yesterday resting in the shade
CT the Amnzon group, with their horns resting on
the ground beside them, IL to promote their com.
fat The last object which catches the eve To-
wards the eastern end Of the nave, Il the legs and
lower half n human figure. apparently making
every effort 10 escape from the building. &c preci.
plate retreat are the eKtfemties peiormiDg, that
vehBVt strong toubiswhcthcr The merits he upper
PORTION, when completed. will he sufficient justify
its detention Hesidcs he objects which, o. use
Aiacrtsn term, arc "locatcd IN the nat tbers sre
CLtts which haVea temporary ufgfru1t Off. tpj