Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-09-16
Letter from the Editor.


aid is its prophet eminently ypifying its good and
evil pOints-its grand rush, and fuss, and fun and
humbug, all underlad by fund of solid good sense
and shrewdness, and withal energy that does not
admit such word rs fail into its vocabulary, but
sometimes arriving at success through rather
devious than otherwise. A glance at the Island of
Manhattan, the site of the City, from the Observa-
tory near the Crystal Palace will demonstrate at
one view the magnfcence of unrvalled position on
the most glorious estuary for trading purposes in the
world, gathering in the commerce of New England
through the Sound, communicating with the North
West blythe Hudson, and concentrating, as it were,
the waters of all the surrounding bays-Raritan,
Amboy and others, at the feet of the Empire City
and while nature has been thus prodgal art has al
so been busy, and the Rail Road navigation of
the State equals that of all Germany.
But become statistical without the " documents y
and besides, speaking of the Observatory near the
Crystal Palace, reminds of that building ITSELF
which is more to the purpose in hand and perhaps
some remarks with regard to it would be accep-
table to all friends and readers who might ask the
question, whether it is worth coming to see,
would say at once-No Not that | look upon it. or
the Exhibition within its walls as failure it is
not : neither is it a success There is little too
much good in it to admit of its being wholly con-
demned, and altogether too much of evil to afford
any reasonable ground for praise. But my reason
for advising no to go is this the engravings
Of the Palace which have been circulated and seen
by everybody, perfectly accurate. and, strange
as it may sound, give better view than can be OBJ
tanned ON the spot itself, which is a wretched site
domineered over by the ponderous Egyptian masses
Al nd E,oa IciG o1co
by sheds, with mammoth hogs and great oxen. The
b naueI is gone to the State Fair, at Syracuse. As
for the Statuary etc. in the inside of the Palace
must confess to my great surprise at finding every
thing such an exact counter part of the engravings
which have seen in Barnums illustrated News
and in Geasons. There is now getting out, illus
trated catalogue Of the Crystal Palace, of which
some numbers are now on sale at Whitaker's, and
presume at Pierces which, for two three dollars
will give quite as good an idea as two days exam
inaton.
Of course, the United States are most largely rep
resented the machinery being nearly all American
with the exception of little from Great Britain
and Ireland. Half the machines not yet up, no.
One-fourth in operation. In that department coult
see nothing at all superior to the usual Fairs of th
American or Franklin Institutes A Mr.. Palmer
from our State, has patent Thrasher, but amid thu
confusion of agricultural implements Mr.. Paine
might have turned thrasher himself, without m,
finding it out
We should certainly be able to give the who'll
world good Iathering, if soap will do it, for tn
soap men take the day. We have Washington il
SOAP mounted horse, with a CASTLE tail Wind
sor fore-legs. Everything is soap-soAP-SOAP! !
There is too much soap, altogether. Just think o
Old Hickory, Franklin, with soap-locks. 1t is al
abominable bastardizing of art, to go about castn
Soap-headS. Genin, the halter, who got his name u
by bidding for the first choice Of seats at the Jenn
Lind Concerts also has big booth, and such shine
hats There is also another nuisance in the shap
of innumerable sewing machines in constant opera
tion, sewing little pieces of flannel.
In the way of furniture. carriages, and vehicle
Of all kinds, axes, saws firearms, pianos, cookin
utensils and in general, everything indicating
practical and vigorous civilization, the United State
department is fully equal, and in some respects su
perior to any other. In plate both OF silver an
gold, we are not up to the French, and they agai
must yield to the English. In china, we are goo
ways behind the English, but not farther than the
are behind the French. Some of the old Sevre
china, from the Imperial Mandatory, is very beau
tiful and almost priceless. The English plate is G
the richest and most beautiful designs, with sett
costing thousands of dollars. In bronzes the Frenc
are rather ahead although Cornelius. of Philadel
phia certainly takes the palm in the way of bronz
lamps, chandeliers, etc. The Germans have ais
come very neat and elegant articles in this line, fror
Nuremberg, chiefly The finest glasses of yariou
kinds, colored and otherwise. are exhibited by Aus
tria, from her Bohemian provinces. France come
next. In 4aues and kindred fabrics, France Is 6rs