Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-06-22
GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.
The Mystery Of the HedaIs az ihe ~
hibiiiOB.

The uystery Of the Medals az the IN
hibiiiOB.
The Paris correspondent Of the Lon
don Athennum tells the story OF the
award of the art medals at the Paris
Exhibition. confirming the statements
we have already published. and adding
some interesting particulars:
s-The way i'm which France has con-
trived TO GET the lions share of all the
prIzes for herself-sO that the eight
French artists who serve on the jury
have managed 10 obtain for themselves
four of the eight medals of honor aud
fnnr Of the first class medals--is one of
the pleasaniries over which the great
nation chuckles and grins at hundred
dining tables daily.
Yon must know, 10 begin with, that
the awarding jury consisted OF twelve
Frenchmen, one Engllsnman, one
Italian, one Spaniard, one Russian, one
American, one Swede, one Dane, and
SO forth, Co The extent of fourteen ma
tions; in all twenty six persons Natur
ally enough, each juryman Thought Of
his own country first; but AS no medal
could be awarded except 10y majority
that IS to say, by fourteen out of
the twenty SIX luTOrs-it was soon
found TO be necessary for these isolated
representatives of England, Russia,
Snsin and the line, "a enter into cOmbI-
nations with their rivals. Now, cOmbi-
nations between rivals are rather
ticklish things to manage. You must
give and take, aud give as much "a yOu
take; and that in every particular case.
Here came IN the power of the twelve
French Jurors, who, after the first
abortive day, agreed among themselves
70 vote rs one man. When two for
eipnera could be got to side With them,
they were n majority of the whole
body: and as the individual representa-
tives Of Spain, Italy aud Belgium could
do nothing without their help. they
saw the need of supporting The French
jurors on every point of their pro-
oramme. In view of a possible service
of the like nature in return. Hence
the enormous favor shown to France
81 must tell Won that these jurors,
who have in the end behaved SO badly,
beoap their sittings in what appeared
to be the very best spirit. Oae of the
foreign Jurors suggested that as they
were 10 nudge of all the schools OF art,
as well as of all personal and peculiar
merits, they should lay down as rule
AZ the cnmmenccmcnt-W which would
raise them above suspicion and give
DIGNITY to their awar,ls-that no gen
tIemen serving on the jury should be
candidate for prize. This very proper
resolution was carried by general
vote. Some Of the Jurors have come to
think it may have been carried IN false
heart: certain it is that some hours
vsrn spent, Immediately after this rule
moe o,Ioptad -, trying; tn nN upon any
,,ue name for 81 medal of honor. MIR.
Faed's name came ont from the urn
very often; Sir Edward Landscer's also;
Int the French votes We're apparently
scattered, so that nobody could com
mand majority; and, after many at
tennis to get "A vote, the meeting rose
nm "A sort of moral despair.
Next day the self-denyiDg ordinance
was reviewed and recinded. From this
moment everything went along swiftly.
Four Of the eight French painters
present-MM. Gerome, MeissOnnIer,
Rousseau and Cabanel-Were invested
With the medel Of honor by their own
votes: and the other f0ur We're invested
with first-class medals. After this won
derful essay in international courtesy
had been accomplished (you remember
the Emperor saying. "When France as
satisfied, Europe is at peace the re-
manning fouI medals of honor were
s'eambined" for amypg the Onter bar
barians. Faed and lanlseer received
many votes, but always fell short
of a majority. Perhaps the Engiisl
Juror Ia yonng gentleman withou,
name, standing and eXperiencel, dl@
not know how to combine. Anyhow.
ENGLAND came out of the urn without
medal. Belgium secured medal 70
Iays. Bavaria for Kaulbaeh, Prussia fo@
Knauss, and Italy for Ussi, as you hav
previously announced IN your columns
cont of the first class medals, TIL
French Jurors voted themselves eight
while they gave To England one. I.
Spain one, and to Austria one. VIII
is your first painter nOw-faed. Fntll
Ward, Iandseer, hlillais, Leighton
Not at all II is CaiderOn. n
Il kiss yOur hand, aud langh-hi1
everybody else-at the comedy in thI
wonderful Field of Mars. a juror"