The Portland daily press., 1867-06-20
European Cerrcspon demcc.
PARIS, June 4, 1857.

To the Editor Of the Press:
Will the Exposition be completed never?"
Echo answers never"
Two months have flown since the opening
and there seem to be as many carpenters
painters and decorators at work as previous to
that time. The interior of the Palace is nearly
finished, but the park is far from 1t. Probably
the Exposition will never be entirely completo
for before the last coat of paint shall be dry,
the work of tearing down will have begun.
Several persons are even now waiting q fa-
vorable answer from the Imperial Commission
in order to commence the erection OF YET other
buildings Captain Hudson, the intrepid com
mander of the "Red White and Blue," the
miniature ship which crossed the ocean last
summer, has just obtained permission to build
a small house in which to exhibit his little
craft.
In spite of mismanagement, bribery and un-
fair treatment the United States will ,crest
quite number of gold medals tor some of hor
superior articles. Our locomotive, Of which
wrote some time ago, model, a gem, came
near being passed by altogether by the jury Oh
examination. An Englishman, who was one
OF the body, when he saw at a glance that
neither England, France, or any other country
could produce such an engine began immedi-
ately to ridicule it and to tell his companions
that it was not worth while to waste time in
examining such stupid affair. He laughed
at the idea of "a house" for the engineer and
fireman. $50 much ornament" he sarcastl cal
ly remarked, and had almost carried his point,
namely, to get the jury to pass it by, when an
American persuaded them to examine it close
ly, and after having pointed out its excellen-
cies and conveniences the jury were constrain-
ed to admit that they had never seen its like,
and have awarded it the only gold medal to be
given to locomotives. A rumor is circulating
how true cannot tell, that it Will be present.
edit the Gear OF Russia, after the close Of the
Exposition. ...
The Corliss engine, too, in the face OF much
opposition, won gold medal. IL is, indeed
the best piece of mechanism in the Exposition
and by odds the best stationary engine. The
United States also takes the only gold medals
for sewiI g machines. Wheeler 81 Wilson and
Elias Howe, each, are to have a medal.
But the hardest battle has been concerning
the medal for pianos. The world will never
| know how much money has changed hands
how much pressure has been brought to bear
| on the jury to influence the award. Yet Am
erica triumphs. One after another different
countries were dropped from the list Of COM
| petitors until England ard America stood alone
| to contend for the prize. The battle is not YET
| ended, but long ago it was decided that Chick
| ering should have a medal and the contest now
| 10 xxyl,at Gtainyvoy oJ,a
| also have medals 1t is probable that three
medals will be awarded.
| The awards of these medals are not made
| public yet, but have my information, private
| ly, from excellent authority and the above
statements may be relied upon as correct.
| Perhaps our department. may be said to be
| finished, but it is badly arranged In the Ar
| cheological Museum we have nothing. In the
| gallery of Fine Arts we have some very fine
| paintings, and two excellent statues in mar
| BILE and one in bronze.
| In the gallery of Liberal Arts~ara somo
splendid photographs, some elegant specimens
/ OF book binding and printing and some cap
| ital engravings. The French people seem tc
be much pleased with the books having raised
text for blind people. Here are the pianos ani
Mason & Hamlin cabinet organs. Whethe
the latter will receive gold medal L am no
informed, but as all events they deserve one
The unique statuette groups in clay are the
only articles of the kind in the Exposition, sc
far as my observation goes, and are very well
executed The exhibitions of the American
Bible Society, and of the American Tract So
cietv. form a feature in the department.
| T.. that of HObiIjpP m m
able furniture, we have some superior articles
Tho n,anetarium attracts much attention and
i verv accurate and curious. No marble in
the building is whittier than the Rutland mar
Bile; none more beautiful than the specimen:
from California and Tennessee. A deal table
made in Barlow, Wisconsin, mosaiced will
&C. 321 pieces into pictures of Washington, Lin
coin. johnson, Grant and Sherman, and int
different figures and borders, is a wonderful
piece Of work. Our American pistols have al
ready worldwide reputation. The billiard
table sent by Phelan s. Collender is maste
piece of its kind, and far superior to any in tn
Palace Tiffany's display of silver ware is no
SO extensive as might have been expected. bu
the articles are good. The two steamboa
models of the Vanderbilt" and the "Common
wealth" are extraordinary The latteris mti
sic box and is said to have been purchased by
duchess soon after it was put on exhipit'oh
In the gallery of vestments we cannot elain
superiority. Our cloths are good' anu sho'
that our manufactures are approaching pei
, fection. but we cannot compete successfull
with European firms. Our dags and arm
/ hammers are. to q loyal American eye, at leas
tho bandsomest in the world. Why were nc
officers uniforms sent, as well asthe coarse'
fatigue suits of the private soldiers? veI
tnre that no uniforms could have been selec
ed coarser or worse looking than those on Il