The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-03-15
THE PARIS EXHIBITION.
A Gigantic Failure Anticipated.

From the London Daily News, Feb'y %.
The Paris Presse attributes the omission
of any mention of the exhibition in the EN-
peror Napoleon's speech to his majesty's dis
satisfaction with the whole arrangements,
and his expectation that it viii turn out a
gigantic failure. According to the Presse,
the general public takes little interest in the
affair, and the prices fixed are altogether too
high for most pockets. The writer goes on
to say: .fThe external appearance of the ex-
hibiton palace is far from satisfying to the
eye; it is vast, but without grandeur; low and
heavy; of somber tone, which the lively
colors of flags or hangings will not neutral
ize. This erection, which, from the entirely
modern character of it's destination, afford
ing fall scope for the genius of an architect,
does not present the great and pure lines
which that art SO willingly reproduces in
France, nor has it the power of originality
which was SO striking in the Crystal palace.
Those who have had the privilege of pene-
tratingi nto the interior speak in still less Ia
verable terms. The oval form adopted in
the construction does not permit any extent
of view and the eye falls upon column after
column which succeed each other perpetually
like a moving wall. In this building, which
covers 150, 600 square metres (about $4,000
Z
ing !; there is not enough for the manufacturs
of the departments, so rich In products
Of all kinds, tissues of silks, cotton, wool, en-
broidered or printed; perhaps there is not
even sufficient for Partisan industry ITSELF
And then. with exorbitant tariffs, whit be-
comes of the hospitality which France is
understood to offer to manufactures and
art? How are those two great principles
which ought TO preside over every really un-
iversad exhihition preserving its double
character, national and public, to be realized
and guaranteed, namely, that every facility
should be offered to whoever can show a work
of merit, and should also be provided for IT'S
examination by those who are interested. in
the review of efforts tending to the anpehora-
ton of material life and of the resultacquired
by their perseverance?' The writer declares
that he does not intend discussing the ques-
ton Of price, but that the public is of opinion
that the general good has been too much
disregarded IN favor of individual interest
The article then SAYS: "To these observa
tons, which we have reproduced without
enlarging on them, are added some fears
which will probably be dissipated by a note
in the 1Noniteur. Those who are acquainted
with the interior state of the works ask if, in
fact, the palace can be open to the public OF
the LIST of April. and, in case. the opening
does take place then, if the incomplete arr
angements will not be of such Importance
that the exhibition viii run the risk of being
lessend in the estimation of the foreigners
constituting the first guests. We hope these
apprehensions are exaggerated. The com
MERGE of Paris awais with legitimate impa
thence the movement which that accumula
ton of elegance and riches ought to produce
These exceptional and unforeseen augmen
tations in consumption form part of the ben
fits calculated ON in city like Paris the,
re-establish the equilibrium in business which
in traversing such a period of activity, find {
compensation for thepast and a stimulus TO
the future" Z A ~ 49,