The New York herald., 1869-09-09
NATIONAL EXHIBITION.

Deeu luteuOcO W tuIOW Opcu tuc uOOIS W VIsitOfU
1t noon, in order to date the actual commencement
Of the exhibition from the middle Of the day. while
Ihe ceremonies, the oratorical and musical para
pnernaita were to give eciat and sort Of ofhciai
sanction to the close Of the rst day. But this orgi
nal arrangement could not be carried out for
various reasons, and it had to be changed. Even
as 1t was the admission of the public being post
pOned from noon TO evening, the opening cere-
monial was quite incomplete, ana the whole appear
ance OF the exhibition NOT only not what II sh0ulo
be on the nrst day. but rather unsatisfactory This
was fully appreciated by the board OF managers
themselves, and 1t was said that In the course OF
the afternoon 1t was seriously considered by them
whether the best policy might not be to defer she
formal opening still further for one or two days,
that exhibitors and their workmen should have
ample time to arrange the articles offered for COM
petition with proper care and with some regardtor
symmetrical II not picturesque effect. But II was
thought that to delay the formal commencement
beyond thefday announced months ago might give
rise to presumption neglect Of duty the part Of
the managers, while they ielt confident that they
had done everything within their power to have all
arrangements complete and perfect IN time. The
managers, therefore, unwilling to expose them
selves to even the least shadow OF such unjust sup
positions, determined to proceed with the opening
ceremonies at the appointed hour IN tne evening,
and they would not even take advantage OF the
wretcned weather.
THE RINK LAST EVENING.
Al sunset the gas was lit but only half the burners
that skirt the arched ceing were lighted. The rea-
son was that 1t was hoped the fourteen new ''snn
renectors each with continuous c. crSnaI , 1sa stream
jority of them, could be brought into position IN
time, and would, notwithstanding the dlninutlon oi
the hight usually provided for the "wide expanse"
OF the rink make it as light broad day But this
hope was not realized. 1t was not until after Mr.
Greeley had concluded his address that even one OF
these huge reGect0rs had been hoised to It's place,
but even this single one justified the expeditions
had. For, wherever its rejected rays could reach
0eaqs on 5ae oS ie IN Was as
clearly and distinctly visible as under midday sun,
yet with q soft mellow tint inonensive to the eye
When all these reflectors shall have been placed,
and when they are lighted, all that has been pre-
dcted Of their power will be fulfilled and within the
cnaneeS o. into day Without the painful intensity Of
the direct force Of the sun.
Considering the rather indistinct light which pre-.
vailed at the exhibition last night It would hardly
have been fair to 60 into any critical examination OF
the many specimens Of American industry and
handicrat exhibited 1t is especially in the field OF
btion will far excel any previous one ever held IN
this country Of American products. But AZ yet Tor
tion could be made: and none was as yet attempted
Moreover and this Is another order mas not
yet out Of s chaos Many o. the ehsT asces 70
number Of the tables and shelves are yet empty All
the space available for the accommodation OF
cations were so numerous from all parts Of
the country that $4,000 square feet more could
nsys been y had there
room enough. The delay In this ls that everything
almost is still IN confusion and disorder that but
small portion OF the articles contributed are a. yet
In their proper places while large part stand
about promlscuously and without system, the cause
az eered s in tn sooss I'll the
moment.
uproar, but few machines being, az yet, completely
arranged The workmen do as much as they can
but more could not be employed without being IN
remedy and o he the
nxed on their brick bearths and steam can be raised
there WIN be seen at, at this place o.,1,S snch
and whirling and pulling and twisting saving
and boring and screwing, as nowhere else ever be-
the great Worlds Fair at the Crysta Palace this
city, In 1853 was for its day. great exhibition or
the combined power OF steam, iron and steel. but
this present one, though confined only to American
machinery promises to be as superior to IL as tnat
was to an ordinary machine shop.
The Art Department IS situated along the northern
wing of the rink, and presents already interest
ing collection OF paintings, sculpture. photographs,
sketches ana the IKE, though II Is yet somewhat
will also be remedlcd In due time, after few days
at farthest.
And here suggestion made IN all candor, may
not come in amlss. There ia visible deplorable
want OF system In decorative arrangement
and symmetrical adornment. There might yet
be introduced proper and marked division
between The several departments OF the exhibit
ton and the different groups Of each de-
partment marked by some ornamental device,
which would at once designate the proper branch
OF industry where the visitor finds hlmself and at
the same time brighten the effect Of the whole upon
the behOlder. 1t is not only the professional visitor
for whom such exhibitions are alone profitable; they
DC %aas a TO e Eft be
IN higher degree than 1t Is now by Following the
suggestion made.
At half-past eight O'Clock nearly 1000 people had
assembled, ana a band Of music was discoursing
ss from m Ss9 se wea M
speakers stand and asked for the attention OF the
assembage He apoogized for the mcompleteness
81 such sV delays ''si We're nnavodabie and in few
days more everything would be In order. and
then would 81, be I, an ,s exhibition a 10 a., worthy
can nation, as 1t would combine such variety Of
the products of industry as had never been seen
together before. 1t would be alike interesting and
Instructive 10 the manufacturer, the inventor and
the laborer, and all these the American Institute
takes under its fostering care. He then introduced
Mr.. HORACE GREELEY as the orator OF the day.
Mr. Greeley referred TO the fact that this was the
fortieth year Of the existence Of the Institute and
tme the INSTITUTE Woad have 5udns Of It's
wherein to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary
Of American Independence The rst exhibition Of the
Institute was held thirty seven years ago at Masonic
Hail, on Broadway, near Duane street, and hall OF
so by 100 feet contained all things exhibited. what
change had come over the civilized world during
era since the invention OF printing and The dis.
covery OF America, had such changes been wrought,
and full OF blessings. He then referred TO Lhe po-
itical condition OF Europe in 1929 So TO George ~.
and Charles X. to the United States and their
population OF only 12,000,000, to the wilder
ness Of the western country, to Chicago
as a trading post. and TO the then condi-
tion OF the Pacific coast. While steamboats,
were already known on the rivers IN this country,
the first railroad was operated in England In the
year Of the first exhibition OF the Institute for the
transport OF coal, and shortly after similar one in
Mauch Chunk, Pa. The speaker then referred
rapidly to the achievements OF later years. to the
extension OF railroads, to the introduction OF the
telegraph, barely q quarter century old; 10 the
sewing machine, In all OF which the Ameri-
can Institute proved great aid by the
competition 1t evoked through It's exhibitions They
should ALL therefore, resolve that what little 1t has
been enabled to do heretofore In aiding progressive
industry shall be an earnest and foretaste OF what
1t win and do hereafter. The speaker was loudly
appauded at the close OF his address, and the thirty
eighth annual exhibition OF the American Institute
was declared TO be opened.
RuM0nfD MARINE FlLlBUST TeRInG.