, 1875-09-09

THE CHICAGO ExPos1r1oH.
Exposition ti,ne has como round agnin, md
in nearly oil tho prominent cities Of tho West
the years. progrcgH in mechanism, mnnufac-
tru, mines md minerals, natural history,
painting, sculpture, literature, 1nlsic, and in-
yontonE ia we'll represented. Our own Ex-
position opened its doors last osoning to tho
public, in very unostcntatious manner, with
ont parailes, processiols or flourish Of
trulnpets. Although there aro considerable
finishing touches necessary to giyo 1t com-
nletion, still tho representation is sufficient
already to indicate decided improvement
upon the Exposition Of last year, and fayor-
ablo comparison with the Expeditions Of other
cities. Our local reports show Bomo very graft
flying facts i'll tllis isconncc.ion, prominentamong
which il tlat, while last year there were but
800 exhibitors, this yoor there aro little
over 1900, and nearly 4so applications had
to bo declined owing to want Of space. Every
department in tho great building looks we'll.
Tint of machinery md tho usofnl arts ia
moro comprehensive tlan over before, and in
the liberal arts almost every branch Of tile
higher industries in handsomely represented.
The mineral department ii nedo unusunlly
attrnctiyo not only by tho large display Of
metal ores and fine geological specimens, but
also by tho products of tho furnace. Tho
department Of natural history last year was
not particularly attractive, but This ycar 1t ia
remarkably complete, and embraces an in,-
,nense collection OF fossils, anatomical speci-
mems md lnolo1s, casts, md drawings.
Tho household art department, q new feature,
will provo Of groat interest to connois-
se,,rs in unique and artistic designs in tho
arts applied to tho household, "a form Of
luxury and elegance which is Mt tho present
tilno attracting moro attention than over be-
fore. Tic horticultural department will be
decorated with thu choicest home plants and
e1otics, and will provo I'LL agreeable place Of
resort for those who delight in flowers, "a
we'll es for those who wish to escapo from,
tho noiso Of tho great hiyo of industry.
TuE TrrnuaE takes prilo in specially COM
mcnding tho art department. Only a week
atter tho close Of the Exposition Inst fall it
urged upon tho Art Committee to mako tho
present collection representative Of Amer
ican art, being moved thereto by the
fact that tho collection at that timo was
lamcntably deficient In American pictures.
There was but nero handful, ind these, not
baing contributed by the artists themselves
but picked up ut hap.hazasd, wore mainly
old and poor specimens. The Committee
nctcd upon TIE Tn1nuNE's hint, and, through
tho agency Of Il gentleman, Mr. JoHN F. SrAp-
FOND, in whom tho Eastern artists had confl-
dcnco, hayo succeeded in collecting soyernl
hundred pictures from American artistu, q
handsome proportion Of them having boon
painted expressly for this Exposition. In
the hsngiug Of these pictures, Mr.. srArYonp
hns had tile invaluable assistance OF A1r.
WILLIAM II. HEARD, tho woll-known New
York astist, whose Judgment and good tasto
havo resulted In placing the pictures in tho
best possible lights and placeA THO noyol
featuro Of grouping them aida to the inter-
est, inasnluch at 1t affords tho spectator an
opportunity not only to judge Of an artists
style by comparing Ills pictures one with nn-
other, but to compare the works Of different
nrtists also, and thus ascertain. their distin-
gushing fcatu1cH. Thoro aro but very few
foreign paintings, and with few exceptions
they ore not remarkable, 80 that thero Ia
nothing to detract from tho interest Of this
excellent and generous display Of American
art. Laat yoar Our Chicago artists received
rather shabby treatment. This year,
however, they havo mot with q
hearty recognition, and consequently
Aayo turned out an unusually largo
number Of works and Of unusuh
excellence. OF course, aa no sovoro discrim-
ination WIS made by tho hanging committee,
,nany Inferior pictures and somo daubs Aavo
found thoir why in, but as whole tho exhi-
bition Is very croditable, and shows that cur
artists mo recovering from the disastor Of
1871. "'
The whole Exposition shows Immense
progrega sinco laat year, aud thus indicates
manifest improvement in the great world Of
industry. 1t shows that Chicago and tho
West hive not fallen behind Einoe 1874. but
are moving aheaa with wonderful energy,
and TINT there is constant progress. That
our city will patronize the Exposition there
IL no doubt, and, now that the rail-
roads layo shown disposition to
accommodate the country with re-
duced fares, wo may expect busy time in
tho city during the next SIX weeks, or until
the Exposition closes, We can assure our
friends In the country that Chicago has
somsthina well worth sssiug, aud that 1t will