Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-05-30
The First Week Of The Exhibition.

.
The First Week Of the Exhibition.
The close of the first week OF the EX-
position still leaves in doubt the question
whether it will pay for itself in dollars
and cents. Bat its success is assured in
points infinitely more important than any
purely financial ore. Ia the first place,
the accommodations provided prove
sufficient to insure the absolute comfort
ofthe public. The buildings and grounds
are so large that large daily attendance
does not produce q crowd. The great
concourse at the gates melts away into
the vast houses; every man has breath.
ing-yoom, and that comfortable sense of
license and quiet essential to thorough
comprehension OF the object before him.
Another marked success is the prompt
ness with which the Exposition is recog-
uzed and received by the masses of our
own people, not as a show place but as
school. There is very little Idle saunter-
ing, except by new. comers on their first
visit. In the groups surrounding an ex-
Ibit the faces OF Americans, keen, alive,
quick eyed, are distinguishable from all
others, and the questions asked by them
are usually shrewd and Intelligent
/ Specialists. OF course, seek out their own
department OF study: ert. mechanics,
l agriculture, ceramics, etc. But the null
titude are in search of that general in
| formation which everywhere sharpens
the American mind to It's exceptional
readiness and facility. Western colleges
alIeadv are sending up their students,
mothers bring their boys, young girls
from the interior jot down points for study
at home; the habit, indeed, of carrying
notebook and pencil is common among
all classes. The French came up 10 their
Exposition, as will be remembered by sll
who visited it. as though it were grand
iete; the Americans are going to make
all the practical use they can OF theirs.
The third point OF success is that the
Exposition does not fail in any regard 10
supply the information demanded. The
exhibits are fuller in most classes than
was anticipated. European nations ex-
perienecd in international Exhibitions
display great skill in the completeness
with which they representatives, Industries
In many cases maps OF the ply sical struc-
ture OF the country are hung up, with
pictures OF its more marked landscapes,
cities, etc., which even TO q child serve to
identity il with the red or yellow patch
on his atlas. Now its minerals, vegeta-
b.es, and manufactures are before him,
representations OF the houses its people
live in, their carriages, clothes, house
hold utensils, and in the midst. as rule,
d living native TO explain it all. A child
cab learn more OF the physical condition,
the products. and civilization OF the world
from a weeks visit to this Exposition
than from years study of geography
and atlas. 1t offers to the intelligent stu
dent the advantages of travel epitomized
into brief rpace and time. For this rea-
son the chance should be especially ac-
cepted by the farming class OF this coun-
try, who travel less than any other. All
their disadvantages, ,as they acknowledge,
come from lack OF friction with men diff
erent from themselves. The Tribune
knows how large its constituency Is
among this class, ,and urges them advised
ly to sacrifice part of the years earnings
and time for visit to Philadelphia. 1t is
not a chance likely to occur again in
middle aged mans or woman's life. 1t
will lift them as nothing else can do out
of the dull, petty level OF everyday
thoughts. They will be healthier and
stronger all their days for knowing how
large is the world they live in and now
small is their part of it.
Another feature of success is the whole
some, hearty spirit of fraternization in
which Americans come up to this national
rendezvous. The people meet in these
great buildings with cheerful. even Joy
Gus good will very alien to their usual
temper. The beauty and space and
grandeur of the surroundings have their
effect, no doubt, OF temporary exhilars-
ion; but each man feels himself host,