New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-05-08
OUR NATIONAL LESSON.

We have limited more than once that one Oh
the chief uses of the Exposition would be the
sudden shock to our self-cOnceit by the sharp
contrasts offered at every turn between our
ort and that of other nations. We receive an
UNEXPECTED confirmation OF this OPINION III
lecture delivered the other night on lnter-
national Exhibitions by one OF the prlncipal
members of the British Commission In re-
counting the advantages reaped by his own
country in these exhibitions, he says frankly
that previous to the first, in 1901, the Eli
." glish art-tastes were degraded in every way
"We built buildings that were disgrace, VIC
90 lde pictures not now worth looking W,
eve made pottery which our plowmen wouid
"not now use, and we went on with the
"idea that nobody could beat us. Never
"was n nation more completely subdued than
"tbe English by that Exhibition" The Com
missioner goes on to state that besides the
mister knowledge Of themselves and their capa-
bities which the people thus gained, the Ex-
hibtion resulted IN the establishment OF the
South KensingtOn Museum, out OF which nave
spr,,no between eight and nine thousand schools
and classes of art, and art applied to INDUS
trial science. He gave brief summary OF
tbe effects of the subsequent exhibitions in dif-
ferent European states, tle impetus to manu1ac-
lures, to science to art; the Incentive III short'
held ND for faithful and high work in
every branch of industry. AS to the Dene1t Oh
the present Exposition to his own people, nc
says cordially that Europeans VIII carry Dack
to the Old World many new lessons, among
which is comprehension of the adaptaDlllty
and strength required here to grapple with
difficulties of climate soil, and other exigen-
cies of vast country unknown in their
smaller home; and more than all, the cOnvic-
ton that we are of the same klth ana KIN
that our blood is in their veins, and that 1t Is
the Englishman's fault if we are in opposition
to them The same cordial and hearty spirit
of good fellowship shows itself in every action
of the representatives of other nations.
Now, how are we prepared to return 1t
Certainly, the American who looks forward to
walking through the great buildings in state
of ecstatic Qualification over his country's
progress. and who welcomes foreigners here
only to dazzle their eyes with view OF our
preamlncnce. has very false idea of the
real state of affairs, and very low point of
view from which to regard them. If we mean
70 reaD any real benefit from the Exposition,
let lis DO manly eHOuSu w tHiu oe "o'"N "''''
vanity. and take our place alongside of En-
glishman, Italian, German, and japanese as
lelrners-so many boys at school, honestly
struggling to make our own the secrets OF Old
Dame Nature, and with them to make life
easier, fuller and more beautiful.
There are many points in which we can be-
come the teachers, especially in the mechani-
cal department; our Liie-savng, Signal, and
Railway scryices-the means, III short, with
which we have met and overcome the
physical difficulties and undeyeloped resources
of n new country; but in all the arts which
elevate and beautify social or domestic LIE
we must take low place, and submit to be
instructed by Englishman, Italian, French
man. and Asiatic. The lesson Is hard, but IL
must be leaped. Even tho fool as
he runs may read it written on every
side of the Exposition, although many OF
the great schools of art and the greatest
of living artists are totally unreprescnted In
pottery we have everything to learn (unless
the best baked teeth in the world may give us
n claim; in architecture, painting, and sculp-
ture we have just reached the hopeful stage OF
acknowledging our ignorance. Americans who
have travelled ont of their own country have
long known these disagrceabe truths but sell
dom dare utter them lest they should be
accused of lack of patriotism. Every Ameri-
can who visits the Exposition this Summer can
learn them for himself; and can learn too
wherein his country does deserve respect and
onr,uanIatinD