The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-06-17
PHILADELPHIA LETTERS.
loue.poadenee o. lhs Dsm0eralIe Advoeale
PHILADELPHIA, PA. june 10th

in the display in FairmOnnt Park who's
exhibition may be studied with more pro
fit and pleasure than that Of Sweden. ]
seems to have been the object of thi
country not SO much to advertise its pre-
ducts In the market Of nations, as to ad
dress itself in friendly and sociable wa
to the heart and intelligence. In thi
respect Sweden Is in marked and refresh
ing contrast with almost every other ma
tion.
1t is somewhat disseminating to thos
Of us who have seen France, Italy an,
Germany only through the magnifyini
haze Of history, literature, or in the dram
ofgreat achievements, to meet them her
in the role of shopmen aud bucksters, eacl
trying to excel the other in magnifcenc
Of shop-windows, and making the yisito
feel unhappy because he neglected to brin,
sufficient pocket money TO buy them al
out. But Sweden masks or subordinate
her avarice. The features Of her exhibi
ton which attracts most attention, are tn,
costumed lifelike groups in plaster repre-
senting scenes in the domestic life Of th,
Swedish common people. In one of thest
an old man and his wife are seated at
table he appears to be reading aloud from
the bible, while she listens in reverential
silence. Another tableau represents az
old clockmaker listening to the persuasions
Of his wife in behalf Of young peasant
and their daughter standing by, intent
upon matrimony. The zeal of the mother
for the cause, the grave deliberation Of
the father, and the respectful, anxious,
suspense Of the young couple are all very
powerfully portrayed. No detail Of rig
orously truthful representation is omitted;
the tableaux have been modelled from
well-known pictures, the physiognomy is
of a pronounced national type, and the
clothing has been purchased second hand
from Swedish peasants. Other groups
represent mother weeping over the era
die Of her dead infant; bride and. groom
in the cheap gorgeousness of their we'd
ding finery, and a Laplander drawn by a
reindeer over fields of snow, represented
by cotton against back ground of aurora
borealis. A contemplation of the last
group will prepare the visitor to appreciate
the fine display Of furs Of otter, sable,
mink, fox, seal, etc., that are in this sec
ton.
On the opposite side Of the main aisle,
and separated from the principal Swedish
section, is warlike display in marked
contrast with that which we have Just
seen. Il consists Of Swedish soldiers in
plaster, representing different branches Of
the service, artillery, cavalry, and infan-
try, uniformed and armed cap pie.
There are also a steel cannon with its
caisson, gun which is something like our
Gatling gun, and many arms and aecou-
trements, modern and antique.
Near the military exhibit is that Of the
technical art schools; these are supported
by the government in the cities and large
towns, the sessions being held in the eve
nings and on Sundays. The students are
young working people Of both sexes and
their attainmonts as represented here IN
architectural, mechanical, and landscape
drawing, as well as in the construction Of
mechanical models indicate high degree
of efficiency. But viii reserve for
future letter fuller notice of the Swedish
educational exhibit, which, while on the
whole not superior to our own, has isolated
points Of superiority that We may profta-
bly, study. was particularly impressed
with the excellence of their maps and
charts of all kinds, geological, astfonomi-
cal, and mathematical, as well as geograph-
ical. The latter are in marked contrast
with the variegated misleading blotches
which under the names of Guyot, Cornell,
Mitchell and others, are imposed upon the
school children Of the United States.
Their charts of pictures for the education
Of the eye and for object instruction are
very good, and their desks are models Of
strength, and convenience, but
not of beauty.
In the purely industrial portion of her
exhibit, the Swedish iron and steel make
The most imposing display. The exhibi-
Tors Of these metals are twenty-eight in
number and they include the two largest
firms in the Kingdom, one at Motola and
the other at Sandoik. Huge bars, wheels
and ingots OF iron and steel are arranged
IN columns and pryamids twenty or thirty |
'eet in height, producing the impression
hat Sweden produces in abundance an
excellent quality Of the most useful Of all
metals.
The display of furs by d. Forssell & Co.
4 Stockholm, are constantly surrounded
" groups Of admiring ladies' Upon COM
'aring the prices with those Of various
iimilar articles sold in this country, | |
'ound the Swedish furs considerably lower.
Nearly every European country, Il
would seem from the redundant and
nonotanous display in the main building,
lesires to compete in porcelain, and china
ware. Sweden is no exception, aud her
Iisplay is about rs fine as any ofthem. q.
PHmADELpHIA, Juna 1ath.
From the crowds that every day throng |
Memorial Hall, it is evident that the only
that has ever been presented |