New-York tribune., 1876-11-25
OUR FOREIGN GUESTS.

parting banquet of unusually formal char
| acter was given on Tuesday last 10y the lead
! ing citizens of Philadelphia to the directors of
the Exposition, but more particularly in honor
| of the foreign members of the Commission,
| who are about To return to their own homes.
| To Philadelphia necessarily has fallen espe-
cially the pleasant duty of entertaining these
gentlemen; but they have made themselves
well known in the metropolis, and have been
cordially welcomed here. We are convinced
that their departure will be regarded with
more regret than is usually accorded TO foreign
| visitors, no matter what their rank.
The Commissioners have not, as ordinary
tourists or htterateurs, come prompted by IDLE
pleasure seeking or curiosity. They are the
accredited representatives not only of the coun-
tries from which they came, but of some spc-
cifc department of industry, art, or learning.
They have found their prompt welcome by
virtue of that frccmasonry always existing
between earnest, practical men, and all people
of good breeding no matter whether they are
Englishmen, Turks. Japanese. or Americans.
They have been, as q rule, Jealous in placing
the claims of their own countries, public and
social on the most favorable footing before
us, and equally earnest in the desire to carry
back with them an honest pTcscntment OF our
condition, political and domestic, and our ef-
forts and success in that line of science or
work in which they were especially interested.
TO this end they have, in the majority of cases,
not only studied the American Department of
the Exposition, but travelled over much of the
country, visited mines, manufactures, schools,
etc, etc entered largely into American
social life and seen it in its best phases. They
have thus been brought in direct contact With
men of their own caliber, pursuits, and
tastes There can be no doubt that this inter
course will be of permanent benefit to them
and to u.s. Already new relations of trade are
established, and we have begun to borrow and
lend in true neighborly fashion ideas in
mechanics, in art and education, with the
furthcst nations of the globe. The gifts, too,
presented by many of these representatives to
scientific and educational institutions in this
country are of great intrinsic value-a value
enhanced by the cordial feeling which
prompted the Offering
Apart from these more general considera-
tiOns, however, the feeling of personal regret
crowds all Others aside, now that the time
for parting arrives. From their homes in old
England or half-fabulOus Japan, by Norwe-
gian fiords or Brazilian forests, have come
honest, genuine, cultured men, who for year
have gone i'll and out among us, sat by our
fircsides, talked with our wives and children,
counseed with us as to our work and theirs
i'm the world They will take home with them,
we hope more Just and no unkindly mem
orics of the young nation of the West and we,
"a Jacob when he welcomed his elder brother
.In ks nd lnV
God had dealt graciousy with him, feel the
old kindred blood rise again warm within u.s.
To all our guests, then, a cordial shake of
the hand and hearty Godspeed upon their
journey.