The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-06-07
The Exhibition.
What Sweden has TO Show.-SOldiersa and
chOOImasters. - The Porcelain Dis
play-Increased Attendance.

PHILADELPHIA, June Y lolO.
There is perhaps no nation participating in
the display in Fairmount Park whose exhibi-
/ rivr, hs s...dreu with profit and plea
sure than that of Sweden. 1t seems to have
been the object of this country not so much to
advertise its products in the market of ma
tions, as to address itself in friendly and So
ciable way to the heart and intelligence. In
this respect Sweden is in marked and refresh
ing contrast with almost every other nation.
1t is somewhat disenchanting to those of us
who have seen France, Italy and Germany on
ly through the magnifying haze of history, lit
erature, or in the drama of great achievements,
to meet them here in the role of shopmen and
huxsters, each trying 10 excel the other in
magnifcence of shop. window, and making the
visitor feel unhappy because he neglected to
bring sufficient pocket money to buy them all
out. But Sweden masks or subordenates her
avarice. The feature of her exhibition which
attracts most attention are the costumed life
like groups in plaster, representing scenes in
the domestic life of the Swedish common peo-
pie. In one of these an old man and his wife
are seated at table; he appears to be reading
aloud from the bible while she listens in rev.
an old clockmaker listening to the persuasons
of his wife in behalf of young peasant and
their daughter standing by intent upon matri-
mony. 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 vigorously truthful representation is
omitted; the tableaux have been modelled from
well known pictures, the physiognomy is Of
pronounced national type, and the clothing has
been purchased second hand from Swedish
peasants. Other groups represen. mother
weeping over the cradle of her dead infant;
bride and groom IN the cheap gorgeousenss of
their wedding finery, and Laplander drawn by
a reindeer over fields of snow represented by
cotton against background of aurora Dorealis.
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 section.
On the opposite!side Of the main aisle, and sep
arated from the principal Swedish section is
warlike display in marked contrast with that
which we have just seen. 1t consists of Swedish
soldiers in plaster, representing different
branches of the service. artillery, cavalry and
infantry, uniformed and armed cap a pie.
There are also steel cannon with its caisson,
gun which is something like our Gatling gun,
and many arms and accoutrements 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 evenings and on
Sundays. The students are young working
people of both sexes and their attachments as
represented in architectural, mechanical and
landscape drawing, as well as in the construc-
of mechanical models, indicate a high degree
of efficiency. But will reserve for future
letter fuller notice of the Swedish educational
exhibit, which, while on the whole not superi.
or to our own, has isolated points of superiority
that we may proftably study. L was partcu-
larly impressed with the excellence of their
maps and charts of all kinds, geological, astro-
nomcal aud mathematical, as well as geogra-
phical The latter are in marked contrast
with the variegated, misleading botches which
under the names of Guyot, Cornell, Mitchell
and others are imposed upon the school chill
dren of the United States. Their charts of
pictures for the education of the eye and for OBJ
ject instruction are very good, and their desks
are models Of simplicity, strength and conve-
rience, but not of beauty.
In the purely industrial portion of her ex-
hibit, the Swedish iron and steel make the
most imposing display. The exhibitors of
these metals are twenty eight in number and
they include the two largest firms in the King
dom, one at Motola and the other at Saudoik.
Huge bars, wheels and ingots of iron and steel
are arranged in calumus and pyramids twenty
or thirty feet in hight, producing the impress
sion that Sweden produces in abundance an ex-
cellent quality of the most useful of all metals.
The display of furs by d. Forssell & Co. of
Stockholm, constantly surrounded by
groups of admiring ladies. Upon comparing
the prices with those of various similar articles
sold in this country, found the Swedish furs
considerably lower.
Nearly every European. it would seem from
the redundant and monotonous display in the
main building, desires to compete IN porcelain.
| and China ware. Sweden is no exception, and
her display is about as fine as any of them.
There has been an encouraging increase in the
number of visitors to the Exposition this week.
On Tuesday which was observed as holiday
for the decoration of the graves of soldiers the
attendance (4S,000) was the largest there has
! been since the tenth of May. G.