The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-08-03
Our Pnris Latter.
THs GREAT ExnBITIoN--A GENERAL REVIEW
BY Our CoRREsPoNnEST.
ptD4e Iplv II. 1879

/
! PKRfs, July 10, 1878.
On landing at Liverpool sentyo a brief
description of my voyage across the Atlantic,
promising to write again from Hamburg
and Copenhagen-I have been obliged to
disappoint you in thot.respect, for upon my
arrival at Hamburg a dozen brothers and
almost an equal number of sisters, and,
was almost going to soy fathers ind mothers,
were on the dock to meet me. | was cap
| tured and did not have moments peace
until got away from them and found my
self in Paris. am late in the field, but
shall make up for time lost.
Among the most instructive developments
of modern civilization are the international
exhibitions which, commencing in London
in 1851 under the inspiration and auspices
of the late sagaciohs and public spirited
Prince Albert, have been succeeded by more
extended and comprehensive ones, closing
with our own glorious Centennial. The
| French Exposition Of 1878 embraces in its
scope the productions and results of every
! industry, art, and science, as well as their
done not merely for purposes of competition
| in the distribution of prizes, but also and
more especially, with the object of passing
| in review, under the scrutiny Of the most
| accomplished experts and men Of science all
| of the fruits of the skill, industry, and exact
| condition and the comparative merits or de-
fects of the industrial development of each
nation and of'each description of article or
| process could be set forth. The progress
| which such examination indicates of the exs
| hibits and to describe the highest standards
| of eXcellanCe, is my aim while in Paris
| From the commencement of the industrial
| epoch which dates from the London EXhis
| bltion of 1851 the profound significance and
value of such exhibitions as this have been
realized by the people and governments of
| civilized nations. Their beneficial influences
are many and widespread; they advance
human knowledge in all directions Though
| the universal language of the products of
| labor the artisans of all countries hold COM
| municatiUn ancient preudiccs are broken
down-are fIaternlzed generous rivalries in
the peaceful fields of industry are excited;
| the tendencies to war are lesscncd and a
better understanding between labor and
capital is fostered. It is gratifying to note
that these great exhibitions are planned and
executed in the interests of the mass of the
! people. In the present instance those in
dustries, products, and organizations de-
| signed to promote the material and moral
and well-being of the people are made pro-
minent, and the underlying animating
| spirit and impulse of the whole plan are for
the advancement prosperity, and happiness
of the people of all nations. One of the
most salutary results is the promotion Of an
! appreciation of the true dignity of labor and
| its paramount claims to consideration as the
basis of national wealth and power.
Such exhibitions have become national
necessities and duties, and as such it may be
| expected that they will be repeated again
and again hereafter.
As a participator in this great information
| al display the United States have labored
| under many disadvantages well known to
/ Americans. The remoteness of the EXhi-
/ bition, and lazy Congress greatly dis
! couraged effort, inasmuch as comparatively
/ few Of the exhibitors could get ready and at
I tend TO placing and explaining their contri-
buttons in time. The broad Atlantic separ-
ates our artisans and producers from the
Champ de Mas, while most Of the great
| competing nations aie connected by rail dl-
rectly with the Exposition building. The
cost of transportation within tho limits o!
the United States to the agency in New
contributions We're forwarded across the
ocean by the Government, no provision is
made for the repacking and return Of the
articles, which at the close Of the EXhibi-
ton are to be at the risk and expense Of the
/ exhibitor, and those many persons who
would have joined in the Exhibition were
| deferred from taking any part in it.
| Yet notwithstanding all these difficulties,
| the country may be congratulated upon the
| success of its exhibition and the skin, in
/ dustry, and energy; for the people does not
suffer by comparison in the great interna-
! tional contest.
Our raw materials are not eXcelled by any
| in the Exposition, and by their variety,
abundance, and quality, give convincing
| evidence of the extraordinary material
wealth of our States and Territories. In the
display of mineral products the coal of Penn
| sylvania, the gold and silver of California,
Nevada, Idaho, and Colorado, the copper
and iron of Minnesota, the zinc ores Of New
Jersey, and the emery oil Massachusetts,, are
especially prominent. The collection is
rich but some regions and products are dis
| propOltionately represented, and it lacks that
unity and completeness which can only be
attained through intelligent organized effort.
Almost all other prominent displays in this
class are prepared with the strong aid and
! authority oi the Governments, through reg
ularly organized corps of engineers.
In forestry and productions of the forest
the display made by the United States is not
good. Much attention is given to this class
by other countries; the display made by
France, Brazil, Australia, and particularly
Canada, are notable features of the EXposi-
ton.
The exhibitions of cereal productions and
Of the cotton, tobacco, wool, and other staple
products, though in some instances promi-
nent and thoroughly satisfactory, are in gen
eral iragmentary and not on a scale COM
mensurate with the enormous capacity of
the country for their production, The alb
senee of of rich furnishings, upholstery, and
decorative work, and manufactures depend
ing upon a high degree Of taste and skill is
conspicuous.
Blondin has opened hippodrome at the
Place d. Eqlau. The hero Of the Niagara
performances on tight rope stretched at a
] haiubt Of fn foot a,,l p,aaluvi,,t, foot l.,