The true northerner., 1878-08-09
correspondence of The True Northerner.

PARIS, July goth, 1873.
The right wing OF the Trocadero palace, the
annex to the main building is devoted to an
tiquties, which have been so arranged as to
give a connected view OF the progressive de-
velopment of the arts, and from fitting intro
duction to their present advanced condition
Even the prehistoric relics OF the human race
are displayed there to complete the series.
The Exposition is thus not only of the present,
but OF the past. 1t gives the history OF human
labor in various countries from the earliest
periods, and becomes to great degree an ex-
position Of mental development OF the human
from the inspection of the implements of stone,
bronze, iron and finally OF steel, without recog
nizing progressive development OF humanity.
The galleries Of the antiquities makes the Ex-
hibtion an unwritten history Of civilization
which every one can read, of whatever nation
or language. 1t attracts the peasant and the
scholar, and teaches history and philosophy by
the contrast Of the productions of human labor
Of all periods and countries
The French exhibit is the most complete
as whole, and is divided by partitions into a
series of halls or apartments, so as to more
distinctly mark the different periods.
The historic period is brought boldly for
ward by the extensive collections which have
been made in various parts of Europe, during
the past ten years such as implements OF stone
from the bone cayerns, peat bogs and from
the lake dwellings, of Switzerland.
The cases are filed with enormous spear
heads OF filnts, hatchets and other rudely made
implements formed by chipping and without
polish. These occur in association with the
bones and teeth OF the extinct cave bear the
elephant, and the mastadon, and specimens OF
these are displayed in the same cases. These
rudely mad de implements are supposed to be-
long to the first or earliest stone period. A
second or later period of the stone age is indi-
Gated by implements of superior finish; such
as were ground down to smooth surfaces, and
in some instances polished. The next hall
SOhtaiuE VI iuo DIOuZS ptIlOu. e1-
tending to the Gallo Roman. The objects
consists chiefly Of cutting instruments, sgrcul-
tural implements, lamps, and objects of orna-
ment, such as bracelets OF bronze and OF gold.
rings, and pins. or the latter large collection
contains pins with shield for the points, and
a spiral spring at the back, almost identical IN
form NTH 0f "A mir 30 tho
ent day. The next hall is devoted to the Celtic
and Gallo relics, AID contains the remarkable
golden necklaces from the museum OF rou-
louse. The representation of the work Of the
middle ages is characterized by variety of
church ornaments and relcs such as oak chests
seals, caskets, croziers, bronzes set with masses
OF rock crystal, like those OF China and Japan
ivory carvings, illuminated missals Of vellum.
swords and cham armor. The fifth hall con-
tains objects OF the sixteenth century. or the
Renaissance period Here are found curiouslv
fashioned IRON locks and keys, cutting instru-
ments. jewels, and few nearly sperlcal watch
es. The enamels OF Limoges occupies large
space, and came IN great part from the col
lection OF Baron Rothschild.
At the entrance OF the sixth hall, represent
ing the arts Of the seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries, a curious collection of high-heeIe
boots and shoes attract considerable attention.
Here also are seen the faiences of Rouen and
the production Of the renowned Passay old
furniture, mirrors, inlad cabinets, block letter
books, and specimens of bock-binding. The
collections OF this period are continued in the
halls beyond, aud contains the porcelans Of
Sevres, richly wrought table services of silver,
tapestries, miniatures, snuff boxes thread lace
and elabofately decorated fans. Although the
collections OF antiquities as a whole. is very
large and interesting, it can not be regarded as
a complete exhibit OF the progress OF human
labor up to the present time. The wonderful
advances made in the mechanical arts OF the
present century, and the various applications
OF science to the arts, are not historically
shown. The collection is also deficient in
representations of the ancient arts, and civil
zation Of China, Japan, OF Egypt, Mexico, Cen
tral America, and Peru.
Somebody has said, that Americans make the
best Frencbmen of all the foreigners who flock
here from all parts OF the globe; and from
what have seen OF our beloved countrymen
abroad, | am inclined TO believe that such is
really the fact The English are always
English, and promenade in London styles on
the Rue de RicoH, affect nothing but dog carts
and drags on the Boulevards and in the Bois
de Boulogne, and, when they coudescend to
learn French, never speak it without the pecu-
liar nasal coekney twang Of Picadilly. The
Russians, OF whom there are always large
colony here, are intensely Russo in everything.
and spend more money on diamonds. cham
payne, and questionable women, than all the
other foreigners put together. The Germans.
OF whom we have also great many here. are.
as a rule, of an economical turn of mind pat
ronize cheap restaurants and third-cass hotels.