Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-08-08
PARIS LETTER.
From our regular Correspondent.
D.Drs T,,1r- on 1870

PARIS, july 70, 1878.
In walking trough the different sections
of the exhibition, the American will nat
urally compare the exhibits of his own
country with those of other countries,
and, in spite of his prejudices in favor of
home, he will, after long inspection, con-
tinued from day to day, be able to form a
general idea, and tell, in general way,
what we have gained or lost by entering
the lists of this grand artistic and indus
trial tournament.
In the first place, our Government ap-
prOpriated $l50,OO0 large portion of
which had, as matter of course, to be
expended for sinecure salaries for COM
missioners; figure-heads in no way nee
essary to the legitimate end of our ap-
pearing here. This, however, is ques-
tion to be considered at home, merely
mention it en- passdnt because have OBJ
served that the commissioners, (the COM
missioner in chief excepted) have little
or nothing to do, bless their patriotic
souls, but to see Europe at the expense of
the purse-proud taxpayer at home. By
our appearance at this exhibition, 1 doubt
if we have made any improvement, in the
unsympathetic eyes of the world, since
we astonished and alarmed the manufae-
turers of Christendom and heathendom by
the extent of our national resources and
productive ability in 1876. 1 do not doubt
that the average European, who knows
as little about us as we know about Aus
tralia, will, after comparing our display
here with the displays of other countries,
look upon us very much as we did upon
Mexico or the Argentine Republic at the
Centennial Exposition. OF course the es g..
innate will be erroneous, made from su-
perficial inspection, but how many in ten
thousand make more than a superficial
inspection of anything. The visitor who
had never known anything of the EtGts
UTaiS until he entered our section, in the
Champ de Mars, would gather the i'm
preston that the United States was an
immense country for the production of
false teeth, drugs, Waltham watches, pi-
amos, photographs, carriages, axes, door
locks, sewing machines and school-books.
He would look in vain in the fine art
department to find single picture that
suggests, like the works of European ar
lists, anything that is legendary, or typi-
cal of national life, habits, manners, and
native scenery. For our artists, who have
pictures here, have studied and copied
abroad, have contented themselves with
cleverly and servilely initiating European
masters, instead of drinking at the fount
of nature and becoming masters them
selves.
We have, through New York firm, a
fine display of carriages, buggies, phae-
tons, sulkys, etc. They are all lighter
and more elegant, but less durable, than
the French or English carriages, and the
prices asked for them are at least % per
cent. higher than is asked for the same
article in Europe.
The watch company at Waltham, Mas
sachusetts, and Tiffany & Co., of New
York, have both excellent exhibits; they
have made the best ofimpressions abroad
and will no doubt in the end reap har-
vest, for themselves, from the seed sown
here; but since they represent special and
| limited industries it is questionable
whether their prosperity is a matter for
national cOngratulation
In the department of labor-saving ma
chinery, and especially in the machinery
of agriculture, we will, L think, hold our
own. We cannot gain anything in this
Department, for the superiority of oul
agricultural implements is universally
conceded. The American mowers, reap
ers, threshers, etc., have for years beer
sold, through agencies, in the large Eu
ropean cities; many of them are in ope
ration in France, Belgium, Germany and
Russia. Their superior strength, light.
ness, simplicity and efficiency has placed
them almost beyond competition. It i
well, however, that our manufacturer
have made the fine display (by far tn
best in the American section) that the,
have made here, for the manufacturers o
other countries are not asleep, and it i
important to maintain reputation. TIL
field trial of mowers and =eapers will tax
place in a few days, believe on the 24t1
of this month. More than fifty mowers
and as many har ;esters will compete fo
medals, and. it may be predicted, with a
approach to certainty, that the real CON
petition will be between different Amer
, lean machines, and not between those {
America and European countries.
The increasing popularity of our ms
chimes abroad is not, however, the roseat
auspicious omeh for our pecuniary gai
r that it would at first appear to be.
e means that the day is dawning on tn
: continent when the woman and the co
$ will be no longer harnessed to the cart an
plow, when larger acres will be reape
and cheaper bread will be furnished
the millions of Europe. Especially
! y this true in the light of the great chang
that have in the last two weeks bee
u made upon the map of Europe. Russ
will now have water transportation fl
the surplus of her fertile plains, and As
attic Turkey, through the stable goverl
ment guaranteed by England, may b
come a competitor in the grain market
the world. G. A. S.
The New COachmams