The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-10-19

which so enormously preponderates over
the comparatively few visitors who have
been to the Exhibition for some definite
purpose of art or business, or both CON-
bined, aud who expect to make tangible
profit in one way or another out of their
study Of the latest achievement of agricul-
tural engines, Of potters, Of upholsterers,
and of builders. The general visitors have
been, or are going to Paris, partly because
they like to sec all Exhibitions of every
kind; partly because they fancy that they
ought to see this particular Exhibition for
the sake of being as other men are, and of
obtaining material for small talk; and
partly because, if the truth be told, they
grasp eagerly at any excuse for holiday
in the recreation ground of Europe. The
impressions left upon different members of
this body, by their inspection of the Paris
Exhibition, are worth study by reason of
their variety and their singularly contra
dictory nature. There are first of all the
good people, who come home delighted
with all that they have seen, because they
set out intending to be pleased, and be-
cause they fear that if they seemed dissat-
isfed their neighbors would fancy they had
blundered into a failure, and waste of
money and time. At the opposite pole,
though actuated by much the same insin-
cerity Of motive, are the unhappy people
who are disappointed, and because they
think it is the correct thing to be disap-
pointed, and because they believe that
their dissatisfaction proves their own su-
periority. Leaving the genuine impress
sions of these sight-seers out of the ques-
ton as beyond the reach of anything save
guess-work, we come to the spectators who
are chiefly struck by the magnitude Of the
thing to be seen. They have been OPP
pressed by their self-impOsed task Of
pleasure, and having no method in their
holiday occupation, have confessedly diriv-
ed from it little but vague sense of its
Importance. There has been so much to
see that they have seen nothing. 1t would,
they say, and say truthfully, take weeks to
"do" the Exhibition thoroughly; SO they
have not known how to spend few days
there with intelligent enjoyment. With
them it is not exactly case of ''no eyes, -
or Of eyes wilfully blind; they honestly de-
sire to see, but they do not know where to
begin to look. Others, still without the
charmed circle of those who have acquired
the art of seeing" have failed because
they have limited too carefully their hori-
zOn. Interested in the pictures, they have
forgotten the furniture; paying. attention
to the characteristic productions Of the
furniture makers they have missed taking
comprehensive view of the still more
characteristic structures in which they are
placed. Struck by the merely curious
they have lost sight Of the beautiful, or,
on the other hand, they have looked only
where they could admire.
Il would be difficult TO expand the cata
logue of Exhibition-goerstoa length as great
as that of the more familiar Exhibition
catalogue. The ways of seeing are as many
as the sights to be seen. As rule, it
may be said that he who takes most into
an Exhibition takes most out of it, Just as
he who brings most information to bear
upon book derives most from its pages.
Il is certain that the art Of profitable sight
seeing is one well worthy Of cultivation
since the result of proficiency in it is to
increase indefinitely the means and oppor-
tunity of education. Not only are we en-
abled by its aid to effect the oft-laughed-at
combination of business and pleasure; our
very pleasures are elevated and intensified
| by the mental Advancement which they
are thus made to imply. If the series of
Exhibitions inaugurated in 1851, and cul-
minating for the time being in 1878, had
done nothing else, they would have accom-
plished great work in training the my
RAIDS who have visited them to make pro-
ftable use of those powers of general OBJ
servation which so often lie dormant, while
other faculties are actively employed in
the monolonous routine of life. That the
crowds who now thFong the building OPP
posite the Trocadero, and study its huge
mass of contents, are better fitted than
their predecessors Of twenty-seyen years
ago to derive mental improvement from
their stud y can scarcely be doubted They
have much to learn before they can gain
the full benefit from gigantic opportunity
such ns this; but they have also learned
much, and have done so in no small de-
gree, by the aid of the movement set on
foot In the various capitals of Europe. To
those who have been taught how to use an
Exhibition properly, there will be a new
value in every examination of the shop
windows Of foreign city, or, indeed, of
their native town. And, what is still more
valuable, they will never miss the possible
interest of daily life, because they employ
''no eyes" on the observation of the objects
which line their path.
4 very peculiar case is just now exciting
indignation against the Paris legal institu-
tions. The circumstances are as follows :
A young man called Maillard left New
York where his family is settled, to draw
in the CONSUMPTION, and, having drawn
good number, he went to Havre and en-
barked. just, however, as the steamer
was about to leave, police agent went on
board and arrested him. After having
been kept eleven days in the poIice-ofice
and two days in prison, where he had to
put on the prison dress, he was transferred
to Paris handcuffed. 1t was only after
having been for eight days 10 durance vile
that the examining Judge informed him
that he was accused Of having embezzled
$4,000 francs In Paris Maillard was
confronted with the victim of the robbery
and It was discovered that the police had
arrested the wrong Maillard. 1t is almost
incredible, but it is fact, that the limo
cent man instead of being at once dis
charged, was kept in prison for two days
after the mistake had been discovered. At
the time Alphonse Clement Maillard was
arrested he had all his papers, clearly
showing that ne was not the man wanted
by the police. He has now sailed for New
York, having received by way of compen-
sation a certificate TO the effect, that hav-
ing been been arrested by mistake he was
Immediately released. ALPHA.
The following States will hold elections
on November 5th:-Alabama, Arkansas,
ronnaeticut Delaware Florida Grorpin