The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-09-13

kindly Of me, and If there is prize going,
| shall be the man 20 pick up. AZ vi.
emma spent nearly as much, and 1 am
afraid spent good deal more at Phila-
delphia. Were Ioider should think ex-
hibitions and the cost they entail q bore;
But 80 far have enjoyed them. "a reel
all the excitement of man engaged IN /
race for prize, and know that II L MIND
myself, and make no blunders L am sure
to VIM" To what nation this enterprlsing
exhibitor belongs, will not say. De,
lieve he told me the truth and nothing but
the truth, though he may not have told
the whole truth. A French juror, IN the
class of artistic bronzes said to me this
morning; there should be no such thing
as prizes. All we should be asked for is
reports. We do great mischief in award
ing medals. The house in the habit of
CARRYING off the laurels is injured if it
leaves the exhibition except as victor
A house doing just as we'll will not have an
opportunity TO rise if we do not grant it
prize, Customers will fall off and the no.
ton will get out that this firm is no longer.
able to do as well as it used. Often our
awards are guided by personal taste for
which there is no accounting. This arts
tically- designed candlestick is just as per
feet as that, but like that better than
this. So, i say, crown the maker. 1t Is
not question of merit, but OF my liking,
and the preference may come from some
thing 10 it / associate with my chlld-
hood. When we find six manufac-
turers of equal excellence, and have
found as many-what is man to do? My
advice to my colleagues has been to draw
lots and let the world know our mode of
procedure. But this was rejected as &C.
centric. Mankind must have beaten paths
and a good lot OF humbug in its general
life. Since they would not take my advice
have formed my plan Do you know
what il is will decide my vote? A young
woman came to my house few days ago
She was shown into the room in which /
was breakfasting, and was accompanied by
two small children. "A servant followed
CARRYING bundle of account books. The
lady, when she went to state her case,
burst into tears. 1t was embarrassing to
me, but encouraged her to proceed. She
| said, II am doing a very extraordinary
thing but cannot help it. My necessity
must be my excuse" She then told me
that she was the wife of ---
whose brouzes | must have seen and Gd-
mired in the exhibition confessed to
having thought Them admirable. Well,
she went on, S"please look at those account
books and see what tremendous sacrifices
we have made to appear we'll at the ex-
position. Nothing but medal can save
u.s." She gained her point, l confess. and
l promised to give her husband the prefer.
ence. Why should l not2 He is abreast
with the greatest houses in Paris, and it il
better to preserve a drowning man than t
hand another rom a good boat into &
luxurious barge. There are cases in
which votes of the visitors to the exhibi
ton should be taken. 1t female suffrage
were appealed to in the needle embroidery
section it would not go far astray. Why
: not ask every woman going there to state
on piece of paper what most pleased her
and drop it in box near the door? u
course the public could not pronounce il
cases where technical knowledge is re
e quired, but in every other they should b.
I Judge and jury; and when there are juror
. they should only make reports, not aware
medals.
1t has been resolved by the authorize
t 80 preserve the buildings after the exhibi
3 ton has closed. All the substantial p0r
tons of the erections, together with th
gardens facing the river, will be main
tanned for the benefit of the city, aud tn
: Palace of the Trocadero will be converte
[ into a permanent museum.
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