Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-10-15


is DOT called upon to describe the Exposi
ton Universelle in systematic manner,
and has nothing whatever to do with the
wrongs of the exhibitors and the high
haHaed-doings OF NJ KrantE, Commissary-
General and Grande Bette MORE of the
Trocsdero and the Champ de Mars. "The
terocious Engineer" is the mildest quslif-
cation which the majority Of the Paris
newspapers can find for the energetic
Commissary-General, and at least twice
week a flaming leading article appears in
some organ Of public opinion, demanding
the instant dismissal from office OF func-
tionary whose most grleyous offence sp-
pears to be that he cannot please every
body. A similar ineapscity, it will be
remembered, was the misfortune of GER
tain old gentleman in remote antiquity
who had donkey. AT this present mo-
ment sn avalanche Of abuse is descending
on the devoted head Of the CommiSsary-
General because the distribution of prizes
IS to De delayed until the 2lst Of October,
ten days before the close Of the Exhibition
itself, and because NJ. Krantz obstinstely
refuses to publish beforehand complete
list Of the medals and diplomas to be
awarded by the juries. There are, it is
said, 10000 awards, and some 1000 per-
sous-jurymen, officials, copyists, and SO
torth-are necessarily in the secret Of who
is to have anything and who nothing; but
on the other hand, there are $4,000 ex-
hibitors, who Angrily deprecate the leaking
out Of partial revelations, and call for the
publication of full. true. and particular
list Of the reoompenses which are to be
given. All that NJ. krsntz has hitherto
eondescended to do is 20 hang up, in the
VestibuIe d HOnDeur, a very handsome
drawing, on tinted paper, in sepia height
ened with Chinese white, which drawing
Is the model of the diploma to be confer
red on meritorious exhibitors. Ii is
beautiful work of art; but as yet it is
not more highly appreciated by the expos
ants than bridal cake IN a coniectloner's
shop window would be, when you knew
that somebody was going to be married,
but when you were totally unaware whe-
Their there was any intention OF asking
you to the wedding supper. The rage OF
the exhibitors at the poStporemout Of the
tableau Of rewards has at least one high
IL diverting aspect The following Is in
substance their plea You deprive Us,
they say to NJ. Krantz, "of the means OF
selling cor goods. You arc spelling our
market If We get gold medals there will
be an extensive demand for our wares
and orders viii flow in prOpOrtionstely if
We receive silver or broze medals, or even
honorable mentions; whereas, If We have
TO wait until the Dist of October for our
deserts TO be recognized. the commercial
travellers OF the great foreign firms will
have left Paris. We shall have lost
whole SIX weeks prestige smong wealthy
visitors, willing TO buy, but preierring TO
wait until they can make their purchases
from medalists"-or "iaureats," as these
ambitious tradestoik term themselves
"snd after the DIST We shall have little
more 70 do than to pack up, with the de-
plorable consciousness that our medals Of
1878 s-e, Ia a business sense, of no more
use to Us than our analogous decorations
of 1855, OF 1862, OF 1867, and of 1873"
| have heard that one ingenious lubricant,
say OF .Hsthetic Soap or Sympathetic cor
sets. exssperated at the official delay
which Is keeping his exalted merits IL the
shsde, placed in his case OF exhibits a
piacard bearing the inscription, IN Lilli-
putiAn and Brobdingangian characters re-
spectively, Expecting TO obtain the Gold
Medal Gold Medal" was 10 preten-
tious capitals; Expecting TO obtain in
microscopic letters. But one Of NJ krantz's
Alguszils was very soon down" on the
inventive lubricant, and he was sternly
admonished to remove the obnoxious sign
and nOurish his hopes In secret. He de-
clares, however, that justice shall eyentu-
ally be done 10 the R'sthetic Soap or the
| Sympathetic Corset; and that following
TIE exampleof Piron, the saurlst, VINO
desired that there should be craven on
MS tombstone the epitaph,
Ci-get Piron, cut ne fut rien.
| Pas meme Academicien,
he will style himself. should the in,elligen,
Jury OF his class dare pass him over,
", not the medaiist of the Exposition
Of 1878.
l repeat that this outburst OF indigna-
ton among the Paris tradespeople is,from
certain point of view. diverting, because
It is a candid admission on their part that
they look on the Exhibition simply and
solely as Shop, and on a medal or a d.
| ploma As an advertisement Of their goods
Was this the Prince Consort's notion OF
an Exhibition of the Industry of All Ma
tons, wonder? Several manufacturers
have been permitted to exhibit in their
vitrines all the honori6c distinctions which
they have gained at Exhibitions in differ.
ent parts OF the world during the last FIVE
and twenty years. In one glass case
noticed the Ribbon and Gross of the Lee
gion Of Honor. Did Napoleon the Great
ever dream, wonder, that the renowned
Order OF Chivalry which he founded
would be the means of putting the makers
Of chocolate and stay-busks and false teeth
Rnt tha axbibitors and NJ Krantz pnav