Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-08-09
Paris Letter.

COMPARED WITH OTHER SECTlONS-O OUR PLACE
IN OUR OWN EYES AND our PLACE IN THE
EYES OF THE woRID--A FINE DISPLAY OF
FALSE TEETH AND AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE POPULARITY OF
AMERICAN MACHINERY.
Especial Correspondence Of THE rHmS1x.l
PARIS, July 2Oth, 1878.
In walking through the different sections
of the Exposition, the American will natural
ly compare the exhibits of his own country
with those of other countries, and, in spite of
his prejudces in favor of home, he will, after
long inspection, continued from day to day
be able to form II general idea and tell in a
general way what we have gained or lost by
entering the lists of this grand artistic and in
dustrial tournament
In the first place our government appro-
priated S150,O00, large portion of which
had, as matter of coarse to be expended
for sinecure salaries for commissioners. fig
ure heads in no way necessary to the legit-
mate end of our appearing here This, how
ever, is a question to be considered at home
l merely mention it en- pdSsdHt because have
observed 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 appear
ance at this Exhibition | doubt if we have
made any improvement, in the unsympathet-
ic eyes of the world since we astonished and
alarmed the manufacturers of christeudom
and heathendom by the extent of our natural
resources and productive ability in 1876. l
do not doubt that the average European, who
knows as little about us as we know about
Australia, will, after comparing our display
here with the displays of other countries
look upon us very much as we did upon Mex
leo or the Argentine Republic at the Centen-
nial Exhibition. or course the estimate will
be erroneous made from superficial inspcc-
ton, but how many in ten thousand make
more than Il superficial inspection of any
thing? The visitor who had never known
anything of the "Etats THjs' until he enter
ed our section in the Champ de Mars would
gather the impression 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
iAN NpAll ltbh III NliLl III tllt llllt ar
ment to find single picture that suggests,
like the works of European artists, anything
that is legendary, or typical of national life,
habits, manners, and native scenery For
our artists, who have pictures here, studied
and copied abroad, have contented themselves
with cleverly and servilely initiating Eoro-
pean masters, instead Of drinking at the fount
of nature and becoming masters themselves
We have, through a New York firm, fine
display of carriages, buggies, phaetons, sui
kies, etc. They are all lighter and more ele-
giant, 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, Mass, and Tiff
fany & Co., of New York, have both excel
lent exhibits they have made the best of i'm
pressions abroad and will, no doubt in the
end reap harvest for themselves from the
seed sown here but since they represent spe-
cal and limited industries It is questionable
whether their prosperity is matter for ma
tional congratulation. In the department of
labor-saving machinery, 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 our
agricultural implements is universally con-
ceded. The American mowers, reapers,
threshers, etc, have for years been sold
through agencies in the large European cities
many of them are in operation in France,
Belgium, Germany, and Russia. Their su-
periOr strength, lightness, simplicity and eiii-
cheney have placed them almost beyond COM
petition. 1t is well, however, that our man
ufacturers have made the fine display (by far
the best in the American section) that they
have made here, for the manufacturers of 9th
er countries are not asleep, and it is rs I'M
portant to maintain MS to gain a reputation
The field trial of mowers and reapers will take
place in few days,-I believe on the 2ith of
this month. More than fifty mowers and as
many harvesters will compete for medals,
and, it may be predicted, with an approach
to certainty, that the real competition will be
between different American machines, and
not between those of America and European
countries.
The increasing popularity of our machines
abroad is not, however, the roseatc auspicious
omen for our pecuniary gain that it would at
first appear to be. 1t means that the day is
dawning on this continent when the woman
and the COW will be no longer harnessed to
the cart and the plow, when larger areas will
be reaped and cheaper bread will be furnish
ed to the millions of Europe Especially is
this true in the light of the great changes that
have in the last two weeks been made upon
the map of Europe. Russia will now have
water transportation for the surplus of her
fertile plains, and Asiatic Turkey through
the stable government guaranteed by Eng
land, may become a competitor in the grain
market of the world. CAS-