Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-08-05
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE

WIFI OluEL nAAAOh9 a8NN1h
has already been intimated in these let
tiers. Some correspondents attempt TO-
palliate this circumstance by finding fault
with the general plan and arrangements
Of the Exposition. The buildings, how
ever, are uniform, like the main building
at the Philadelphia Centennial, aud all
have an equal chance in proportion
to the space occupied. The French
people have yet to admit that the
Americans can teach them any thug
aud it is not strange that the en-
gineers who laid of these grounds
should happen 10 have a plan OF their
" rather than copy our Exposition
which was scattered over so much ground
that a visitor might miss some OF the
buildings altogether.
The Exposition proper here is quadril-
ateral in form, is all under one series OF
roofs, and covers about four and a-half
acres Of ground on the Champs de Mars,
There are annexes for French machinery
of all kinds, and various other buildings
mostly of a light aashy style OF archi
lecture all around, both within and with.
out the main enclosure. The grounds
have been very highly improved, and
even now the work Of sodding and Of
setting out %shrubbery and rare plants
goes on as If the improvements we're all
to remain permanently, which is not the
case. The French have the rarest facul
ty for harmonious ~bleDdings Of color so
easy to the eye and charming to our
more cultivated tastes. They have Ger
tainlY displayed their utmost ingenuity
in everything about the Exposition. The
smallest details Of hort cultural art are
worked out with the same nicely and
exactness as a 6ne picture, q piece OF
classical sculpture Or a national me
dallion. In such matters they are supe
rior to any other people in the world.
The Champs de Mars was not vel
adapted to the purposes Of the Interna
tioual Exposition, but art has taken sc
many advantages OF nature and every
thing is SO convenient and accessible
when the place is once reached that the
veriest gr1mbler ought to be s~ilenced
into admiration. The end of the quad
ril9teral fronting on the river Siene il
quite imposing when approached from
that direction. A striking object il
front is a portion Of the c]olossa
statue OF the Goddess Of Liber
ty to be presented by the French
government TO the United State
and placed 10 New York harbor. Whel
completed and put together it will be 10
feet high. Only the head and bust hav
as yet been set up, but even this elicit
the admiration and wonder Of all visi
to-s. Americans always stop to look q
it and inquire the utility and the cost Q
it. A group Of Cinnamon stood of at
respectful distance yesterday, and e1
pressed themselves in the choicest lar
guage Of tie Celestial Empire. We coul
easily have imagined that they wer
viewing it as 4 French idol, TO be set u
10 a temple. There are May pieces {
finished and elegant ststuary seatiere
about the grounds in the vicinity. bJ
this one looms up sVer them all, and ca
be seen at a great distance. The ia
mense yestibule which extends entirI
~ across the front width Of the gre,
building is occupied entirely by Gree
Britain and her dependencies. III
Prince OF Wales, who has taken an 8
tive part and contributed greatly 10 Il
success Of the British department, 70
nished a splendid display from Indi
which includes specimens Of alf the pr
ducts, arts and industries Of that cou
try. There may be seen dazzling collie
tons Of crown jewels, arms Of almo
every description, curious workmapsh
in ivory, steel and the precious metal
and an endless variety Of articles OF q
nament, utility and curiosity. This is
superb museum Of itself, though il
only a small part Of the British displs
Passing through this yestibule at 4
center we come into a splendid ayen
which runs the entire length Of /
building. 1t is eight hundred yards lor
and about forty wide. 1t is called
Street Of Nations, on account Of the
rious styles represented aud the flags
the different nations which Goat o,
their respective headquarters. T
American department, about half v
down this street, is in a very fayora
and accessible locality. The fronts
these houses include almost every 4
cies Of ancient and modern architect,
The Prince Of Wales magic Indian
vilion comes 6rst, then a stiff but Ia
full facade Of a model factory; after
a row Of pleasure villas of the Eng
style; then fellow the buildings of
United States, Sweden, Norway aud
ly, Japan, China, Spain and Aus
Hungary: Russia, with houses OF
painted, Switzerland, with cottages
diaries, Bslsium, with models Of f
nish town balls, Greece, Denmark, S,
America, Morocco, Luxemberg and
naco, Portugal and Holland
the order named. These he
al front on the right Of this grand st
and lie exhibit of each nation is