Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-09-14
THE PiRIS EXPOSITION.
Nearing Its End-Its Cost and its
Benefits to France Americas
share in Ii. Etc.
Correspondence Of The Star ]

PARIS, August q, 1878.
The close OF the famous Universal Exposi-
tion of 1878 is now gradually drawing near. 1t
seems to be generally understood that its du-
| ration will not be prolonged beyond the 3lst OF
October, Notwithstanding the many reports to
the contrary. 1t will probably be known in
| history as the greatest Worlds fair ever held,
| up to this time. In financial point Of view
directly it cannot, however, be considered
| success. The cost to the French government
has been ninety million francs, while the full
| est expectations will be realized if the gross
returns foot twenty million francs On the
| other hand, the beneficial resultS of the expo
| SitiOn will be felt by the nation for years TO
| come. Paris is the heart of France and uDon
IL depends the life and activity of the nation.
from every part of the world, and showing to
the world the beautiful results of French
genius and workmanship, the Old channels OF
| trade, grown sluggish since the recent disas-
| frouS war, will be reopened, and a more
healthy and vigorous life current will be in
fused into the nation already so wonderfully
| appear even now. Work has been given to
thousands of unemployed: business has i'm
proved everywhere, and the cry of "ViUe la
| RepubtlQue" comes with such earnestness
from all sides, that no one can doubt that the
present form OF government is becoming more
and more endeared to the people.
| COMPARED WITH THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBI-
| TION.
Three out of every four Americans who
come to farls ask the question. How does
| this exposition compare with our centennial
| eXhibition?' That is a question which they
| find is very hard one to answer. The Cen.
tehnlaI' was as far behind the Paris EXposi-
| tion in some things as this is inferior to ours
| IN other respects In all things pertaining TO
! American industries and the results of useful
| inventive genius the Centennial was wOn-
Ger; put none the less wOnderfuliS this eXpoSi-
| tlOn III the amount and variety of everything
beautiful and artistic contributed by France
| and the other nations OF Europe. All the large
| ant nrtn ,,.@,rx n -
| While the crossing of the Atlantic to our exhi,
| bltion doubles prevented the display of many
| OF the beauties of the Old world in PhiIadel-
phia.
OUR PART IN THE PARIS EXPOSITION.
-, But what part does the United States play in
| this exposition? is more important question,
and one more easily answered. By no.means
mean one. America cannot, of course, be
expected to compare favorably with the old
world as regards the beautiful. She is too
young She needs and produces the useful
nrSf. 1ne log cabin must come before the
palace. The fact that she has received more
awards IN proportion to the number Of exhib-
ltofs (and they number ,32O) than any other
nation represented here is, however, some
thing, to be proud of. The majority of the
awards were, as the reader may infer, for the
! exhibits Of practical use.
| THE GRAND PRIZES TO AMERICANS
| SO far as officially announced up TO this date
are as follows: Tiffany g. Co, silverware;
ihomas A: Edison, Photographs: Elisha Gray,
What grand prize means has not yet been
| exactly defined According to rumor, it will
| be medal or work of art worth not less than
one thousand francs. The Tiffany triumph
| has been very complete. and their exhibit
constant center OF attraction.
AMERICAN STEAM ENGINES
| In all mechanical inventions, and particu-
| larry I'D useful inventions, America takes the
lead. The acknowledged superiority of the
Wheelock steam engine over all others exhib-
lted is noticeable instance, and probably one
| OF the most important triumphS of the EXPO
sltlon: This engine was shown at Philadel-
phia, but was completely overshadowed by the
merits have been disclosed, and it Is likely
TO create a real sensation, as all who
nave examined it pronounce it wonder
simplicity and power. 1t is surprise to many
That The CorlSS engine has not place in the
American section. There is no necessity,
however, for it is well exhibited in the other
| SECTIONS. A gentleman the other day asked
| Mr.. pickering, the superintendent of the U. S.
machinery department to show him one OF
the famous Corliss engines. In about ten min
utes he was shown three or four, but they were
not in the American section A Corliss engine
was represented here at the Exposition of ISL
bus ia French engine was secured to run the
machinery for the American department, be
| cause no American engine was deemed
worthy, although Mr.. Pickering, who was su
RerlhttssndIng PERI ts our machinery then, desired to
| COrllss engine ran empty during the exposi-
ton, placed close beside the French engine,
put at the awarding OF prizes received gold
me0aL Whlle the French engine received only
! one OF silver.
THE SUPERIORITY OF AMERICAN MACHINERY
generally, no one can doubt, when he sees the
number Of American mechanical Inventions
made use of by other nations. MIR. Pickering
being questioned the other day upon the sub.
Ject OF copies OF american machinery being
If all the machinery sent by America here
| had been sunk in the Atlantic and had been
permitted to 60 through the. different ma
| chinery galleries and select for our exhibit
| machines of American origin, our space would
| not begin tO'hOld Them
! OPINION OF THE LONDON TIMES.
Inc London Times not many days since had
an article over two columns in length up1a
| the American mechanical inventions with a
column OF editorial comment, which has been
attracting considerable attention here. The
talnly he predicted of any modern mechanical
congress that the Americans will carry off the
pam 1or novel and ingenious application of
force to practical purposes, the substitution
of mechanism for hand labor in new and curl.
Gus cOntrivances, which to the amateur i'm
such matters surprise as much by the
as by the fine way iu which the work is
done" The writer. after saying that Amer.
,can @ mechanism is an oftshoOt from English,
put an offshoot so peculiar in its character
that mere heredity will not explain it, con
tlnueS-"As mechanical science progresses,
the greater and more important Inventions
nations who push that science farthest in its
experimental studieS.' Instances are given
now England improved upon American inven.
t10nS-the steamboat, the monitor, ,.artillery-
yet, In spite of this, the American inventive
genius develops more that is new and prac.
tical In mechanism than all Europe combined
Though the American collection at Paris is
not large, compared with those of other man
ufacturing nations, yet there are present SO
many OF the c0ntrivanceS which illustrate the
subtle mechanical genius so we'll Recognized
already, that Yankee is almost SYNONYM of
inventor, that to amateurs in mechanism the
most fascinating places are the little railed-Off
spaces Of the American section, for few of
these contributions occupy more than a few
square feet.''
NUMEROUS COMPLEMENTARY ARTICLES
upon the American representation have an.
peared in the journals on this side, and the
SevereSt criticisms upon it have been made by
Americans. Reports have been sent home
Wnlcn make our representation here appear
d1sgracetu!. They are founded upon the fact
Ihat America is not as we'll represented as she
SnOulQ nave Deen, and no credit is given for
what has been done. Another set of unjust
CRITICISMS comes from the class of Americans
abroad, and 1t is large one, who have been
In europe just long enough to get infatuated
Win foreign manners and customs to the eX-
tent OF believing nothing American to be
worth anything. An American lady well
known ID society in Paris remarked not long
ago." HOW far superior this exposition is to
Dut know it couldn't have amounted to
much"
GOVERNOR M'CoRMICK's LAST RECEPTION