New-York tribune., 1879-03-15
A WELL FILLED DEPARTMENT.

n w
tFROM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE IRiBuNh''
PARIS, Dec 16.-The Champ de Mars Is
missioner Peace has silenced the elias ling OF arms
and on a mimic battlefield the French RepuDhc hdr
welcomed genius, industry and energy OF the c'
lized world. One would have thought that the Cned
States eager support the great nation when If 80
bravey sowing tbs seeds Of Democracy in Europe
would have been first 10 claim space 10 the Exposition
so recently past but Congress. pur0lind to our com
merca interests oi the that there are too many
lawyers and too few merchants among It's memoers'
ignored Frances invitation until the eleventh
hour, and then, approOriating the mlserape
SUN Of SljO.OJO, sent the New World uaA-
dressed into the presence Of the Old. WISE men
predicted failure II they proved fase prophets 1t l.
because the American people far more clever than
their representatives. too the Presd"nt ana
Secretary of appreciated the situation ana ap
pointed q CommIss ne whose eXecnuye abIlty Is ON!
second to his PATRIOTISM. Consequently the Uhl'ed
Sates-thOugn the ast to enter the lists, thouEh Ie-
strcled IN time SPACE expenditure aud eIhlbts-has
taken proporonateIy awards than anv other ma
ton and has opened up markets heretofore closed TO us
The mouse mas brought forth mountain. Honor TO
whom honor j. due.
The one good thing into which Congress blundered
was the giving OF despotic power 10 Mr Mccormick.
One OF the good things done hy the United Stitts
Commissioner tnat oi acting upon General Eaton's
suggestion IN the appointment OF John d. PhIbrck as
superintendent OF the Educational Department. Pro
vding for an agcu tura exhibit Congress forgot the
existence Of our public school system, wherein stand
unryaled - when Mr. n, COrmick telcgraphed to Nr.
Phlbrfck to know whether he situated ne To 20
to Paris a small salary the former buded far better
than Congress knew. Fortunately for the cause OF edu
cation Mr. Phlbrick able to accept the hurried
offer and with 100 in the treasury and the promise
OF tAirty feet square space he began collecting ma
teral lust before the fleet sailed for France
Space and money were so meagre that Mr. PhHDrick
never dared either nor could lie have sue
creded in his arduJus work bur Tor the PHad"iphla
Exhibition. He knew what the ntennlal Exhibition
had inspired and could ty his hands much that was
vital states and came 10 the rrScur The Gin
clnnat Board Of Education expended $1,000 in collect
ug an exhibit while NewYOrk, unfortunately. was
meagley represented by few reports Its Board Of
Education was opposed to mtcruatona. exhibit, de-
spite which MI KidIl,, superintendent Puoic schools
In Nrw-York, obtained his University decoration as
editor Of the Cycopa liza Of Education"
On arriving IN Pdr.s Mr.. Phlbrick found his thirty
feet square diminished 10 22X2j feet, when he
should have had SIX times that space in order 70 do justice
to his exhibit Mr.. Mccormick had intended to build
special annex but money falling II became impossible
10 carry the good intention. Yet he spared no rea-
-ouabe expense. Small as was the educational section,
s possession was only positively secured four days be-
fore the opening the Exposition But the excel ence
Of the location allotted compensated in degree for
the ack OF and the hasty preparation In Mr..
Philbrcks Judgment was the best spot for the pur
pose in the whole American section. II was IN corner
near the main entrance from the Street Of Nations,
fronting on wide passage which separated t from the
commission. auI admirably lighted from above.
Though olr architectural de- extremely simple.
if combined suggestion Of ELEGANCE with great cOnyen-
cuce and by t-e enlightened notices which decorated
the panels on both sides Of the entrance at ryeed
attention:
"Cest dams le gouveruement repubhcain que ron n
tlt tIlt4 L1
promote a. an object Of primary importance insttu-
tlou- Tor the general diffusion Of knowledge wash
no .css striking was a tablet which extended across
the rear wall above thr pictures and charts bearing IN
large gilt letters the inscriptions Instruction pubAque
est cratuite dams les a., de PUuIOn." Public
structon Is gratuItous in all tie states Of The UnlonJ
never passed these tablets without reading them they
told he story raiSOn d'ehe took infinite pride
III that Ate OF the American section, big In
results Determined TO learn it, lesson, begued that
genial ped4eogue. Mr. Phibrck INTO dining with me-
and extracted from him 80 much valuable information
that cannot fOrbear impartrc II 10 my country people
across the water. l think The TRIBUNE Will be glad
n pbl.h what cauno fail to be welcome intelligence
It's readers
SCHOOL ARCHITECTURE AND FURNITURE.
Iaskrd about school architecture. "schoo archtec-
ture" said Mr. PhIlbuck, " was represented by two
modeIs-tne State Normal school of Indiana, probably
one o the best IL the country and the Henry Grammar
school of Washington d. g.. which, though In certain
RESPECTS unique well represented the essential caarac
eristcs Of our finest grammar schools. The wall dis
MAY of educational ed fees consisted OF marked speci
men. without repetition Of similar types. First
view and plans " the old Brdgewaer Olass) school.
fine hr,t normal school built America followed by the
building as il now IL. Next representation OF
the noble structure lately erected Tor the Cty Normal
school Of philadelphia. Then place o. honor was gwen
to the remarkable high schoohouse Of Albany, one of
the best OF This represented by good
nerspectiye drawing and plans OF the four floors. A
large and excellent photograph displayed the finest
grammar school in Mi waukee building OF which any
city might be proud. The double edifce building
IN Boston for the Latin and English High Schools was
shown by perspective view and two plans. This Is the
most admirable example OF school architecture that Bos
ton has ever produced AMI shall be disappointed II II
l. not the beginning of departure IL should have
been more adequately represented by appropriate draw
| tDrs. accompanied 10y description Water-coor paint
Dgs displayed the proportions OF Vassar and Wellesley
! Colleges and Mount HOlyOke Female Seminary. They
were grouped together worthy types OF the highest
! institutions for female education. Numerous photo
raul OF the accessories and interiors Of these buildings
were hung on the outside wall Of the exhibit where they
were examined with interest EuCravinss o the best
specimens of school architecture in Kansas. views Of
the New-York Cooper Union building and the Illinois
Normal Uuversty a waer-color drawing OF the chief
building of Lafayette College IN Pennsylvania large
oil paiutrng OF the Hampton Normal Institute III Nir
ginia and several photographs OF interiors; completed
the architectural illustrations for which there room
on the walls In portfolios OF educational building.
| were representations OF Harvard Uniyer-lty'
| Hamilton College, Clinton, y. Y, the Indus
trial University OF Illinois, the University OF Wis
consn WstOn Seminary Ga typical preparatory schoo
at Easthampton Mass, the city schools Of MILWAUKEE,
Washington Boston. and Newton (Mass), all the ln'u
tuous for deamutes the fine institution for the feeble
minded at Lincoln, IL. the new Providence HlgA
School and the Technical Institute at Worcester Aa7s
one portfolio also contained numerous illustrations %
the limited states Naval Academy at Annapolis. Ihe
- -. -. IL ln.