Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-12-07

ina SplenuiQ ODeilSK OF e11nO0t grantees.
A gentleman in attendance supplying us
with glasses invites us to enter the enclosed
space and examine the rock under a
powerful lens. world Of prismatic splen-
dor bedecked in precious stones, is revealed
to our astonished sight. We look again,
feeling that it is an illusion, but no, it is
real, this magnificent column of chiseled
granite is composed of glittering and insep-
cradle gems from the invisible crucible of
Omnipotence. In another part of the build
ing was exhibited another beautiful block of
granite, equally wonderful in formation,
from some of the Southern states. We as
cend 70 the upper story, and are surroun-
ded by the exhibits of Georgia, in wonderful
profusion and variety. All the industrial
pursuits and enterprises of Georgia
are here represented. Cotton, being
the leading article, was displayed in
profusion. Following was the gold,
iron and coal interests, among which
was a gold stamping machine.
Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and North
Carolina had their displays in articles rep
resenting the material wealth and industrial
possibilities of their Soils climates and min
erals These were all creditable to the pub
lie spirit and enterprise which prompted end
provided the means necessary to make such
display.
1 looked eagerly on all hands for the dis
play of my own native State, Tennessee.
But alas, was doomed to disappointment
Located in different parts of the immense
building, so far apart as hardly to be recog-
nized, were some exhibits marked "E. 7.
Va. & Ga. r. r., Memphis & Charleston
Z. r." Nashville & Chattanooga L. r. I"
And the exhibits thus marked, | must say,
looked rs though they were to be sold
for the freight charges. How ere the
mighty fallen. Upon whom does the
blame of this miserable failure rest l
know that Colonel Killebrew made urgent
appeals through the press to the people and
State authorities TO arouse themselves and
make en- effort to have Tennessee properly
represented. But his appeals were vain.
We were too deeply engaged in small poll
| tics to take notice of such an affair as this
! exposition.
| little town of Townsville, i'll Georgia,
which sent up huge cows horn, labeled,
eve blow our own horn; let Others
blow their own horn" The Southern
State next wanting in public spirit and en-
terprise sufficient to make q creditable dis
play was Virginia. She seemingly is labor
ing under the same chronic complaint that
affiicts Tennessee, to-wit: Small politics
by small men. Maryland had quite dis
play and was honored with a special day
I did not get to see entire the Florida dis
play, though learned that it was very fine
indeed, and was graced with all the fruits
and products of her semitropical soil anc
climate There was a large display of wag-
ons and buggies from the different estab=
lishnents of the country, everywhere.
Among which, notably, was Studebakel
wagon, very finely finished, which had
crossed the Atlantic to the Paris Exposition
and also to the Vienna Exposition of Aus
tria. 1t was brought home and ex
hibited at the Centennial at Phila-
delphia, and was here again
an elegant exhibition of the art Of Wagon
making We have thus given a cursory
glance at what we saw in one day. To pro
perly describe the exhibition in all its phases
would require several days close obserya
ton, and fill many pages. The South is
certainly shaking off her Rip Van Wrinkle
sleep, and preparing to move with the spiri
of the age. A remarkable fact in connec
ton with this cotton exposition is that it!
director general and secretary and treasurer
are northern men. One from the State O.
Maine, the others from Wisconsin. Thes.
gentlemen, Will lLGlI dSSUCldleS, Hay z
through this exposition, attracted capital anC
enterprise to the south as the most promis
ing field for investment in almost al
lines of human industry, especially in tht
manufacture of iron and cotton. The
South, heretofore in favor of free trade, will
in the near future, be opposed to the repea
of the Protective Tariff laws. The same
system, by means of which the North ha.
grown populous and wealthy, will enrich the
South and build populous towns and cities
in her borders. All who can should go tt
this Exposition and imbibe some of the
spirit of enterprise which is here manifest
Our return was unmarked save by the form
ing of some pleasant acquaintance witt
people on their return home. Notably
among which was the spriehtly and vivaeiou'
contributor to the Sunny South, whose n0m
de plume is Betsy Hamilton, living in ITALIA
dega, Alabama. Other friends who wen
Oh to Baltimore to their homes in Mary
land We will remember kindly. Our people
from all sections of our grand country arr
being brought together and becoming
homogeneous, in thought, feeling and pur
suit, and we hope higher and holier typ'
of patriotism is springing up in their hearts
that will make ours the best and freest citi
zenship of the best government upon the
face of the earth.
Respectfully, JNo. NJ. MEEK.
Fancy Meadows, Tenn, Nov. "a, 1881.