Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-11-08
s'Earmer'' at the Chicago Expo
Sit1On.

~ AEHAcr' att C01C0&O III Do
sit1On.
Ed. Register-One of your CORES
pondents has been to the Exposition at
Louisville; and another up this way
has been to the Exposition At Chicago.
1t could hardly be called - big thing
on ice." but it was a pretty big thing
on the bank Of Lake Michigan. Can't
give dimensions Of building, butt was
whopper; and it had all sorts of.gim-
cracks and gewgaws inside of it, too.
It Is intended as sort of big advertise
ing dodge for the city, and is not bad
idea in the money-getting line. That,
you know, Mr.. Ed, is about all we live
for.
In the way ofagricultural machinery
there was little one could not see at sg-
rlcultural stores in country towns;
while the show in the products oftilled
soil was not equal to the exhibit at
some of our county fairs. In general
machinery. there was, however, much
that, to countrywide was new and
interesting. There was q brick ma
chine that turned out bricks with pol
ished surfaces; but samples of the new
concrete, or artificial stone, which seems
likely to supplant bricks altogether,
being water. fire, frost and time-proof
were not to be seen. That wonderful
little machine, the typewriter was Sc
verely investigated by your curious
countryman; and after all it seemed q
comparatively simple thing. One could
not help wondering how it was that
some Of our dads had not stumbled on
the idea. Much space was taken up with
fine buds that one could never expect
to enjoy the possession of, and which .
majority of our poor toilers will never
have the poor privilege of seeing. The
reflections come while standing upon
the soil Of State that has over twen-
ty-six millions of acres in cultivation,
and which in fact leads every state in
lawyerdom in cultivation area, and yet
in which comparatively few tillers
could spare either time or means to
visit the exhibition of the result, one
might say, of their own labor.
To one who has studied art, while
young, the art gallery, or rooms, rath-
er, was place of interest. In statua-
ry, the pieces had most Of them. been
met with elsew here, except some plas-
ter casts of ancient and mutilated
sculpture. In painting, we noticed
Maine coast scene especially fine in at
mospheric effects; and a cluster Of
grapes that fairly surpassed nature in
rich, luscious appearance. There were
many specimens of bold, careless, ham
ding 30 often affected by artists, and
at least one piece of fine, patient touch
ing and finish by Vernet. In flesh
studies there were some tender and
delicate effects; but in this line there
were several pictures that were not on
ly in bad taste but worse, so far as sub
jects were concerned. photographs of
some of these paintings sent through
the mails would have subj ected the
sender to the penalty for mailing OBJ
sene matter; not that they were posi-
lively .obsene, but because the nude
figure was presented with such sur
as gave.the observation-disclosures
ness only. Your writer has made
studies from the natural and nude |
model; has such paintings in his house |
now; but they were intended as exam |
piles of grace and symmetry in connec-
ton with Ideas of history, mythology,
and philosophy. Not using q cata-
logue, the pieces here criticised are not
named.
The trip was made over the Wabash |
road, turning north at Bennett. The
way was through high prairie. except |
In crossing the Kaukakee, and the crop
mainly corn, of course; but from what
. farmer could see, from the car win
dow, it would be safe to put il down at
half a crop, or less. From Decatur
west very large acreage Of wheat had
been sown, even on black soil, and OD |
account of recent rains, was booking |
well. In this vicinity dry |
weather, after harvest, rendered the |
ground 80 hard that stubble plowisg
was stopped until after early seeding
lime, when frequent rains allowed a
arge acreage to be put In. the work
being continued up to this date.
With the opening of our schools this
'all the compulsory educational act,
passed by our Legislature last winter,
comes in force; but it will probably be
or the most part dead letter.
Forty years ago we had one illiterate
yeter in thirteen; now we have one in
..,or,, quo and vat nathan tho influx [