The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-26

EklSSElS tAIOSlllON IfOfOLb IL
tory and pictorial display Of mans material
/ progress from the time when no dug esculent
roots with his fingers and burned a cavity IN
log for a canoe to these days when Steel and
steam are the motors Of true golden age
The United States has honored the invita-
ton to participate by an appropriation OF
/ $50. 900, and the Hon. John BigolOw has ac-
cepted the presidency OF the American COM
/ mission. Among its associates are Gen.
/ John 81. Scbofeli, commander of the depart
ment including New York, Hon. Carl
Schurz. Albert Bicrst1dt, the artist. White
| law Reid, Surgeon General Hammond and
Gen. John Newton. The central position Of
/ Belgium between England, France and Ger
many, makes this n rare opportunity for the
/ exhibition Of those articles III which Ameri-
/ cans excel
IL appears 10 be a law Of nature Tor long
habit has made il seem sOl that the people Of
each country have certain specialties in
which they excel all other nations. When GER
tain arts are long practiced children appear
TO be born with inherited aptitudes for those
arts and even with fingers naturally deft in
such work we therefore feel a curiosity as
to the lines of Belgiums specialties, not only
as to what American visitors will see there.
but what our exhibitors will be able 10
recommend TO the Belgians. 1t goes
without saying that Americans vastly
excel all other peoples in agricultural tools
and machinery as well Gs N that class OF
minor convenlences known as "Nanko,
notons;p that the French have the reputation
for delicate fabrics and little articles
of taste. while the British are supposed
TO excel in those products requiring massive
strength and solidity, as the Japanese do at
the opposite extreme Of minute work.
Similarly Belgium lei the world for so
wears in the manufacture OF fine clothing,
and even now her lacos and linens carpets
and damasks make the names "Mechliu and
Brussels" household words IA all civilized
lands The perfection Of Belgium work IN
whatever the people devote themselves t.
is proverbial; aud the efficiency OF the gov
ernment, the perfection or agriculture and
the general comfort and exemption from
pauperisrn are studied by statesmen and
social reformers IN all lands.
Belgium is but one third as large as the
state OF Indiana. yet in it, ll,313 square
miles live nearly G,0130J1 people who own
100000 horses, $4,000 cattle and nearly
100000 sheep, and who produce annually
So, OO0, 900 worth Of coal, aud vast qnantl-
ties Of iron. zinc and other metals, besides 4
lavish abundance of all the necessaries of
life except tropical products Only one
fourteenth of the whole area IS uniit for
cultivation. and though the soil was origin
ally light and sandy, they have by long and
careful cultivation brought it To produc-
tiveness which is tho wonder of the world
Despite the dense population they produce
grain for export, the annual crop OF wheat
often exceeding 40,0O0,OO0 bushels, while TIE
crops OF rye. oats and root products are sener-
ally more than sufficient for home conSump
ton. There are very few large farms, and
nearly all the land Is owned Ia little tracts OF
four, six or eight acres, each cultivated By
the owner and his family with spade, hoe and
rake Flax is fostered rs national speciality,
and the annual crop averages the value OF
SO 1909. Grasses are cultivated 10 such
success that single acre suStalns three or the
heavy Belgian cattle The product OF sugar
beets and other roots IL surprising. In add
ton they have many manufacturing towns
and noted mineral springs The people are
about half Walloons, of French descent, and
half FlemiDgs, OF German descent. 80 tho
country dialects are rather corrupt. bat all
the educated people and those OF the large
towns speak French Che revenue OF the
government averages about sN,UJ,UDe a
year, and the expenditures a little less Most
vi the people are Roman Catholics