The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-05-09
MODERN vs.. ANCIENT FETES.


MODERN vs.. ANCIENT FETES.
The French nation is essentially people
of polish, and the Associated Press must
have secured the services of an English
speaking Frenohman to send out the dis
patch announcing the opening of the
magnificent exposition in Paris Monday
last. The first sentence of that telegram
certainly has the French twang to it.
"To-day, in the brilliancy of the omens of
political incertitude, and with character
istic smile of felicitation toward all the
world, and toward the enemies of democ-
racy in particular, France again celebrates
the progress of the world in the arts and
sciences Of peace" Here is the French
mans shrug, conoeit and spunk all beauti-
fully and harmoniously blended, but
under and firmly underlying these ap
pears the French determination, which,
against many odds, has resulted in the COM
prehensive and in every way thoroughly
elaborate worlds display now on exhibit
tion in Paris. With few notable excep-
tions, every nation on earth is represented
in that exposition, and it is the kind of
representation that proves the browning
glory of the Nineteenth century. The As
ISOLATED Press puts it-"The subject mat
ter of the exposition comprises every
- -" inVo the niaGeriol ~
ilization." Contrast such stair" with the
congregations, the fetes of the centuries
that are past. The Egyptians, it is true,
with remarkable ingenuity piled huge
stones into pyramids, which will always
lift their proud fronts aloft, no.
BILE monuments to the Pharaohs
those were the days of mas
sive towers, hanging gardens and ODE
lisks carved with the record OF some indi-
viduai prowess or self-laudations of
some petty sovereign. But then
and for century upon century afterward,
when tribe met with tribe, or in the rare
instances of national commingling, of
what did the fetes consist? Men in those
days We'd with each other not in mental
strength, but in the culture of the body.
True, they had men of towering intellect,
but they stood out from among their fell
lows, they we're noted men with whom in
the arena of thought none took issue.
Theirs was the realm Of genius, and in
its quietude they plumed their wings
for their flight up and above the
gaping, wondering crowd below. The
great concourses of the Greeks and
Romans were brought together to applaud
the skill of the chsrioteer, the prowess of |
the gladiator, or adjudge the laurel wreath |
to the most fleet of foot. At their homes |
were few if any products of inventive
genius, their habits were simple, their |
mode of living while with the rich to |
some degree luxurious, yet, for the most
part of the most primitive style. What a
change the centuries have wrought! Every
incident, every walk,of life, has been
touched by creative mind, and there have
sprung into existence an intending series
of results tributary to mans comfort, ex.
tracing from life the very essence of its
truest enjoyment. Imagine the New
York centennial ceremonies put back even
into the Seventeenth century! Man since
then has solved very many of natures
even to the bridling of her
most potent forces, making them the rea-
dy subjects of his will But physical cul-
ture is still held in highest regard-not IN
and for itself, but because under the laws
Of hygiene it has been proven, the most
robust and healthy nation is the best
atted physically for the greatest amount
Of mental work. New York had
her magnificent display of the mill
Tia forces, in which our people
glory, young men trained in the rudi-
nsntary steps of the art Of war; but her
Srandest presentation was her trades dis
play. So in the worlds exposition Just
begun in France. The nations have not
tent thither athletes, swordsmen, gladia-
ors, but they have sent the products of
heir mines, farms, FORCES, looms, speci-
mems of their handiwork, the crystalized
thoughts of genius. And this is the work of
utilization! Socrates with his perambu-
ating school was hooted as visionary ;
ny community now without q school is /
diudged but little better off than a I