The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-11-20
BOstOn's Big Show.



tolerably clear waters, and promises to be
great success. No exhibition was ever com
pete on opening day. No one expects 1t,
but the managers Of this have accomplished
such wonders in the few months time de-
voted to work on the ground that the APP
pearance of the seven acres Of exhibits was
gratifying surprise TO every one. The OBJ
iect of the exhibition. as explained by the
go-ahead men who originated and have car
ried out the idea, is to bring together and
arrange as a great central feature cX-
amples of the friendly rivalry with those of
other nations; TO present for contrast Amer
lean and foreign machinery, appliances,
models of war and merchant vessels, ETC.
! to show by exhibits that the skill and ma
| terials at the command of our Atlantic and
| Pacific ship-yards will enable us to open
broad paths upon the seas when we are pre-
pared to meet rival nations in resoute and
! equal competition; TO demonstrate by many
| great objeCt-lessons that, given proper en-
! enlargement, we can fill every harbor of our
! . 600 miles of coast with the staunChest and
| feetest ships that can sail any ocean; to
! display maps, charts and models of harbors,
ship-canals, etc, statistical tables of the com
parative tonnage and ocean carrying trade
| of the principal nations, and many instruc-
| tive, unique original and pleasing exhibits.
| In other words, to do for our maritime inter
ests that which has been done by exhibitions
for nearly all other branches of industry.
! The need for arousing the interest of Ameri-
| can people in this subject must be apparent
| to any person who has paid attention to the
| condition of our ocean commerce The de-
cline has been steady and its results far
! reaching. Deserted and fast-decayng ship
yards tell the story of the blow struck at
that industry. In our harboTs Americana
| built vessels are largely Outnumbered by
those of foreign construction. Passenger
service mail-carrying, freight-handling, all
are monopoized by companies whose inter
ests are centered elsewhere 1t is time
that something he done, time that some
| body wakes up time Americans call halt
and turn the tide backward into healthier
channels.
As an educator this exhibition is of
great importance. So little thought is given
to marine affairs that had it been called
The Great What Is 1t Exhibition, the
majority of people would be as much en-
lightened by reading the name as they now
are. Great stress is laid nowadays upon
special trainng-special education in one
direction-which is all very good. Let the
man who intends to be an undertaken learn
all he can about that particular business
but he doesn't want to live among collins
and shrouds all the time. God didn't make
the grand old ocean and then put it into
the hearts of men to navigate it just for the
elect few. 1t may not be possible for all of
us to cross the seas over" but there is
no reason why we may not have fair
understanding of how the feat is accom-
plished 1t isn't sufficient to know that
ships Sal-SOmehOlC, that steamers blow up
and tugs have hard time of it, The land
lubber" can learn more of the construction,
equipment and general character of both
salt and fresh water craft in day or so
spent studying the models in this exhibit
than he can gather from books in year.
Commencing a century back, step by step
the improvements and changes made in
shipping are demonstrated In this respect
the exhibit is wonderfully comprehensive.
Whatever enters into the construction,
of ind Df
water-craft, from a canoe to a war vessel, is
to be found here, making a grand object
lesson in branch of learning where-ex-
cepting men directly engaged in that vooa-
tion-all need to begin with the alphabet
The United States has sent a fine exhibit,
in which is the model of " Old Ironsides, "
and about November 10Th four men-of-
war are to visit this harbor. Follow
ing an inspection of them should be a
visit to the department of armament and
ordinance, where may be seen in detail the
various devices for defense If one means
never to risk his life off land he will find the
life-saving apparatus great stimulus to en-.
courage him toward changing his mind
Not the least interesting in this display is
the exhibit of the Humane Society of Mas
sachusetts, which has, scattered along this
"stern androck- bound coast, ''siXty-two sta
tions, manned by experienced, storm-tried
men.
Izaak Walton's followers will find happy
ndlUHB-BTOunu DtIOTe IHe nSu COMMISSIONS
ers' display of beauties. The mackerel
which have been holding their summer
schools too far north for our benefit, ought
to have the grace to return and exchange
courtesies with these visitors.
Music Hall has many attractions, chief of
which is an exact reproduction of Edward
Burgess latest effort in the yacht line
1.-THE Quckstep." She is one hundred
thirty-fve feet from tip to tip and ninety
feet to topmost mast. The hull, which has
IL.
original is seventy-eight feet over all. o
5 course the boat shows on Y what would he
above water, were she atloat, but the deck
? rigging masts, etc, are an exact duplicate
of the "Quickstep." She is beauty
Every curve, every line is perfect. Sta
? toned upon her deck on opening day wer,
) Cappa's Seventh Regiment Band and &
I thoroughly trained chorus of fifty voices
Let me say, en- pdSsdnt the music engaged
1 for the entire season is of high order NJ
4 | effort will be spared to make il an attrac
, tive and satisfying feature of the entertain
: ment.
In the same hall is catyawl" which
e has been taken out of the water for the eX
A hbiton, and the boat Phoebe, a thirty
n ! footer sister of the " Neversink," which
3 ton with three men on board, is soon to be
o come neighbor to the " catyawl." Ii
$ another room is the little yawl Dark Sc
h cret," in which Captain Andrew last sum
{ | ner dlltulpltu 10 CTOSS Jue AIldnllc5 BlNlHl
n up the idea after subsistng for sixty-tw,
/ days on bread and water, which he ate will
il an eye out for whales, sharks and sea ser
!, penis. This little craft measures fourteen
t feet nine inches long by five feet wide an,
II two feet deep. 1t has no water-tight com
a partment, and is about as fit to cross TIN
d ocean in as a bath-tub would be, 1t doesn'
strike me that it amounts to much, except a
n a demonstration of what obstinacy, coupled
s with laundering after notorety, will leat
l. a man to undertake.
l. In Machinery Hall canal five hundre,
II sixty-six feet long by from twelve to twent.
o wide has been constructed, on which TO ex
/ hibit small water craft. The tow-path, tn
/. mule the small boy driver and " the captin
q what cusses are not there, but one can no
a. have everything. Under the brilliant cleo
d trio lights this canal, with its mimic fleet
j. will be very attractive.
IS 1t is too early to write OF the art gallery
t, because the collection of marine pictures
!, very large-over two hundred oils, mau
Is crayons etchings, photographs and waite
:, colors-and so unusually good that il de
% serves more careful attention than ther
q has been opportunity TO give. Many of tn
d most famous artists are represented, som
AZ nv their hest works Taken as a whole thi