The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-08-08
MOST FAMOUS SHOWS
OF ANCIENT AND MODERN NATIONS,
AND DIFFERENT RACES.

Characters and In1iuenos--How They
Have Led to tho Modern International
Exposition.
Go backward into the dark morning and
abyss of time until the wearied wings of re-
search tire out in tue ancient twilight, and
there you will find the institution OF fairs
already old Far back beyond recorded
history, beyond even anciAnt myth, the
primal nations held their early annual fairs.
| At first thes, fairs were religious. a tribe,
a principaity Il king ION assembled its
people yearly at some city OF shrine for a
| religious festival. Thither necessarily came
| the traders and artisans, and the religious
| festival became gradually a market fair.
The wares Of the merchants, the works of
| the artisans and handicrafts, the cattle
brought for sacrifices and food were all com
pared together. Thus the market fair grew
gradually into the competitive exhibition,
| such as all countries have to-day. Thus
| those ancient fairs were
THE MORNING STARS OF CIVILIZATION.
There the congregated merchants and
tisans compared experiences well as
wares, and learned Improvement There
he earliest inventors came, taught, and
found their rewards. There the whole
nation, as spectators, learned to progress
| There the gathering of animals taught the
improvement of breeds, and the splays of
fruits grains and food advanced the early
agriculturists
The oldest writ: en- books in the world are
the various bibles of the human race. Every
one of them-alike the Jewish scriptures the
| books of the Bhuddists, of the Brahmins, of
Zoroaster, the ancient paintings of Egyptian
toinbs and temples, the inscribed bricks of
Ninevah, the ruins of Baby ion-aIl mention
fairs.
The great fair of India is still held at
Hurdwar on the Upper Ganges Every
twelfth year it is particularly holy. and
2O00, 600 or more pilgrims assemble. Ele
plants, tigers and other wild beasts are sold,
with all merchandise, and vast display of
wares.
EVERY NATION ON EARTH HAS ITS FAIRS
the Orient being first in point of time. The
great fair of Russia, at NznOn NOvgorod
often numbers aOl 900 traders. King Alfred
the Wis. introduced the fair into England
over 1000 years ago. In the middle of dark
ages, the fairs held in the European cities
were very important, and did much to keep
civilization alive. The great fair at Mecca
dates from shortly after the death OF
Mahomet. The most important fair OF
France is held at Beaucaire, and the trade
. in one week has reached over S., 900, coo
b The fair of Madrid is held at the hermitage
. of San Isid:o del Campo, when the grand
pilgrimage and festival TO the shrine of San
Z Isidro draws immens. crowds Italy hold:
her principal fair at the shrine of St Mary
Magdalene, in Sinigalia Germany has hel
great fairs at Leipsic, Frankfort-on-the
| Main, Frankfort-o the Oder and Bruins
wick The English, Scotch Irish AMI Wels'
cattle and other fairs are well known A
the great Irish fair in Balinasloe 75, co,
sheep and 25, 200 cattle are often exhibited
At one Ipswich fair, in England, 100, ,00i
lambs have been sold Fairs began il
: Flanders in the year 900
! GREAT WORLDS FAIRS,
at which the nations are summoned to com
| pete with each other, are of modern origin
In ancient times the world was always a
war, and peaceful rivalry is the white ros
of modern civilization. The first world
fair was held in England. The second, a few
years later, was held in New York, and wa
opened in 1852 by President Pierce and hi
cabinet. After the ceremony, Presiden
Pierce and other high dignitaries went int,
the Crystal Palace saloon, across the street
and drank brandy and water at the publ
bar. So different were the customs of tina
|. day. Meanwhile General Scott, Pierce
! defeated rival for the presidency, with on
arm in sling and i'll his shirt sleeves
owing to a recent fall from his carriage, hell
q | a grand reception in the Crystal Palace fai
building.
Then England held another worlds fair
, followed by that of Napoleon Ill, i'll Paris
70 and by that of Vienna. Then the Unite,
] States held another,
THE CENTENNIAL CT 1876.
in Philadelphia, opened by President Haye
and his cabinet The French are holding on
now in Paris, at which the Effel Tower q
steel and iron, nearly 1000 feet high, is tn
most remarkable object. At the Crvstu
Palace, in New York, i'll 1893, Power,
American marbles, "The Greek Slave" an
"The Fisher Boy" and Kiss famous giganti
bronze group, "The Amazon" from Berlin
were the masterpieces of art.
Still more recent are great expositions c
states and provinces, with immense an
costly permanent buildings and grounds an
all sorts Of magnificent special attractions
such as gigantic concerts, PROFESSIONS toul
naments, games, etc. Among these of not
have been the great expeditions of Cincn
natl, st. Louis, Chicago, Buffalo, Atlanta
St Paul. Louisville, etc. The Detroit Inter
national Exposition to be held Septemb,
s. :, l7th-27, is projected upon scale larger tha
>. any of its predecessors. Its buildings will
vaster, costler and finer; its premium liz
will give away in prizes over 500, 900; il
great Art Gallery will show the largest AN
costliest, and most interesting collection {
paintings statuary and art treasures, fror
renowned artists; its grand concerts an
continental band tournament; its enol
$ nous show of b.ooded horses, cattle an
~ other stock; its vast display of machiner
n and invention, and all beautiful and exceller
goods and wares; and its long array
special gigantic attractions, wni make
notable in the history of great exposition
1t will combine and display the production
| of the United States and Canada and
truly a great continental fair.
The public and private good that
accomplished by
SUCH MAGNIFICENT DISPLAYS
is almost incalculable. Their competition
" gives new impulses, and new ideas, and ne
inventions to ali the industries They conSt
G tute great popular art school for the cult
- walton of refined taste and a love for tn
beautiful and rare in the multitude The
In | teach farmers and stock breeders the value {
N improved stock and progressive method,
j | They set the wheels of universal progress
q | the arts of civilization in brisker motion
They draw states and nations, provinces an
peoples together in the bonds of friendl
and profitable rivalry. They set the victorie
of peace and good neighborhood high ahov
the triumphs of and conquest. The
preach the grand gospel of industry, thrIi
and enterprise.
Some Bay City chaps who had banker