The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-10
BIG FAIRS OF The PAST.
First Industrial Exhibition Held in
~France in 1898.
FAIRS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
National Shows of More Recent Years
The Crystal Palace Other English
Fairs-The Paris Exposition.


In France in 1898, but IL appears TO have
been rather a collection OF such objects OF
French art and manufacture as could be
borrowed from their owners than an as
sembling OF competing artists and manu-
fact cturers and their works.
The second exhibition was held In 1902,
during the consulate OF Napoleon, and
was an exhibition OF the works OF artists
and manufacturers. Triennial exhibitions
were then held unless prevented by wars
and revolutions. and these exhibitions
were OF all kinds OF manufactures. but
only for France or French manufacturers.
In the United Kingdom Great Britaln)
the first recorded exhibition was held In
Dublin in 1929 by the Royal Dublin So
ciety, which then adopted the plan OF trl-
ennial exhibitions, very likely from French
sympathy. This exhibition was held sew
eral years prior to any given in other
parts OF the United Kingdom. but only
specimens OF native industry were shown.
Well-organized exhibitions were given
by the Cornish Polytechnic. In which were
illustrated the mining wealth OF the coun-
try and its mechanical appliances for
mining purposes. These were continued
without intermission till 1850.
Manchester. Blrming nam and Liverpool
also held local exhibitions, but that OF
udtu may Dt COuSlQtTeu u DuOLO-
type OF that OF 1851, and perhaps both pro-
ceeded from the same cause.-the agita-
tion In favor OF great national exhibition
commenced by his royal highness Prince
Albert and the Society OF Arts as early as
lS48. The Birmingham exhibition was
held in ls49
The Manchester exhibitions were the
earliest held In the great English Undue
trial towns. and like those Of Liverpool
and Leeds, held In the Mechanics Insti-
tute, and were OF a mixed character the
illustrations OF art and manufacture be-
ing pretty well mixed with objects OF nat
ural history and various other curiosities
for the amusement OF visitors.
The first metropolitan movement In
favor OF holding national exhibition in
Great Britain commenced Immediately
after the French exhibition OF 1874. The
government, however, proved itself to be
dilatory and did nothing.
In ls49 his royal highness. Prince Al
bert, devoted himself thoroughly to this
subject, and made the happy suggestion
OF throwing the exhibition open TO all na-
tions. The plans and a suggestion for
raising the necessary funds and other es-
sential points to the scheme soon took
tangible shape. and IL was finally deter
mined by the government to issue royal
commission, which was executed January
8. 1850.
From this moment the First Great In
ternational Exhibition was fairly launched.
A subscription was taken up, headed by
the Queen with 81 900 (s5,oOO), to servo as
q guarantee fund. This was done in
order TO enable the commissioners TO
make contracts and otherwise incur
obligations.
utr lnpr I,,A
feet wide and &C feet high, built of iron
and glass. and called Crystal Palace, and
was placed on Hyde Park, London It's entire
area covered thirteen acres; on the ground
floor and galleries there were eight miles
Of tables; exhibition open 144 days; closed
October H. Entire number Of visitors
6,l70,000. averaging 1886 per day; largest
number at any one time in the building
100 760 on October 8.
During the last forty years since the
first exhibition universal In London many
others have been held In different coun-
tries more or less for the world at large.
In 1853 Dublin had an international ex-
hibition; made an admirable display in a
building OF great beauty.
In 1852, in Cork, an exhibition mot In
ternationaD is worthy OF mention as be-
ing the first for which any special struc-
In 1862 a second exhibition was held in
London at Kensington and covered
seventeen acres. Here was fine display
Of the works OF art of all nations.
In the English colonies-in 1879 Sydney;
in 1880, Melbourne.
France. In 1855. repeated the experiment
OF the London Universal Exhibition with
great success. Both the industrial and
art exhibitions were such as the world
had never before seen.
After the exhibition In Paris In 1855
other continental countries followed with
varied success, every country looking
upon the exhibition OF its industrial re-
sources and productions from time to
time as n grand necessity.
In 1861 industrial exhibitions were held
in Haarlem illustrating every industry,
same year there was an industrial exhibi-
tion in Belgium.
The exhibition OF 1867, near the close OF
the career OF Napoleon III as emperor, at
tracted the attention OF the civilized
world. France occupied in IL naturally the
most space. Great Britain came next, other
countries Of Europe, especially Germany
and Italy were well represented acres.
In 1878 another exhibition was held on the
sCme ground. with an annex on the other
side OF the Seine which was not removed
at the close OF the exhibition, and was oc-
cupied by the exhibition Of 1889. which
covered still more ground.
Industrial exhibitions were also held In
Sweden. in 1868; in Denmark. in 1872; in
Moscow, In 1872, and in Vienna, In 1878.
In 1853 small exhibition was held In
New York. Another exhibition universal
was held in 1876. the Centennial year, In
Philadelphia. Our country and the world
generally were represented. The space
occupied by this exhibition was greater
than any in Europe, except Vienna which
was not pecuniarly success.