Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-11-18
THE WORLDS FAIR.
W hat the Columbian Exhibition ill do fol
America.

What the Columbian Exhibition ill do for
America.
The Century: We confidently assert,
on the evidence of all the most eX-
perienced judges of art whom it has
been possible for us to consult, that
even the Paris one of 1889 when con-
sidered in its entirety and for its ar
uSuc interest. A much more beautiful,
scholarly, and monumental type of az
chltecture has been adopted for it's
main buildings; accessory works Of
an ornamental kind will be more num-
erous, more imposing, land more orig
inal, While at least equally artistic in
character; greater care is being taken
that harmony of effect shall not be
injured by the aspect of minor works
of utility or decoration; and the neigh
borhood Of the great lake, and the
novel and skilful way i'll which wide
eXpanSeS OF water and varied planta-
lions have been made the basis of the
plan of the grounds themselves, will
much more than compensate for the
Seine and a dominating hill like the
Trocadero. The Eiffel Tower is mar
velous, an interesting, and hardly an
ugly structure; but it is not an artistic
structure. 1t did not conflict with it's
surroundings at Paris. But anything
resembling it anything remarkable
chiefly for size OF for mechanical in
genuity = would look painfully out of
place on the Chicago grounds. This
fact suflices to prove their higher de-
! gree Of beauty; and the fact that no
conspicuous structure appealing in any
way to mere curiosity, or to the love of
the new or the marvellous, has been
contemplated by the authorities at Chi
cago, proves how seriously and wisely
artistic a spirit is controlling the great
enterprise.
Those who fail to see the exhibition
of 1893 will fail to see the most beau
tiful spectacle which has been offered
to the eyes of our generation. But
: those who have time to see only it's
general aspect, without studying any
Of its collections-Wonderfully interest
seen the very best of it.
When we remember what great i'm
pulse was given to the popular love of
art by the collections shown in the eX-
hibition of 1876, what may we not eX-
pect as Il result Of the stately, beauti-
full and truly poetic panorama of art
that will be unrOlled before the eyes
Of no in, 81,
! for the first time, to scores of thous-
andS Of Americans whom have never
Travelled abroad and can scarcely hope
to do so, what is the meaning of the
word beauty, what is the significance
of the word art. 1t will convince them.
as nothing else but long and intelligent
foreign travel could, that beauty is an
enjoyable thing, that art is Il thing
worth striving for and paying for. In
deed, no amount of foreign travel could
teach this lesson so clearly as it will
be taught to the average American by
the plain fact that all this stately splen-
dor was thought worth getting and
worth paying for by hard-headed
American business men, and for a
ulCIciS tCInpOl6ly pul pOSC. ollc COll-
stntly hears expressions of regret that
buildings and sculptures so costly and
beautiful should be destined to last
for Il few months only. But, in truth,
their transitory character will vastly
augment their missionary power. Even
j the most ignorant may dimly under
stand that it is worth while to take
pains and spend money upon a result
which is to be for all time; but at Chi
ca%O they will be told that this is
worth while even for q result Of almost
ephemcral duration.
/ Had Chicago equaled Paris. it would
, be greatly to our credit; but it has SUI
passed Paris. Had it produced a beau
tiful exhibition in imitation Of the
Paris exhibition, it would again be
much: but it has conceived an entirely
, different ideal, and carried it out on
entirely novel lines. We shall have an
/ exhibition more dignified. beautiful and
/ truly artistic than any the world has
seen: and it will be entirely our own.
i in general idea and in every detail of
its execution. Tt will convince all cul-
tivated Americans, we repeat. Of the
vitality and vigor and indonendence Of
American art; and, we believe. its eff
foct mon the vast public which will
/ view it will convince them of the genll-
inenoss of the nascent American love
of art