The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-07
FOREIGN EXHIBITS
Europe's Display at the Great
Worlds Fair.
THE BRITISH EXCEL IN GENERAL
Many Evidences of Power, Wealth and De-
yelopment-Fine Display of British Pot
terry and Antiques-Eatfieid Hall Ban
quet Room-Showing in the Art Palace
and TRANSPORTATION Building.

! terry and Ansisnes-Eatfield Hall Ban
quet Room-Showin3 in the Art Palace
and Transportation Building.
WORLDS FAIR, July 6. = ISpecial.l -
| Having now had glance at many features
of the exposition propose to take up in a
short series of letters the exhibits made
here by the chief European countries and
endeavor to ascertain in what lines they
excel and ere most interesting. In con-
sideration of the displays of our cousins
| from across the sea Great Britain must
| naturally come first. The Britons are our
blood relations, they speak cur tongue,
| and they are, besides, the greatest people
of the earth viewed from the standpoint o.
national Importance, wealth, commerce
! and influence upon human affairs. IL al
| most everything save the fine arts the
British excel. Their manufactures lead
| the world in volume and in many lines in
artistic excellence. In shipping they are
without rivals, more than one-half OF all
the tonnage of the high seas sailing under
| the British flag. Had Britain made at
| this exposition az exhibit fully represen-
tative and worthy Of her greatness and
| wealth it would easily have been the first
| of the nations in this comparative object
| lesson.
Unfortunately the British exhibit is not
! fully representative or altogether worthy.
| Sir james Dredge, one of the English COM
missoners, admits that it is not. And yet
the display is so vast, contains so much
variety, so many evidences of power and
wealth and development, that one almost
stands aghast to think OF what the British
might have done had they done their best
and greatest Owing to the recent tariff
legislation in this country British firms
and individuals were net willing to incur
heavy expenses Tor displays here, and the
cutlery and other makers refused to do
anything at all. The appropriation made
by the British government was not COM
mensurate with the Importance of the &C.
casion or the grandeur of British manu-
features. It was only S125000 at first, or
but one-third the appropriation made by
the state OF New York, and but one
seventh that of the state OF Illinois. Aft
erward this sum was increased to $500, 600,
but this was less than half the appropria-
ton ma1e by Germany, less than half that
made BY the French government. Still,
as | said moment ago, the British dis
play is enormous and interesting, notwith
standing The commissioners spent their
money TO good advantage Without be-
ing pretentious anywhere they are every
where in good form, and the British de-
partments are among the richest and most
interesting TO be foundin the exposition.
Great Britain occupies altogether within
Che thirteen great departments OF the fair
between seven and eight acres of floor
space, and this does not include the
ground occupied by ictoria house nor by
a number OF special exhibits. If TO the
space used by England proper be added
that occupied by the British colonies we
should have total CT nearly twelve acres
This is an enormous area, as you viii dis
cover when you come here and attempt to
pass over and through it all, making a
careful study OF What the British and their
dependencies, upon which it is their proud
boast tie sun never sets, have to show.
OF course it is impossible for me in the
space of single letter to review this ex-
hibit rs q whole The British have lb-
lished their cwn catalogue of their ex-
hibits, and it is q book of some 500 pages,
which was printed in London. But there
are few features Of the English show
which may well attract our attention, and
which VIII stand typical OF the remainder
IL the English excel IN anything here it is
in pottery When we visit the huge Man
ufactures building, and go TO the clock
tower which marks the center of that won
derful structure, we find the British and
their colonies occupying practically ali Of
the southwest quarter. Compared with
France across the aisle to the east and
Germany to the west, the British section
appears commonplace and dull. There
are no gorgeous ard impressive pavilions,
erected by the government. The British
have only the pagodas which private enter
prise provided, and these are dark and SIM
pie, like London shops. But they are rich
if not pretentious. One is said to have
cost S25, 600, though it covers but 500 hun
bred square feet 1t is the property OF a
pottery firm. Another pottery firm spent
$4,000 for much smaller structure.
The potters occupy the post of honor
here, and right royalty have they upheld
the British flag. Their display is one OF
the most marvellous features OF this build
ing of wonders Here is the great Lambeth
faience vase, six feet three inches high,
perfectly glorious in its decorations and
coloring, and always surrounded by dense
throngs of admirers. A card tells us that
this notable piece of the potter's art has
been purchased by the Gaekwarof Baroda,
who is now en- route for the fair, and whose
income it said to be so, 000,0C0 year. He
can afford a Lambeth vase, and the odds
are he had to pay a pretty price for It. Not
many cheap things are to be found here,
though everything is for sale. Here Is
Shakespearean vase, about three feet high,
adorned with figures from the bard plays,
ard the price IS $500. An Eyangeline
vase, SO small that you could putt IN your
overcoat pocket, is held at 1850.
\ game set Of twelve pieces Is marked
$50, and q dozen plates, illustrating Long
fellows Evaageline, and illustrating 1t
most beautif, II, are held at the snug sum
of 8, eco, or Sl6666 per plate. Even this Is
not so costly ~ 2 royal Worcester dinner
service OF Isl pieces, spread out IN all It's
dazzling grl = Upon table. with crepe
lamps and other decorations 10 emphasize
its color and beauty, and marked s9,V0.
as yet no rich American has come along
to buy this noteworthy service, but little
rose-vsse, about SIX inches high, has been
sold eleven times 81 80. The British pot
tiers, like ali foreign exhibitors here,
brought over many duplicates OF their
wares, and are prepared To dll orders
Where they have no duplicates they VIII
take orders for the very articles on exhibit
ton and deliver them at the close Of tie