Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-05-23

every man, woman and child to convert
himself or herself into special committee
Of investigation. A great mistake Will
any one make who through timidity or In
difference fails to understand everything
upon which the eye rests and about which
tho curiosity may be reused. Fire your
questions at whomsocver may be In sight
AN exhibitor or his assistant II one In ut
hand, and II not at n guard or even one OF
the public. You may learn enormously
by keeping the eye open and the mouth
closed. But you will learn three times ~
much and remember what you do learn
ten times as long II you ask questions Of
people who may te able to give you intelli-
gent explanations.
Asa rule Americans are not backward
about asking questions. At least, western
Americana are not. The visitors who
come from eastern cities are not 10 free
with their inquiries. They have q sort OF
reservation of manner, as rule. They
are interested, and would not attempt to
deny that this Is wonderful school, but
they assume that they will be able to get
all the information they want out OF II by
simply looking. Eots with the westerner.
lean. lie Il from u farm out In Iowa or .
mining town In Colorado. lie stands, for
instance before the marvellous machines
exhibited by New England watch-mak'
| ing company. lie has never seen watch
made. All tho idsas which he has ever
had about II arc that most Of the work
must lie done by men who sit all day long
at n bench with magnifying glass
screwed over their best eye, Just a. he has
s.cn the watch-repairer sit In his home
jewelry shop. But the complicated na-
tun,. tbe perfection Of finish and the
rhythm Of the motion Of these machines
fascinates him. Ie must know all about
lit. II he asks one question he asks hfty,
and as soon as the attendant has explained
IN him that the machines need nothing
Lnt feeding In or,ler TO enable them to
turu ont ali the parts Of y watch, he wants
,o Epo,y ali the particulars and details.
TbIs "a the true method. Permit mo to
,dvise all my readers to come TO the fair
IN this spirit Of inquiry and seeking after
knowledge. IL II the way to get your
moneys worth, and that is what We all
want. THERE'S no difficulty about getting
lit. either. For Il does not matter what .
man may be interested In he will find II
here. Now and then you hear critic
pass judgment on this fair. In his opinion
the buildings and grounds, their embell-
lshment with fountains and statuary,
their electric lighting and Landscape
effects, are simply unapproachable. But
I'm the exhibits he finds great deal that u
Ico,umopplaee. "what do i care, " he asks,
.aIout acres OF agricultural products or
long rows OF pottery and silks ana otns'
fabrics such a. I may see any day In the
shops ut homei What do i care about
a display Of saws and carpenter tools and
axes and all that sort Of thing" O
course he doesn't care anything about
them. Il Il not his line. But II he hap
pens 10 be the publisher Of newspaper
and practical printer, and = man who
loves his profession aud his trade alike IN
every good newspaper publisher. In my
opinion, does) walt till he comes 70 that
part Of Machinery hall In which the
presses are at work, where hvs or six
daily newspaper are printed right bsfors
his face and eyes. Walt till he comes upon
the complete printing Office, the Upset
ling machines, and oil the epamphernalla ol
his art. Then you will zee him prick ~
his ears, lluyer. ask questions, como again
after luncheon and return the next day.
Hc has simply come upon the part of ~
show which u Of acute interest 70 him
Hc has struck his line.
Take, for instance, the undertaken
the physician, the minister OF ths
gospel, the lawyer. Surely there isnt
anything here Of special interest 70 them'
D, Yes, there u. They win nnd thsu,
sslves attracted 70 particular spots Just :.
the maehinist, the electrician. The agricui
turlss \ attrsstsdto his spoe Sos Asun