The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-07-05
AUSTRIA AT THE FAIR.
An inadequate But Artistic anc
Vsluabls Exhibit
A DIsappointsnent 20 the thousands of
Austrians Living IN the United States
some Choice Works of Art and
Beautiful Glass and China



Very well Represented as 70 quality,
bat very insdegnately as TO quantity,
Austria Hungary, the dual and rather
ineomprehensible empire. shows her
self at the worlds fair. For one Of the
great powers Of the world. for a coun-
try that has a rich historical past and
whose population outnunbers at the
present day that Of France, she makes
but a sorry display. But the reasons
for this are not far 10 seek. The
Austrian commissioner here, in his in
terview with the writer, lays it al to
Americas tariff legislation, and no
doubt that had much to do with il.
since il has virtually killed number
OF more or less imperfect industries in
Austria, the pearl button industry in
cludes- But another and just as po-
tent reason for the inadequacy of Aus
tria's exhibit is to be found in the het-
croEeneousness Of her population
there being sone 81 nationalities and
races dwelling under the shadow Of
the double-headed Austrian eagles
winCs-and IN the poorly developed in
dustry and commerce of the land as
whole.
Thus. then, we see that Austria Gov
ers but $4,000 square feet Of space in
the whole exposition grounds-as
against Germany's 500, 600 and Frances
10000. Little Belgium even is TAX
ing up more space. And of the 10000
square feet 8. 600 are in the Manufae-
lures building. the balance Of
- ooo -. ,r=---st.,..s - A---s,,,l
tural hall. and in the buildings devoted
10 q display Of mining, machinery.
electricity. transportation. art and fe-
male industry. And in all these Aus
tria Is measurably strong only IN two
gs-Manufactures and Art
But 10 be fair It must be conceded
that what she shows us IS, with few
exceptions, Of the finest quality and
often Of artistic excellence. And that
Austria does made quite fair and ef-
fective showing, after all, wherever
she appears with her curious com
posite flag and national crest, is due in
very large measure TO the superior
men she has sent over here as her rep
resentatives-Dr. i. Won Palitschek.
DR.. P0ppovic, DR.. CASTOR Bodart, Vic
tor Pillwax. Hans Temple lthe art
commissioner and Emil Bressler, her
chief architect at the fair. The lat
ter especially (sinee returned homel
achieved wonders during the couple of
months he was here. The front Of
the Austrian section in Manufactures
building. with its -barock' style Of
architecture. and with its ehaste and
yet effective decorations, just as well
as --Old Vienna on Midway Plaisanee.
was alone a gigantic task And it
was al quickly and effectively done.
hungary. By the way, thouEh-at first
It promised TO exhibit lavishly, IS not
al al rcDresented-the bulk Of all the
exhibits and the greater part of the
space is taken up by the manufactures
of Vienna and 10y few large estab-
lishments IN Bohemia. The Austrian
government. by the way. only allowed
elS5- coo for all the costs OF decoration
installation. salaries transportation.
etc. against Gernany's S2,O00,O00.
Let me briefly review the smaller
and less important exhibits in al the
other buildings first, and leave the
one in Manufactures building till the
last-'.pour II bonne bouche." as the
French have II. In Agricultural build
ing Austria exhibits some Of her famous
mineral waters, and her equally re-
Lowned hops and malt, the principal
compounds which enter into her Pilsen
beer There Is a modest attempt, too,
IN wines and viticuiture, but one has
to put on specs to find this miniature
exhibit In mining She is doing lit
tie better the Boldi works near
Gladew. Bohemia; the Carlsbad mines,
the Hartmuth graphite works, etc,
making fair exhibits In Machinery
han several big Vienna firms are ex-
hibiting. notably Skoda. with his enor-
nous vessel screws for navv and NOR
chant marine purposes. and the Aus
= ian inventors and patentees are like
wise making an excellent display In
Electricity Austria is even more lam
entably weak thar in the preceding
buildings. for all she can show US are
Hartmuth carbon points; these are
good enough in themselves. though.
In Transportation building are shown
some quick-fring canuons, very much /
on the same principle as the mitrail-
lcuse, but Of Austrian invention. Then
there are some fine and comfortable
carriages Of Vienna make, built more
for luxury and comfort than for speed,