Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-05-09

TOPPING THE FLAG srAFfs WITH GILT BALA
genius and greater energy which conceived
and wrought the outdoor picture. The
general verdict Is that the world has not
only been outdone but that O mark has
been set which the French, even, and they
are the world famous experts In exposi.
tions, will be long time coming up to.
As the weeks wear on and we begin 70
receive from the other side OF the water
the opinions Of the foreign journalists and
critics sent here To pass judgment, pre-
dict you will nee little or no adverse com.
ment on the stage which Chicago has set
for the international rehearsal. There
will be nothing but praise, and warm
praise for that. The criticism, II there be
any, will be upon the exhibits and the
,,anner In which they are installed. Al
ieady Il Is obvious even to the most care
Lss observer that while Americans have
The solid merit In their wares, the ingenu-
lty and adaptabillty and growth, when II
comes 10 the matter Of arranging them In
most attractive form they have lessons to
learn from our foreign friends. Though
domestic exhibitors outnumber the foreign
ten to one, In nearly every building the
most attractive and beautiful exhibit, the
one which first catches the eye and holds
II longest, Is made by q foreign govern.
ment or firm. The exhibit made by our
own government, though large and inter
esting, Is awkward and even ugly and In
artistic compared to that Of the French,
the Germans and the English. II u OF
different character, OF course, being con.
fined mostly To an illustration OF the func.
tions and operations OF government, but IL
might have been arranged with better
finish and effect.
In the matterof promptness, too, the Tor.
rigners, with few exceptions, are In the
Sad. Very few Of the foreign exhibits
need anything now but few nnishing
touches. The exhibits which are In pro.
Iokinu confusion, showcases not put up
and boxes not unpacked, are those OF
Americans who have had plenty OF time
but who have been guilty OF the national
fault OF procrastination. IL certainly -
somewhat remarkable that the foreigners
should have come across the sea, into
strange land and beaten their American
rivals In quickness OF installation. Inc
Ame,lcan Il too fond Of letting . task 90
I'M n has 70 be done, and then, by Q sud.
den display of energy, just get there"
(,et there he does, ~ q rule, but too many
of the American exhibits are now, though
in the exposition ring. still tribe dis
figured. w u,
partments of this vast and unparalleled
show in complete readiness. Already no
one need complain at the condition of
thiuRx. The Columbian exposition Is ~
n.ar ready at this stage as the great Paris
show Of 1850 was, and nearer finished than
was the Centennial or the French exposi.
ton preceding the last one. Nor u II the
fault Of the Chicago people that the per.
festion Of installation which they hoped
for has not been accomplished. They did
their part of the work, and amid fhghtful
obstacles. They struggled with . her.
culean task in the face Of such difficulties
a. adverss weather, winter and summer.
particularly inclement and damaging dur
Ing the Last two weeks. But their indom-
liable spirit enabled them 70 have the
buildings ready In ample time for exhib-
itors. The floor space was marked out,
the railway facilities ready, the helpers ct
4 hand, but the exhibitors themselves were
slow. You zee, the later they came here
with their gangs Of skilled mechanics and
/ their installation experts, the crack men
| Of their abllshments, the les their ex'
bense, because all these men Of courss
wanted TO remain till After the opening.
This n the milk In the cocoanut - 10 The
dIlatory operations Of many American sx-
hibitors. The manAgen Of the fatr
no, oaS md nd Of y Y. Work II ,:,d1s Ssa ss
osrnsd, but they detailed several hundred
men 70 hurry mp the exhibitorh lnnum-
srabls lsttsrs and finally kilograms were
ssnt out, and during the LAST two weeks
most Of ths snerEy Of The edpinlstrataoe