Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-07-11
FOREIGN EXHIBITS
Europe's Display at the Great
Worlds Fair.
TEE BRITISH EXCEL N GENERAL

Many Evidssces % Power. wealth ssd De-
vsiopnsat-rins Display Of British Pot
tery and Antiquss-Hstnsid Hall Ban
quet Room-shewinG In the Art Palace
and rra.spertatiea Buiidias.
WORLDS FAM. July a. lspecial.l =
Having now had . glance at many features
Of the exposition propose 70 take up In
short series of letters the exhibits mads
here by the chief European countries and
endeavor TO ascertain In what lines the,
excel and are 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 our tongue,
and they are, besides, the greatest people
Of the earth viewed from the standpoint Of
national Importance, wealth, commerce
and influence upon human affairs. In 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, moro than onehalf Of all
the tonnage Of the high seas sailing undei
the British flag. Had Britain made at
this exposition an exhibit fully represen-
tative and worthy Of her greatness and
wealth It would easily have been the arst
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
! missioners, admits that IL II not. And yet
the display is no vast, contains 20 much
variety, 10 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 tarih
/ legislation In this country British hrins
, and individuals were not willing to incui
heavy expenses for 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-.
factures. II was oply ti2s,0O0 at frst. or
4 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 10 $50, 600,
but this was less than half the appropria-
| ton ma 20 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 10 good advantage. Without be.
Ing pretentious anywhere they are every
where In good form, and the british de-
partments arc among the richest and most
Interesting to be found In the exposition.
Great Britain occupies altogether within
| tho thirteen great departments OF the fair
between seven and eight acres OF noor
space, and this does not include the
ground occupied by Victoria house nor by
number of special exhibit. IL To the
space used by England proper lie added
that occupied by tho British colonies we
should have total Of nearly twelve acres.
This Is an enormous area, rs you will dis
cover when you come here and attempt to
pass over and through II all, making .
careful study Of what the British and their
depc cndencies, upon which II Is their proud
boast the sun never sets, have to show.
OF course Il n impossible for me In the
space OF single letter to review this ek.
| hibit as whole. The British have pub
lished their own catalogue OF their ex
hibits, and Il II book OF some 500 pages,
which was printed In London. But there
are a few features of the English show
which may we'll attract our attention, and
which will stand typical Of the remainder.
II the English excel I'm anything here II IL
| I'm pottery. When we visit the huge Man
ufactures building. and 20 to the clock
tower which marks the center OF that won.
derful structure, we find the British and
their colonies occupying practically all OF
| the southwest quarter. Compared WIN
France across the aisle TO the east and
Germany To the west, the British section
appears commonplace and dull. There
are no gorgeous and impressive payilions,
erected by the government. The British
have only the pagodas which private enter.
prise provided, and these are dark and sim.
ple, like London shops. But they are rich
Ii not pre.entious. One IL said 10 have
cost eos COO, though II covers but sCO hun.
dred square feet. II Is the property OF
pottery firm. Another pottery firm spent
mo, OOO 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 oil
the most marvellous features Of this build.
ing OF wonders. Here In the great lambetb
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 potters art has
been purchased by the Gaekwaro OF i'aroda,
who Il now en route for the fair, ana whose
income II said to be t2O,0o,OOa year. lie
can afford Lambeth vase, and the Old.
are he had to pay prett! price for II. Eot
many cheap things are to be found here,
though everything Is for sale. Here Is o
Shakespearean vase, about three feet high,
adorned with figures from the bar,l' s plays,
and the price Is t2,5C0. An Eyangelins
vase, 10 small that you could put 1t In youi
oyercoat pocket, II held at $50.
A game set of twelve pieces is marked
sasO. and dozen plates, illustrating Long
fellows Eyangeline, and illustrating II
most beautifully, are held ut the snug sum
of &, coo, or Si66.66 per plate. Even this Is
not 80 costly as n royal Worcester dlnnei
service of l3i pieces, spread out In all ia
dazzling array upon table, with crepe
lamps and other decorations to emphasize
its color and beauty, and marked So,O1
Az vet no rich American has come along
10 buy this noteworthy service, but q Little
rose-yase, about six inches high, mas peep
sold eleven times Mt t3 The Britisn pot
ters, like all foreign exhibitors ners,
brought over many duplicates OF theii
wares, and a.e prepared to I'LL Orders;
Where they have no duplicates they viii
taks orders for the very articles ON exiiibi
ton and deliver them at the close OF the
There Is nothing finer In tho exposition
than this display Of British pottery
though tho Hatfield hall banqueting room
attracts fully as much attention. Here IA
where the Briton takes us back TO the day,
of the Richards and the Jamsses and
shows Ms the baronial magnifcence which
we have learnt most Of through the de
iiohtfui parcs of Walter Scott. This ban.
Quoting han from Hatfield hall was In u;t
from 1905 to 1911, years In which Shake
spears was In his prime and the England
OF royalty and blood was In It's glory, lac
matter what the England Of the masses
was. The famous hall has been hand.
somely and accurately reproduced. II
gives us q glimpse Of one Of those interiors
which We have read about. II has the
elaborate carving In oak, the old armor,
the great open Fireplace with its dogs and
lcopards, tie tankards, cups, chalices,
aagons, ewers and other heavy silver arti.
cles used on my lords table, the pictures
which no had on his walls, the minstrel
gallery ut one end Of the hall and the mar
velous oak carving OF screen ut the other: