The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-13
Four Countries Combined in
Peaceful Rivalry.
A Superb Site Has Been Selected
Near Stockholm.

denmark ana F1nland-speaklng a IAN
guage In part resembling each other and
having been historically connected, both
as allies and foes, for more than 10 ccn-
turies, having relationship In the folk
lore. traditions, poetry music and all that
distinguishes the descendants of the old
Norsemen-stand united as one nation for
peaceful rivalry In arts, science and in
dustry.
The distinguishing trait Of the Scandi-
navian character is reflection, and the idea
of this exposition, the greatest and most
complete ever held In any of the European
countries, with tho exception of the Paris
expositions, was first broachcd In 1870
| For more than quarter of IA century IL has
been talked Of and been the pet subject of
royal rulers, artists, business men and the
people at large. National jealousy and
idiosyncrasy bid to be overcome, thou
sand and one 4 jections arose. but finally
every difficulty was smoothed over, plans
and details agreed on, and the exposition,
from the beauty of the buildings as they
are now rapidly assuming form, their loca-
tion and the enthusiasm shown by the ma
tionalites interested, promises TO be in ev-
cry detail brilliant success.
Tho influence of the World n fair at Chi
cago on tho future expositions of "A similar
sense, can never be fully estimated. All the
great expositions held since the Worlds
fair closed or to take place in Europe, such
as the Bordeaux, the Budapest the Ber-
| lin, tho Malmoc, the Swiss and now the
| Swedish exposition, show in their archi-
tectural and artistic planning a certain
| indescribablo influence of the white dream
city OF 1898, while still adherlng 10 the in
dividual characteristics in art of each ma
tionality.
AT tho exposition at Stockholm, instead
of everything being under one roof as has
been tho custom heretofore, every depart
ment has its separate building. The Man
ufactures and Industrial building will
cover space of 500 square feet, two of
them TO contain elevators. The other build
ings, such as the Art palace, the Northern
museum, Machinery hall, Fishery, Forest,
Electrical Mines, Historical, Army, Navy,
Horticultural, Agricultural and Transpor-
tation buildings, will be of = size to give
harmonious appearance to the whole OF
| the buildings mentioned the Art palace and
the Fishery building are already completed.
The Manufactures and Machinery hall will
be finished before winter sets in, ard the
remaining buildings will be completed by
March /, 1897. The exposition grounds
will be laid out by the best landscape gar
deners.
One interesting feature of the exposition
period will be the dedication of the new
Royal Opera House, u magnificent build
ing, only oqualed by the Grand Opera
House in Paris.
Stockholm has been called the Venice Of
the north, and no capital in Europe has a
finer situation. The exposition has been
located In the handsomest part of the park
like suburbs, and general view of the
Stockholm exposition shows a great con-
trast with similar European expeitions
With it's two seq fronts, one on the Dur
garden park sound and tho other on the
salt water OF the gulf of Bothnia, its
charming continuation of the royal parks
of the Djurgarden, it will be not alone an
evidence Of Scandinavian art and industry,
but also an exhibit of Swedish landscape,
for which Stockholm is celebrated.
The exposition will have two principal
entrances, one by the Grand boulevard and
Djurgardcn bridge, the other the marine
entrance from the sound. Entering by the
Djurgardcn, n vast plaisance, laid out with
lawns, fountains and flower beds, meets
the eye Straight ahead in the distance is
seen tho front of the Manufactures build
ing, with its towers and dome This plai-
sance Is crossed by several broad avenues
leading to tho various buildings. On a
terrace close by the idyllic sound is located
the principal restaurant building. Follow
ing the sound promenade To Framnaes, the
FISHERY building is seen. 1t is built partly
In the sound and Is surrounded by pom
toon BRIDGE forming charming marine
promenade and giving n nautical flavor to
the fishery exhibition. Farther out in the
sound Will bo ono OF tho great attractions
OF the exposition, n cavern erected on tine
bottom OF the sound, TO be lighted by cleo
tricity, and from the windows of the cavern
the visitors viii obtain an insight into tho
life OF tho dcni2ens of the deep.
The Art palace will probably be the most
beautiful of the various buildings. 1t is
in the Spanish style of architecture, with
marblclikc walls and rich mural dccora-
tions, rejecting itself in tho great canal ut
Its side. The center of the Art palace tho
part reserved for sculpture, will be laid
out as "a tropical garden, in which tho
marble treasures will find suitable sur
rounding, doing away with tho conven-
tional museum appearance. From this
garden pillarcd entrances lead To the paint
ing exhibitions of the various foreign
countries.
Prince Eugene, duke Of Nerise, tho
youngest son OF King Oscar, himself a
painter of great reputation is the chief of
the art section of the exposition. Recently
while on visit to Paris he met somo of
tho most prominent Of the American art
lists, and they promised to exhibit at Stock
holm next summcr The latest news frori
Sweden reports that Prince Eugene in
tends to visit the United States this fall to
further interest American artists and own
ers of private galleries to send their art
works To the exposition, and he will un-
doubtcdly visit Chicago, having through
Mrs Potter Palmer heard of the fine pri-
yate art galleries I'm that city.
The chief architectural designer of the
exposition--in fact, the creator Of the
whole cxposition--is Ferdinand Boberg,
who has been assisted by the architects
Fr. Lilliekvist, Agi Lindcgren, Eugcn
Thorburn and Civil Engineer Fritz Soc-'
derbcrg.
Tho exposition will also have political
Significance, as ia 1897 King Oscar will