The Irish standard., 1902-08-16
THE CORK EXHIBITION.
Most Interesting Letter From Our Own
Correspondent.
Cork, Ireland, July 80, 1902.
Editor Irish Standard:

1t may interest the readers OF your
valuable paper to read the experiences
of Minnesotan in THE city by the Lee.
Cork City is the third city in Ireland
and is appropriately styled the capital
of the South. 1t is built on the banks
of the River Lee, which divides at the
western end of the city and complete
ly surrounds the city, meeting again at
the eastern end. From the beginning of
the 18th century Cork received its first
notice when St. Finhar founded Il
monastery around the site of the pres
emf cathedral of that name. These
monastic establishments were the ear
ly seats Of learning not alone Of Ire
land, but of Western Europe. The
history of Cork is most interesting to
the student of history f L. it took an
active part in the disturbed history of
the Middle Ages and WAS Justly en-
titled to the name of Rebel Cork" 1t
also upheld its title in tho part it took
in the revolutionary times of our own
century.
The city Of Cork has been thorough
ly moderniZed and brought up-to-date
by the Introduction of electric cars and
also of electric lighting. The city and
suburbs can be seen in an inexpensive
way by this new innovation. and the
environments of Cork are exceedingly
11jcturnSnl1n 7
for have Travelled extensively through
Europe and I can say. without doubt,
that the city of Cork and suburbs af-
ford as beautiful scenery .als any part
of Continental Europe.
will NV caniire myself to the G. rk
International Exhibition and its les
sons 10 Cork will belong the proud
distinction of organizing and carrying
to a successful issue the first eXhibi-
lion, held in Ireland in the twentieth
century. The collection of works #
industry and art has no claim to nov
city. fer it is Il natural event for the
promotion of trade and manufactures.
This method OF developin" the re-
sources and constructive ability of
nation is now nearly 200 years old and
has exercised an incalculable influence
in the rapid development Of improve
mcnts in the numbcrless accessories of
civilized life. 1t is hardly possible for
Ireland to organize an cSllibit:On of
the dimensions Of hicago II Paris. but
it lisp s>bl, 20 open an expo ititn in the
Emerald Isle which may hc of service
to those outside exhibitors who justify
its title. and which canrot fail to he
of very great educational advantage
to every reflective Irishman and wonl-
an who visits it.
The Cork international Exhibition is
situated on the soutlr I'll bank of the
River Lee. whose pheasant waters"
have been immGralzch in song. and
the location selected fer tlr,' purpose is
an ideal one. The Mardvke walk.
which is one mile long aud baauti-
fully shaded with tall ivy-clad elms.
leads TO the grounds. The site extends
fcr an area of alb ut fifty acres and the
panorama which meets the eve of the
tourist is one never to be forgotten
10 the east can be seen the historic
''pepper-bGX stepple." which contains
the chimes THAT Fathar Prout made
famous in the ''Bels of Shandon." In
deed. nature seemed lavish in her ell
dowment of the site which admirably
adapted itself for the purpose Of the
exhibition and which for he,uty,
variety and natural lovelincss would
he difficult to equal and impossible to
excel. The Lee flows Enthusiastically at
the edge of the gardens and amid such
surroundings the exhibition buildings
stand. while views of the small struc-
lures with their banners and bunting
may be seen between the foliage of the
numerous trees and luxurious shrubs
which abound everywhere. The main
entrance to the exhibition is on the
western read and leads directly to the
industrial hall. the Grand avenue in
the center. and three on each side of
it. The hall is lighted and ventilated
from the roof and sides and llas IL floor
area of about 10000 fest. At the ell
trance to this building are situated ell
luiry and other offices where tine Wis
itor can get any information desired.
This hall alone covers more space than
the Cork exhibition of 1883. The ave-
nues in this building consist of a series
of gracefully archCd corridors, and talk
ing the Grand CT central avenue q di-
vision may be made as follows: The
WomenS section is situated On the
northern Or river side and covers over
5000 feet. In this section is to be seen
the convent industries, including fancy
needlework and lace-making and is in
CT arge Of committee of ladies' The
space devoted to the department of ag-
riculture and technical instruction ad-
joins the wOmen's section and covers
an area Of $1,000 feet. Demonstrations
: of the smaller industries of the CONT
nant, which may be successfully intro
duced into Ireland are given here, and
s native workers from the continent and
also their own machinery illustrate the
various crafts. The space allotted for
the display of miscellaneous industrial