The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-01
AMERICAN VS.. FOREIGN En-
HIBITS AT ST. LOUIS.


! Of all, yet in some lines we are beaten. In the
department Of chemistry, in both materials
and appliances, Germany leads the world,
although it is one OF the youngest Of her
great industries Unconsciously abe has
been preparing herself for this by years Of
study and patient research. The value
Of the German chemical output is estimated
at about $500 000. 900 year, one-third OF It
being exported In art pottery and IN
some lines Of more ordinary tableware
the United States is outstripped by several
countries. Italy leaves us In complete in
significance with her display OF marbles
An official attendant In the Manufac-
lures Building was asked regarding the
comparative interest shown by visitors IN
the domestic and the foreign exhibits in that
department without hesitation he replied
that the greatest interest undoubtedly CEN
tired in the foreign displays. He estimated it
IN the ratio Of three to one in favor OF the
foreign. Some Of this difference. however
must be attributed to the fact Of difference
in the character Of the exhibits. Plumbing
and sanitary appai atus, boots and shoes,
cotton and woollen fabrics, travelling bags
and camping outfits, can be seen anywhere
and at any time. Japanese bIonzes, ltal-
ian marbles and Chinese carvings in wood
and ivory are not often TO be seen in such
| quantity and variety In silverware there
is no second. American or foreign, to the
Gorham exhibit. Only those who can re-
member the Centennial display in this line
can fully appreciate the stride that has
been made in the art and in the mechanics
OF silver working. To-day we have
much longer lead over all foreigners than
! they had over lis in 1870.
In furniture and upholstery Germany
and England make elaborate displays.
France Is only less profusely represented.
| While II may be doubted whether any one
Of these countries is really able to produce
more artistic designs or better workman
ship than we can, there is little doubt that
Germany and England will carry away
the prizes for these lines. The German
exhibition OF a house Of many rooms,
| all completely and fttingly equipped,
has been one OF the most popular ex-
| hibits at the fair. In carriages and
| wagons the American exhibits are not
| approached by the foreign. In locomotives
| the American makers stand supreme The
| same may be said concerning machinery
in general, stationary engines, machine
| shop equipment and general tools and tool
work.
While American exhibitors have unques-
! tionably done much In the artistic arrange
| ment OF articles which are seemingly desti-
tuts of artistic possibilities, 1t is probable
that, taken broadly in lines susceptible Of
comparison, the foreigners as a whole out
class us in effective arrangement of their
| exhibits. There Is an American tendency
to overcrowd, to put too much in limited
space.
Taking the Japanese exhibits as an illus
| tration, 1t may bs said that the Japs are
| showing their goods as they are fighting
| their battles--by team play Their ex-
hibits are practically national. and not
an aggregation of independent individual
displays The Germans have taken large
space, and have occupied II, In the main,
as II their purpose was definitely to enable
people to see each and every article. Swe-
den, Austria and Mexico. all with admirable
exhibits, manifest sin. liar purpose. France
and Italy generally show disposition. like
| that OF the Americans, to overcrowd their
space. China also has somewhat overloaded
her area. But there are many exceptions to
this general rule among the American eI-
hibitors. There are not q few displays
which, for their genuine artistic properties
and for their thorough effectiveness, are
excelled by none in the foreign sections.
Outside the various foreign displays in
the main buildings OF the fair, the ma
tional pavilions, some Of them containing
notable displays may not be passed without
comment. In many Of them the sight
seer practically visits the country by which
they are erected The Germans reproduce
the Charlottenburg Sohloes. and 80 far as
its exterior IL concerned the building looks
| as though it had stood where II is for
half century. Argentina reproduces the
upper stories OF the Government palace at
Buenos Ayres. France gives us the Trianon,
with many Of the original furnishings Of
the original building at Versailles. Brazil
has a massive structure In French Renais-
sance, which suffers not a little from the
too close proximity OF other and inferior
buildings. II is worthy OF a park location,
and needs it to show its merit. The Bel
gian building, outside and inside, Is an
object lesson in Flemish architecture and
furnishings.
The Japanese buildings, with their pa
godas, gardens. and interior decorations.
carry the visitor at once to the land Of the
chrysanthemum East India runs tea house
and a wareroom in q reproduction OF the
celebrated tomb OF Itmad nd Dowlah at
Agra. In 1t white robed and turbaned
Orientals serve delicious tea-for o COM
pensation. The Oriental effect Is a little
modified by American saleswomen. The
British pavilion Is small and TO many 1t may
seem insignificant and unworthy. But Sir
Christopher Wren designed its original.
The pavilions Of other countries, Of Mexico,
OF Sweden, OF Cuba, Siam. and Italy, are
all characteristic and representative.
Yet from the viewpoint Of excellence In
architecture no American need blush when
some OF the American State buildings are
brought into comparison with their foreign
neiehbors The California pavilion may
suggest the Mexican without resembling it,
the Mississippi pavilion may suggest a
Cuban country house; but the California
structure is replica Of an old Santa Barbara
mission and Mississippi duplicates Beauvoir,
the old home OF efferson Davis. Louisiana
reproduces the old Cabildo, Tennessee re-
produces The Hermitage OF Andrew jack
son. and Virginia reproduces Monticello,