Year: 1871

Some twenty years have elapsed since the frs
| International Exhibition awakened the people Q
Europe to the Importance Of becoming more gen
! orally acquainted with each others thoughts au,
skill, as manifested IN uiumphs of mechanical ar
pliancc, or in the crystanized beauties OF though
| IN works of high ART. Thus international exhibi
tons became to people OF refined taste the hlghes
achievement OF modern progress. In them the tan
| gible


| EXPRESSION OF THE BEAUTIFUL


and sublime IN the aspirations OF all nations fOun,
| resting place, home, where the arts like tn
graces OF Old, We'd with each other for that rea
golden apple-popular admiration. They lifted tn
| thoughts OF the art world from the slougl
| OF contentment with mere local fame. ant
bade the artists and the workmen to struggle fo
world wide renown. But better than this they riv
eeG the attention Of the student of the beautiful
the higher attributes OF as seen their rare per
lection isolated In great ana differently moulded
minds. Until the international exhibitions brOug hi
them together the brain workers had been almost
strangers to each other, though kindred in them.
selves The bringing together and comparing OF the
works and thoughts OF the great minds of the age
was fraught with the best results not alone to the
artist but to the people. And there grew notice.
able development OF love for the beautiful In the
MINDS OF the great mass who have an


ART LOVE WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE,
an appreciation Of conceptions of beauty, without
the power OF critical discrimination. When the
exhibition Of twenty years ago was over and its
walls had fallen, and the fairy-like structure had,
"llke some lnsubstantial vsion faded and left not
wreck behind" there was danger that 1t would in
time disappear from the public remembrance aud
only remain as an interesting memory in the minds
OF the art community. As there are feelings which
cannot be expressed In words, so there are


SUBTLE SECRETS


tn
sympathy. They come to US and dwell within us
as love d0es but whence derived we know not.
This truth had been overlooked, ana what had been
gained oy one exhibition was well nigh lost before
the next was projected, for they 70 US like the
visits OF angels few and far between.


Once more palace of industrial art rises among
us like fairy home; but now as permanent lnstl-
tuition and hencelorth every year the gifted OF the
earth shall assemble by the muddy waters OF the
Thames to stimulate progress and encourage art.
Whether the present exhibition has fulfilled all the
higher requirements OF such an undertaking is open
to doubt. and from variety of causes it Is perhaps
more just TO regard it as q promise OF something
better in the years to come than as ACCOMPLISHED
tact calling for Judgment Until encouraged by a


''wHITE-wINGED PEACE'


and encouraged by the fostering hand OF public
support the experiment Of International ex-
hlbittons cannot produce all the good which 1t
Is possible 10 derive from them. We may reasona.
bly, hope for better things when again the selected
art of the world shall speak TO us from the walls,
preaching the noble lesson OF human progress and
bidding US ceaselessly march on higher aud higher,
piercing the mists and uncertainties that surround
this lower life, until we reach unto perfect truth
What nober purpose can man PrvpOse nlmself,
But though the present exhibition falls short OF our
perfect IDEAL 1t still possesses enough OF what Is
good and excellent 10 entItle 1t and promoters to
the warmest applause. Comprehending all nation.
alites here all race Is lost and in place of narrow
distinctions of cline and country we look
upon humanity. Here, in sense we behold but
one people


THE CHILDREN OF INDUSTRY.


We feel one paramount principle the brotherhood
OF mankind. All the nations are Blended into one
great entity, In which differences Of race and cline
are merged as colors blended In painting IN one
general tone, and produce universal harmony
Whatever can interest or instruct here finds place.
The eye may wander from the stuffed Laplander to
the irumphs Of the sculptors art from the painted
toy to the breathing picture that arrests you with
magic power, and bids you worship before the
beauties. Whatever could amuse or instruct all
that could adorn or ennoble, has found q resting


WILDERNESS OF WONDERS.


where statue could not be placed flowers are
made to blossom; where painting would have been
lost mechanism thrObS with Its mighty furce, and
where the weary senses 0verpowered by the sigh
Of END endless wonders flag and droop, the visitor is
There amid hOwe1y perfumes and


SAGE, NODDING TREES,
we may watch the spOrt.ve fountains play ninging
up their stray, white as the neecy clouds scudding
over the blue vault OF heaven rising like streams
Arcadia, we may stray away 10 listen to the inspired
strains OF Meyerbeer or Beethoven rendered by the
wonders
with fatigue, one SINKS down and Is In danger OF be-
comm coming as critic G n,o Even the prosaic work day
generous rivalshp which agitate the actual COM
batants whose works mutely contest for


THE PALM OF VICTORY.


we can even fancy some OF the mamm0n worship.
pers looking OH regretlCy and longing to he able to
eau purchase importance. Looked at from the dry
est commercial point OF view these exhibitions are
artist whose genius turns the vast wilderness of Of
brick and mortar into palace OF wonders may be
neglected but me hope OF winning place amid the
encouragement to the brain workers who toll for
fame. Over the future OF International exhibitions
and the influence for good which they are destined
to exert might grow eloquent. but that prophecy
Is not considered legitimate nJwadays; besides the
pr esent furnishes us with theme sufficiently ab.
sorblng without adyenturing unto


THE sHADowY FUTURE.


source OF Wealth. iiberazer Of Of The mind an index
TO civilization, assembling and contrasting the
Of ten THOUSAND lives II





preJudices, teaching us 10 respect, not love- our
neighb9rs.


admiration. While 1t Is permitted 10 US to talk
generates we may run on In rnapsodes OF praise or
cpnsure, saying much but explaining little, filling
the horizon with confused light and shadow, and
leaving TO the Imagination and taste OF the individ
ual mind to shape out It's own love. Where there Is
50 mucn 10 invite admiration II Is difficult TO deter.
mine with whom to rest first, and whom To
visit next To inspect by number and not
by inclination, moving from object to Oh
ject, were as tedious as uninteresng, and we
prefer TO wander round these galleries, without
guide or catalogue, stopping only where excellence
arrests. For moment we shall halt In our prone
made, and look upon "An execution In q Moorish
palace" Fallen at the tawny executoner's feet
some unhapplly OFFENDING Moor lies decapitated.
The mead with the ashy nue. OF death stealing over
the yet warm face has rolled down the palace steps,
the bloody beard smearing and splashlng the white
marble pool OF blood, with


THE GLOW AND HEAT OF COLOR
in II, has drIboled down from beneath the trunk,
whose further horrors are artisticay concealed ~
making the arm OF the Slain !all so as TO hide the
neck and It's severeu Arteries. The abandonment
In death The shrinking of