Year: 1876

l
('.exhibition" understood) is the first ques-
F.! ton asked by those who have not visited
| it OF those who have. To which one invol-
| unfairly exclair g, "What do I think Of
the solar system; what do l think OF the
| history of the world, or its geography, its
| science, commerce or manufactures" 1t
| would take long time to answer such q
question, and then the reply woul, proba-
| bly, be confused and unsatisfactory. The
| pictures in the illustrated papers give some
notion of the various buildings and the
most remarkable exhibits; but only per
sonal observation can afford any adequat
| idea of the vastness of the plan or the null
! tiplicity Of its details. Moreover, to what
purpose should one expatiate upon the
gems and gold and silver; the velvets, silks
and laces; the pictures, statues and sump
| tuous furniture; the natural products Or
mechanical inventions-all the innumerable
objects which dazzle the eye or bewilder
the mind, when the main point of interest


to the thoughtful spectator is not any one
Of these things, nor all of them tce ether,
but the great fact of the exhibition itself
that our young nation should give a birth
day party to the az ssembled nations of the
world, accepting with lofty simplicity the
rich offerings of princes and potentatee
and with imperial hospitality receiving ap-
propriately the haughtiest and the hum
blest, the Oldest and the youngest, of her
guests; assigning q conspicuous place to
proud Great Britain, and a modest one to
self centered Switzerland. and introducing
hoary Egypt, the Oldest Of nations, to the
Orange Free State of South Africa, one of
the youngest.


Beside this Christian idea Of harmony
! and geod-fellowship among differing ma
| tions, the great exhibition embodies another
characteristic Of the present century


namely, the commercial spirit as manifested
through the medium of advertising. What
indeed is the exhibition, regarded from a
commercial standpoint, but huge adver-
tising bazar, wherein the wares of all
nations are brought to the notice of all
others under the happiest of auspices, and
with conspicuousness not otherwise at
tainable.


Another thought suggested by the exhibit
ton, as whole, is the extreme importance
Of organization, virtue which the board
Of commissioners have carried to absolute
perfection, so that the innumerable details


Of its management are lost sight of in the


admirable results produced.


To the student Of human nature more


over, the multifarious display of the prod


ucts Of human genius industry and skill


afforded by the exhibition awakens less in
terest than the vast throngs of human be


ing surging backward and forward through
every walk and passage Of the buildings
and grounds: representing every rank and
condition of life, every age, and nearly
every nation of the earth. 1t is better than
the best play to watch, for time. this rush
ing stream Of humanity, and see the various
expressions Of face, gesture and attitude
that pass over it's surface. Intense interest,
animated observ alton, weariness, indiffer-
ence, disgust, all appear by turns, pictured
with distinctness never seen except in a
crowd where nearly everyone is apt to feel





that OF anxiety where members of party
have been separated, as frequently happens.
No language can speak palmer than the
look seen on some of those peering faces,
saying over and over again, where is he'
A moment ago he was here, and now he is
not until the main features Of the exhibition
have received at least q superficial notice,
that these living pictures command the at
tention.


1t is not at the exhibition alone that
crowds are to be seen. The whole city is
teeming with people, the hotels being SO
full that beds are made in the halls for un-
provided men, and sometimes ladies are
obliged to occupy chairs In the parlors all
night, waiting for chance to get rooms in
the morning, while every place of amuse-
ment is perfect crush. Neither is the
great exhibition, with all its wonders, the
chief subject Of conversation, even here
Politics commands it's appropriate share of
attention, and that share increases daily.
So does the confidence Of Republicans in





next. The recent victories in Maine and
Vermont, and the growing disgust at their
own party leadership of the best portion of
the Democratic party in the State of New
York feed this confidence. Nor is it to be
wondered at that Republicans should feel
encouraged, and Democrats the reverse,
when the drift Of public sentiment at the
North is observed to be leaving the sub
ordinate issue of hard or soft money off on
one side, and making directly for the more
important one of the condition of
the South. 1t is true that the peo-
pie of the whole country are tired
of the subject, and disgusted with it.
Nevertheless, it can not be ignored 1t is
alive and rampant 1t is the question to be
settled, and it is to be hoped definitely set
tied, at the approaching presidential elec
tion. That it will be 60 settled in accord
anoe with Republican theories is becoming
las has been already intimately daily more
apparent. The unwise return of the South
ern Democrats to the system of terrorism is
driving their fellow partisans by thousands
and tens of thousands into the Republican
ranks. These profess to be Democrats still,
but declare that in the present emergency
they intend to vote the Republican ticket.
In fact. the candidacy of Tilden, connected
with the watchword reform" is becoming
daily more and more ridiculous. Patriots
will not permit the government to pass into
the hands of party committed to the sup
port Of every theory Of government over