REPORT OF MR. ADAMS.
17
examine the industries, manufactures and economies presented with a vi&w to bringing back in a body of reports the largest amount possible of information likely to prove useful to the people of the State. I have no intention of attempting any elaborate report myself, either upon the exhibition as a whole or the American department in it, or upon the Massachusetts representation in that department. I do not either feel myself competent to undertake such a task, nor was I appointed with the expectation that I should do so. Speaking generally, however, and taking into account the civilization, the wealth, the standing and above all the pride of the country which contributed it, the American department was the least creditable part of the Exposition. The exhibit of machinery saved it from being wholly discreditable, and the educational department excited some general interest. Including these redeeming features, however, the whole result would have reflected no credit whatever on a Worcester County fair.
The official classification divided the articles in the whole Exposition into twenty-six groups. In twenty-three of these America was more or less represented, though in all but one the representation was in no way calculated to give a correct impression of our progress or condition as a people. The difficulty had evidently lain in the work of preliminary organization. It was quite apparent from the most superficial examination that such articles as were there had been in greatest part gotten together at hap-hazard; and that, while few things had been judiciously selected, absolutely nothing had been rejected. It would have been far better, so far as the general impression created was concerned, if all else had been refused and our contributions had been wholly confined to the hall of machinery. A walk through the American department left on the mind an unpleasant impression of meagreness in production, absence of taste and poverty of imagination, which was even painful if the visitor happened to approach it through the superb English and French displays next to it in order of arrangement.
Appended to this Report tables are submitted showing,—
First. The entire number of American exhibits, with the groups to which they severally belonged, and the medals or diplomas of each description awarded to them.
3