64
EXPOSITION AT VIENNA.
taste, including textiles, leather and rubber, metal and wood industry,—in manufacture of paper, sugar, and the thousand other useful matters,—yi our philosophical and surgical, and in musical instruments,—we appeared, or should have shown ourselves, if we had been adequately represented in this Exposition, quite on a par with any other people. In machinery of every kind, it was universally conceded that our collection, small as it was, and lacking in every direction those labor-saving inventions so familiar to us at home, but unknown abroad, was still the most original and admirable display in the machinery-hall. Among other modes of improving the opportunities of the Exposition of Paris in 1867, the British government sent, as they did also to Vienna, a commission of practical artisans, whose reports, afterwards printed, were among the most interesting and valuable of the former exhibition. As a result of their examination of American machinery, one of them made the following statement:—
“ In our country we seldom go back to first principles in invention. We cling to some parts of the old arrangements. If a motion has been circular, we trj’ to make a better circular motion ; if horizontal, we try to get better results by a superior horizontal arrangement, but seldom think of throwing to one side all that has been done. The American, on the other hand, seems to look at two things—the means at his command and the end to be attained; he seldom troubles his head with the laws or the opinions of others.”
Another of the same artisan commission writes, speaking of the Americans : —
“ The rough-and-ready way in which they cast aside old theories, the boldness with which they start out on a new and untrodden path, the entire confidence they have in themselves, and their sagacity in finding out what is to be done and doing it—all find expression in their work. * * * Many a good thing rough-hewn by them is
destined to live, and influence the future of the world.”
These statements are quoted because they are very admirable illustrations of the character of our inventive talent, and because they express very forcibly what was constantly said both by