The World's Fair Part 4

The Irish dairies are well-managed and are generally extensive; many counties in the south part of the island are occupied almost entirely by dairy farms. As many as thirty or forty cows are kept on some of them, for b.u.t.ter is the chief produce, and this is sent into England, Portugal, and the East and West Indies. Some of the nice b.u.t.ter you eat on your bread and rolls comes from Ireland. Sheep and cattle are fed in great quant.i.ties on large pieces of land devoted to the purpose the sheep are large, and have fine wool.

The mud cabin of the Irish peasant is the most miserable cottage you can imagine; the walls are formed of clay, which hardens in the sunshine, the roof is made of sticks and straw, and the floor is the mere damp earth. It has frequently neither door, nor chimney, and consists of only one room; the furniture is rarely more than a stump bedstead, two or three stools, an iron pot, to boil the potatoes in, and a table to eat them from. Generally, there is a small piece of land attached to the dwelling, and in this potatoes are grown; the peasants of Ireland hardly ever eat anything besides potatoes. When they have enough of them to eat, and a little whiskey to drink, the poor people are exceedingly jovial and merry; they laugh, sing, and joke; and go to weddings, fairs, dances, and what are called in Ireland "wakes," which, among the poor, is a kind of laying in state before funerals;--but sometimes the crops of potatoes fail, and then the unfortunate peasants die by hundreds from hunger. The favourite dance of the common people is called a jig.

Dublin, which, I dare say, you know is the capital of Ireland, is an elegant city, with fine houses and good streets. The churches, the castle, the linen hall, exchange, bank, custom-house, and post-office, are all very n.o.ble buildings. There are also parks, gardens, theatres, ca.n.a.ls, and other ornamental places throughout the city. From Dublin have been sent models of carriages, specimens of metals, slates, and linens, and a model of a house made in granite.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

I have now told you, my dear little friends, a great many stories about the industry of all nations, and we have gone through the World's Show together. We have seen nearly all the useful and splendid things sent to the Great Exhibition from all parts of the world. I have told you about Europe, and Asia, Africa, and America; and I must soon leave you. But before I go, we must have another look at the Exhibition, and one more glance at those few things which we have not as yet seen.

We forgot to examine this magnificent chess-board, worth one thousand two hundred guineas. You will doubtless wonder why it is such a dear board, but your surprise will cease when you observe that the "checks," as they are called, are of mother-of-pearl and tortoisesh.e.l.l, while the rim is of beautifully burnished gold, and the chessmen are of gold and silver, elaborately wrought, and ornamented with the portraits of celebrated historical characters; one of them represents the Emperor, Charles the Fifth. I dare say you would like to play a game with me on this chess-board. As a companion to this beautiful chess-board, is a very elegant colour box, fit for the Queen, or the most n.o.ble young lady in the land, to use for painting with. And here is a model of the town of Liverpool, with several thousand little people in the streets; and these figures are so exceedingly small, that a thousand of them would fit into an ordinary sized pill box.

In contrast to this specimen of a great town in a minute s.p.a.ce, we have in front of the transept a wonderful clock, which is kept in motion by a set of powerful electro magnets, eight in number, on which is wound a length of twenty-five thousand feet of copper wire. This gigantic time-keeper sets in motion the immense hands on the princ.i.p.al dial, which is twenty-four feet in diameter, besides two smaller ones which are fixed in front of the galleries, at the east and west ends of the building. I am afraid that it would tire you, were I to attempt to tell you exactly what electricity is, and must therefore satisfy your curiosity, for the present, by letting you know that it is caused by the coming in contact of different substances possessing peculiar properties, which cause them to vibrate, when they touch.

There is another very curious clock in the Exhibition, which will go for a hundred years before requiring to be wound up again; and there is one wheel in it which is said would take ten thousand years to go round once.

Next there is a case of stuffed birds, which came from Scotland, and which we cannot help admiring. There are in this case specimens of all the various kinds of birds which are peculiar to Scotland, neatly and carefully stuffed; and really they almost look as if they were alive.

Ah, ah! Mister Eagle, you are not so much to be feared now, I think, as you were when you lived in your lofty home in the Highland mountains.

And here is another case in which are all the different sorts of mother-of-pearl b.u.t.tons that can be imagined; there is every variety of ornament on the b.u.t.tons, which look exceedingly brilliant.

This immense block of granite, from Scotland, is not quite so pretty, though it is, perhaps, more useful; it is twenty feet long, and is a piece of the finest kind and colour that could be found. Another very useful thing, also from Scotland, is a large lighthouse bell, managed so as to ring very loud, to warn any ship that is going too near a dangerous rock or shoal, near the lighthouse where the bell may be.

Among the more beautiful specimens of industry, there are several elegant vases made of silver, and of a delicate material called Parian, which is an imitation of Parian marble; some of them are ornamented with blue and gold, and others are ornamented with silver.

There is also a splendid tea-service, adorned with charming pictures of the dear old fables we all know so well,--the "Lion and the Mouse,"

the "Wolf and the Lamb," the "Dog and the Shadow," and others.

Near the very middle of the building, close by the crystal fountain, there are the splendid iron gates from Coalbrookdale, which look very magnificent. I fancy Samson would find it rather a difficult matter trying to bear off _these_ gates on his back, strong as he was. Close by these gates there is a gigantic statue of our good Queen, on horseback, which towers high over our heads; and she sits smiling at us as if she could see us looking so delighted.

There are several gigantic things at the Exhibition. Here, for one, is a monster cake, covered with the most superb ornaments; it is four feet high, and weighs about two-hundred and twenty-five pounds. Yonder is another monster contribution, an immense map of the busy city of Manchester; and there is a huge railway carriage; and still further on, there is an iron wire, one mile long. At a little distance stands a magnificent bed and bedstead, fit for the Queen to sleep in. It came from Edinburgh, and is made mostly of materials which can be produced in Scotland. And in this direction, we can see a set of beautiful mantelpieces and fenders, from Sheffield, all decorated in the most elegant manner. The first mantelpiece we must look at is made of cast-iron; the mouldings of the cornice are richly ornamented, and supported by little pillars covered with graceful wreaths of oak-leaves, while the freize is adorned with a cl.u.s.ter of rich fruit.

The next mantelpiece is painted white and gold, and has a burnished steel grate; while the third is painted blue and gold, and has a stove made on a new plan, for it is managed so that its own brightness shall help to throw out the heat of the fire in an equal and agreeable manner. The fourth and last mantelpiece is painted black, and ornamented with ormolu; it contains a polished steel stove. Three ormolu fenders, and five bright ones are placed together with the mantelpieces; and they certainly make a goodly show. But we must now leave them, and go on to see some other wonders.

Here are several most beautiful loo-tables inlaid, and they seem to attract a good deal of attention from more than us. You look a little puzzled at the word _inlaid_; I think I must explain it to you, by telling you that it means pieces of different material let into a piece of furniture to ornament it.

There are numerous models of various buildings in the Crystal Palace; those of York Cathedral, and Chance's Lighthouse, are particularly well made. There is also a model of the Britannia Tubular Bridge; and there are models of many of the fine public works of London.

Here is a pair of scissors made in Sheffield, and ornamented in the most beautiful way, with a crown for a handle; and yonder are a pair of cotton stockings from Ireland, spun so fine that they look exactly like silk, and indeed you would be likely to mistake them for silk, if you were not told they were merely cotton.

How brilliant this collection of gems looks; how the stones sparkle!

they have been sent as specimens of the jewels which Ireland produces.

But here are some pretty English agates; and a huge ma.s.s of Irish rock crystal, which is very bright and clear. In a compartment, at a little distance, we may see a book, bound according to a new method, by which the leaves are so firmly placed together, that they would not loosen in ten years' time, no matter how the book was tossed about, unless they were purposely taken out.

We must now have a look at the machinery department. Firstly, there is the great steam-engine that works all the other steam-engines in the Exhibition, though, of course, you cannot understand it by looking at it; neither can I, although I know so much more than you do. Near it is a model of a new agricultural machine for cutting, turning up, and making into light mould, the clay of fields, so as to make it ready to receive the seeds to be set, without the farmers being obliged to plough the earth. There is a machine for making bricks and tiles, so that people may, if they like, form those materials for building houses cheaper and better than in the usual way. But here is a useful machine. It is a measuring machine, by which you could measure to the smallest size, even to the hundred-thousandth part of an inch!

Here is a very pretty contribution; it is a model of the house of the great play-writer, Shakspeare,--of whom, perhaps, you may have heard,--and it is surrounded by figures representing different beautiful scenes from Shakspeare's plays. It was made by a workman in his leisure time: and it certainly does him credit. It is called the Shakspeare Jubilee.

Yonder is another piece of ingenious industry; it is a group of figures showing all the various Scotch games; there is one figure dancing the Highland fling, another throwing the beam, and all the others engaged in similar sports. That came from Scotland, of course.

Let us now go on to look at that splendid design embroidered in gold, and intended for a communion cloth. Oh! here it is; does it not look beautiful? But here are several lovely specimens of china, and earthenware, which would grace the sideboards of the richest house in the land, I think. Here is a fine marble font, made of Devonshire marble, which is very nicely carved, as well as I can judge. Further on, we have some less showy, but more solidly useful articles. Various kinds of iron, copper, zinc, lead, silver, and gold ores are displayed, with oils, quartz, stones, coal, &c. There are lanterns on a new plan, microscopes, barometers, optical and philosophical instruments, farming implements, machines for melting metals;--besides hundreds of other articles which we cannot stop to notice more particularly. There are two or three very interesting models of mines, with mining machinery, and plans for improving the air of the mines, so as to make the poor miners more comfortable. And there are other models of ships, printing presses, looms, and machines for making gas, which deserve some degree of attention. There is also a new machine for printing cotton on both sides, which will be very useful, as the cotton printed with it will be as ornamental on one side as the other.

There are four splendid and very powerful organs, and several beautiful piano fortes, in the Exhibition; and there is an accurate model of Plymouth Breakwater, with a very very little ship attached to it, and all complete, even to the smallest rope ladder. Plymouth Breakwater is a vast heap of stones built across the entrance of the Sound, so as to leave a pa.s.sage for ships at each end, but preventing the heavy waves of the Atlantic Ocean from dashing into the harbour.

It has cost more than a million of pounds in money.

Here we have a beautiful writing table for ladies, which is one of the most splendid things in the Exhibition, and which came from that land of ingenuity and industry, Switzerland. It is made of two kinds of wood, white and red, the Swiss national colours; and is cleverly managed by machinery, so that by merely pressing a spring, the whole contents of the desk is laid before the spectator, while, at the same time, a stand for writing on, and a seat, are produced. It is covered with figures of men and animals, and with ornaments most exquisitely carved; and it is a writing table which the greatest lady in England might use.

Along the centre of the aisle, or chief walk, are arranged colossal statues, pillars of marble, beautiful fountains, magnificent feathers, crystals of alum, crystals of spermaceti oil, specimens of silk manufactures, from Spitalfields; and fine cutlery, from Sheffield.

There is also an immense dome of iron and gla.s.s, forty feet high which looks very astonishing; and a curious Russian chain bridge, which is very ingeniously made. Besides these, we have a gigantic telescope, which attracts a great deal of attention from the crowd of people who are walking down the aisle.

In the nave there are several beautiful pieces of sculpture. One is a colossal group, representing St. Michael conquering Satan; another is a figure of the celebrated warrior, G.o.dfrey of Bouillon, mounted on horseback; and a third, is an Amazon, who is just about to hurl her javelin at a ferocious tiger, who has fastened on the neck and shoulders of her frightened horse. Here is also a figure of Mazeppa on the wild horse, which is extremely well made, and, perhaps, reminds those of my little friends who have seen the play of "Mazeppa" at Astley's Amphitheatre, of the scenes where poor Mazeppa was carried along on the terrible horse's back, through brambles, thorns, and crashing boughs. But what have we here? A grim-looking growling bronze lion, from Bavaria, who glares at us as if he would be only too glad to eat us up if he were alive, and does not seem at all the kind of beast one would like to shake hands, or rather paws, with.

We have a charming representation of Reinecke Fox's adventures, by means of stuffed animals, in the German portion of the Exhibition. The expression of the different animals is very funny, and makes us laugh to almost an inconvenient degree. The first group represents the fox, with his rosary in his hand, confessing his sins to the c.o.c.k, who is listening very gravely, and reading him a sermon on his wickedness.

The next group shows the tom-cat, coming to summon Master Reinecke to court, to answer the accusations brought against him; the fox sets out, and on his way wounds a poor hare, whom he carries with him. But we cannot stay to notice all the groups now; only we must just glance at the fox lying on the sheep's skin, after his repast, for here Master Reinecke's expression shows him to be so well satisfied and comfortable that it is very droll.

In the Russian division we may observe a most magnificent pair of candlesticks of bronze, gilt, which look exceedingly sparkling and brilliant, and are the first objects that meet our eyes as we enter the department.

In the transept, at the opposite end to where the gates from Coalbrookdale are situated, are another beautiful specimen of ornamented gates for a park, in the style of the elegantly wrought iron work, made about a hundred and fifty years since, and which adorn the entrances to many of the old mansions of England. Some parts of these are tastefully gilt, and produce a remarkably pretty effect.

It would take us more than a month to see everything in the Crystal Palace, and those who wish to examine all the wonders, must pay several visits. But we have, I think, seen enough for the present, and will now leave the Exhibition, if you are satisfied. Perhaps, before I go, you would like me to describe the ceremony of the opening of our Palace of Wonders, by our good Queen? If so, I shall be very happy indeed to oblige you, by telling you all I saw on the first of May.

Early in the morning of that day,--soon after dawn,--thousands of people in London were wending their way towards Hyde Park; horses feet, and carriage-wheels clattered through the streets, and strange looking foreigners pa.s.sed along among the crowd, all eager to see the procession.

I dare say you would have been delighted with the grand sight:--first there came a long line of splendid carriages, containing various lords and ladies, in gorgeous costumes;--diamonds flashing, and feathers waving; next came a troop of Life Guards in scarlet coats, bright cuira.s.ses, and glittering helmets: they were escorting the Queen's carriage, which was followed by a goodly number of other carriages.

You should have heard how the crowds huzzaed and shouted when they saw the Queen, who looked very much pleased, bowing and smiling to her people. She entered the building amid the loud cheers and hurras, followed by Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, and the Princess Royal. After staying a short time in the elegant robing-room, which was fitted up in a single night, her Majesty proceeded to her throne, between flower stands, and tropical plants, past the Coalbrookdale gates, and the fountains and statues with which the centre of the palace is adorned. When she appeared, the twenty-five thousand people, who were present, rose to welcome her.--Ladies waving their handkerchiefs, the gentlemen their hats;--and you may readily guess how splendid the scene looked. Even the sun popped out his head from the clouds, and poured a flood of golden light in through the glittering dome of the transept, to illuminate the brilliant spectacle.

As soon as Her Majesty was seated on her throne, one of the organs commenced pealing forth the notes of the National Anthem, the choir, which was collected for the occasion, singing to the music. After this, Prince Albert joined those gentlemen who have directed the affairs of the Great Exhibition, and going near to the Queen, read to her an account of the Exhibition from the commencement; to which Her Majesty answered, when the Prince had finished, that she was much pleased with the description of the proceedings, and that she hoped the World's Fair would do good to all mankind, by encouraging the arts of peace and industry, strengthening the bonds of love between all the nations of the earth, and promoting a friendly rivalry among our fellow creatures, in the useful exercise of those faculties which have been given by G.o.d for the good and happiness of all mankind.

The Queen having read this answer, the Archbishop of Canterbury approached the throne, and offered up a prayer to Heaven, intreating the Lord's blessing on the Exhibition; that it might benefit every body on earth, making them love and help each other. I hope all that heard the prayer, joined in it with heart and soul: and I hope, too, that my dear little readers will think of it when they go to the Crystal Palace.

At the close of the prayer, the choir sang the Hallelujah chorus, and you may form some idea of the effect of this performance, when I tell you that all the persons who sing at the Queen's Chapel, at St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, and St. George's Chapel, Windsor, were all singing together, besides part of the band of the Sacred Harmonic Society, pupils of the Royal Academy of Music, and many other songsters, both foreign and English.

The immensity of the building left scope for the rich volume of sound poured forth; and you may imagine what an effect the splendid strains had on the feelings of the mult.i.tude of spectators. Indeed, one of the audience,--a Chinaman, was so excited by the grandeur of the scene, and the triumphant music, that he rushed forwards, made his way through the crowd of n.o.bles and ladies that surrounded the Queen, and, advancing close to Her Majesty, saluted her by a grand salaam, which she graciously acknowledged with a smile and a bow. A salaam, you must know, is the eastern way of bowing, and consists in bending the head until it almost touches the ground.

When the Hallelujah chorus ceased, the procession was formed for the Queen to go round the building. First went the heralds, in their splendid costumes; then a great number of gentlemen, who were more immediately concerned with the Exhibition; after them, the Duke of Wellington,--of whom, I dare say you know,--with more gentlemen, and the Archbishop of Canterbury; and then the Queen and Prince Albert, with the Prince of Wales, and the Princess Royal, both of whom looked extremely delighted and astonished with the gorgeous spectacle they were viewing. The Royal Family was followed by a number of lords, ladies, and attendants, the procession being concluded by heralds.

The train first went to the west end of the nave, on the north side, everybody cheering loudly as it pa.s.sed. The view varied every minute, but was always picturesque, and beautiful. Even those persons who were most acquainted with the wondrous objects that lay on every side, were surprised by the new and charming attractions displayed. The Indian collection, and the compartment filled with specimens from the colonies, were left behind; the department devoted to sculpture, and other finer products of industry, was pa.s.sed, and the procession moved into that portion of the palace which contains the English manufacturing products. You might then have caught a glimpse, over the heads of the spectators, of the Furniture Court, where the furniture is placed; and of the fixed machinery beyond it, the ma.s.sive iron form of each machine looking as much as to say "move me, if you can." Then the procession pa.s.sed the enormous dome of iron and gla.s.s, the two gigantic statues, the figure of Shakspeare, and the many other objects which adorn the centre aisle; leaving behind the furs of bears, and other wild animals, hung beneath the galleries, and the carpets which lent their brilliant colours to finish the decorations; it reached the western entrance, where it was reflected in the immense mirror, exhibited at that point. Then, turning round by the model of the Liverpool Docks, it was returning on the south side of the nave, when the gigantic organ placed there, suddenly hurled forth an immense volume of music, which sounded extremely fine: but every one was already so much astonished, that I do not think anything more could surprise them. At length the procession reached the transept, round the south end of which it proceeded, and then swept into the Foreign Department of the Exhibition, where great efforts had been made to receive it properly. The French had collected together all the choicest specimens of their manufactures to grace the foremost part of their division; and I am sure you would have admired the tasteful manner in which the contributors decorated the collection. Some of the other countries, as their exhibitors had sent in their contributions sooner than the French, were of course able to make a more satisfactory appearance. The two organs, from France and Germany, each, in turn, poured forth their music as the procession pa.s.sed; and two or three of the Queen's bands played a march as the pageat moved round the eastern end of the building.

At last the procession returned along the north side of the nave, the cheering and waving of hats and handkerchiefs, which had continued all the time getting now more joyful than ever; and the Queen returned once more to her throne. One of the n.o.blemen, named the Marquis of Breadalbane, then called out in a loud tone of voice, that Her Majesty declared the Exhibition open; a flourish of trumpets, and a roar of cannon, told the people outside that all was now concluded, and the Queen, with the royal family and other attendants, left the Crystal Palace, the choir again singing the National Anthem.

In order that the workmen and their families, who come to see the Exhibition, should live comfortably when they return home again, Prince Albert has had a model building erected, with four dwellings, or sets of rooms, each containing all the conveniences essential to a distinct family-house, with four distinct entrances for the four different families, such as he wishes every honest working couple in this country, and indeed every honest couple in all parts of the world, should possess. And, in order to shew to working men, and to builders, and to persons of property who desire to do good, how they can usefully a.s.sist their fellow creatures to comfortable habitations, for the same rent that they now pay for closely-built, unhealthy ones, he has erected these four model houses under one roof, each of them dry, warm, convenient, fire-proof, and healthy, and yet cheap. They are built of very hard hollow bricks, made by machinery, and are situate at the corner of the barrack yard, near to the Crystal Palace, and will be shown freely to all persons visiting the World's Fair.

Now, boys and girls, good-bye; I know you are sorry to see me going away, and you may be certain I am sorry to be obliged to leave you.

But I hope we shall soon meet again, for I am thinking of coming to see you very shortly, to tell you more stories and have another talk with you. So, if you say you have been amused, and have learned something, by reading these stories, I will pay you another visit soon, and tell you something more about other things. But in the mean time, let us hope that the suggestions of Prince Albert, the husband of our gracious Queen, will do good; and that every body, and every nation, may become better, and learn more, and love each other more, in consequence of meeting together, in friendship and harmony, at

"THE WORLD'S FAIR."