Rimmel, Eugene: Recollections of the Paris exhibition of 1867 (London, 1868)

THE PARIS EXHIBITION.

253

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE UNITED STATES.

We can say of the United States the same that we have said
of Russia ; they are far from occupying at the Exhibition a
space proportionate to the extent of their territory ; however,
the articles which they contribute are very interesting, and
quite characteristic of that people emanating from the vast
crucible where all the European elements have been blended,
and whose adopted motto is "go ahead."

At the first glance we see that the Americans' main object
is to supply the want of hands by the powerful aid of machin-
ery. The most simple and trivial things are done by its aid.
Thus we observe in the Annex a machine for peeling apples,
another for beating carpets, an automatic apparatus for cleaning
glasses, several sorts of mechanical flour sieves and kneading-
troughs, and a number of inventions for washing and ironing
linen. One of the most ingenious among the latter is that
from Browning, of New-York ; the linen is placed on a
ribbed platform, over which hot soap-suds are poured, and
by turning a handle, the washing is accomplished in a very
short time.

American railway-plant has been long celebrated for
its high finish and comfortable arrangement; the specimens