DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1312#0120
OF THE WORLD'S INDUSTRY 69
CHAPTEK XIII.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
THE GREAT EXHIBITION AND ITS RESULTS—GREAT FEATURE OF THE PEACE CONGRESS OF 1851----
SUCCESS OF THE EXHIBITION—VARIOUS OPINIONS—AGRICULTURISTS™MEN OF BUSINESS—
ENTHUSIASTS—ANTICIPATIONS----SOCIAL ADVANTAGES, ETC.----MANAGEMENT OF THE GREAT
EXHIBITION—EXERTIONS OP THE PRESS—THE FIRST OF MAY----EXCLUSION OF EXHIBITORS—
CATALOGUE AND GUIDES—PRICES PROHIBITED—MONEY-GETTINO—THE TONNERROPHONE—THE
PRESS TO THE RESCUE, ETC., ETC.
As some mighty river, moving onwards in its majestic course through a wide and varied
region, regardless of the petty obstacles which may beset its way, gathers renewed velocity
and strength in its progress, till it finally arrives at the ocean of its rest, so through the
minds of men the progress of the vast enterprise of a gathering of all nations to one uni-
versal mart of industry, acquired reality and power as it proceeded towards maturity;
and, casting aside, " like dew-drops from the lion's mane," the petty opposition of inferior
minds, travelled onwards towards the appointed goal of its brief but glorious existence. In
the meanwhile, the press, like rumour with its hundred tongues, bore ample testimony to
the complete success of the undertaking, and augured the most splendid results as to its
future influence upon art and science throughout the world at large. We select from the
innumerable evidences before us, the following passages from a popular journal, in illus-
tration of our remarks. They appeared on the day of closing.
THE EXHIBITION AND ITS RESULTS.
" The Great Exhibition of the Industry of all Nations closes to-day. In the course of
a few weeks, the most extensive assemblage of valuable products in all branches of manu-
facture ever brought together under one roof, will be scattered and dispersed, and the
Great Industrial Congress of 1851 will be numbered with the memorable events of the
past. But its influence will not cease here: it is but the first act of an important social
movement, upon which the curtain is about to fall; and who shall say that what is to
follow may not go far to realise the profound and philanthropic aspirations of the Prince
Consort, the projector and ruling genius of the whole scheme, in the memorable words
uttered by him at a banquet given by the lord mayor in 1849?"
As the words here alluded to have already been presented to our readers in the early
part of our work, we shall not again offer them to their perusal, but merely state that
they exhibited a correct view of the then existing state of knowledge among mankind, and
a sagacious prognosis of its future increased development: in commenting upon which,
our journalist expresses himself as follows:—" Looking back upon the experience of the
two years since these views were propounded; looking back more particularly upon the
six- months which have elapsed since the Great Exhibition was completed and thrown
open, we are inclined to think there is little, if any exaggeration in the hopeful picture
of the world's future which is thus shadowed forth, as] capable of accomplishment by
the right direction of the natural gifts and means at the disposal of the great human
family. If no more has been accomplished as yet, the very crowding in of goods from all
quarters of the globe, and the thronging in of millions of spectators interested, more or less,
in the production or uses of those commodities, afford a striking proof of the unanimity
which prevails amongst men upon any comprehensive scheme of true usefulness, and their
power to carry it into accomplishment. This great feature also distinguishes the Peace
CHAPTEK XIII.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
THE GREAT EXHIBITION AND ITS RESULTS—GREAT FEATURE OF THE PEACE CONGRESS OF 1851----
SUCCESS OF THE EXHIBITION—VARIOUS OPINIONS—AGRICULTURISTS™MEN OF BUSINESS—
ENTHUSIASTS—ANTICIPATIONS----SOCIAL ADVANTAGES, ETC.----MANAGEMENT OF THE GREAT
EXHIBITION—EXERTIONS OP THE PRESS—THE FIRST OF MAY----EXCLUSION OF EXHIBITORS—
CATALOGUE AND GUIDES—PRICES PROHIBITED—MONEY-GETTINO—THE TONNERROPHONE—THE
PRESS TO THE RESCUE, ETC., ETC.
As some mighty river, moving onwards in its majestic course through a wide and varied
region, regardless of the petty obstacles which may beset its way, gathers renewed velocity
and strength in its progress, till it finally arrives at the ocean of its rest, so through the
minds of men the progress of the vast enterprise of a gathering of all nations to one uni-
versal mart of industry, acquired reality and power as it proceeded towards maturity;
and, casting aside, " like dew-drops from the lion's mane," the petty opposition of inferior
minds, travelled onwards towards the appointed goal of its brief but glorious existence. In
the meanwhile, the press, like rumour with its hundred tongues, bore ample testimony to
the complete success of the undertaking, and augured the most splendid results as to its
future influence upon art and science throughout the world at large. We select from the
innumerable evidences before us, the following passages from a popular journal, in illus-
tration of our remarks. They appeared on the day of closing.
THE EXHIBITION AND ITS RESULTS.
" The Great Exhibition of the Industry of all Nations closes to-day. In the course of
a few weeks, the most extensive assemblage of valuable products in all branches of manu-
facture ever brought together under one roof, will be scattered and dispersed, and the
Great Industrial Congress of 1851 will be numbered with the memorable events of the
past. But its influence will not cease here: it is but the first act of an important social
movement, upon which the curtain is about to fall; and who shall say that what is to
follow may not go far to realise the profound and philanthropic aspirations of the Prince
Consort, the projector and ruling genius of the whole scheme, in the memorable words
uttered by him at a banquet given by the lord mayor in 1849?"
As the words here alluded to have already been presented to our readers in the early
part of our work, we shall not again offer them to their perusal, but merely state that
they exhibited a correct view of the then existing state of knowledge among mankind, and
a sagacious prognosis of its future increased development: in commenting upon which,
our journalist expresses himself as follows:—" Looking back upon the experience of the
two years since these views were propounded; looking back more particularly upon the
six- months which have elapsed since the Great Exhibition was completed and thrown
open, we are inclined to think there is little, if any exaggeration in the hopeful picture
of the world's future which is thus shadowed forth, as] capable of accomplishment by
the right direction of the natural gifts and means at the disposal of the great human
family. If no more has been accomplished as yet, the very crowding in of goods from all
quarters of the globe, and the thronging in of millions of spectators interested, more or less,
in the production or uses of those commodities, afford a striking proof of the unanimity
which prevails amongst men upon any comprehensive scheme of true usefulness, and their
power to carry it into accomplishment. This great feature also distinguishes the Peace