From the Times. PARIS UNIVERSAL EXHIBITION.

galleries of the old Crystal Palace, the vulgarly designed specimens of furniture which obtruded into the nave, and the frequent apIt is very important that the Paris Exhibi-pearance of articles more appropriate to a tion should be subjected to a calmer and more museum than to a collection of the kind. In extended scrutiny than was possible amid the the Paris Exhibition there is, upon the whole, bustle and excitement of the recent Royal a very striking improvement in this respect, visit. We cannot hope to distil from such a the utility and merit of the varied contents mass of material, and present in an available form to the public, all the lessons that it teaches, but at least some of the broad outlines of the truths to be deduced from it may be traced out, some of its most striking novelties indicated, the light which it casts upon the future progress of industry set forth, and the contrasts of rival arts and manufactures which it most prominently illustrates brought clearly into view.

being well sustained, and the reputation of British manufactures especially being placed, by the refining process of selection through which they have passed, in a very favorable point of view. What is shown of an inferior and unworthy character comes mainly from France itself; but to do our neighbors simple justice, the proportion of their display which is open to adverse or disparaging criticism is not at all so large as might be expected.

These periodical gatherings of the products With the classification of objects in Hyde of human labor in the different countries of Park, and the advantages derived from havthe world do indeed possess an extraordinary ing the entire display collected under one attractiveness in the mere splendor of the roof, the Paris Exhibition cannot compete. spectacle which they furnish; but, to those It does not produce upon the mind of the who study them aright, they will be mainly visitor that overwhelming impression of one worthy of interest as so many fresh points from great design wonderfully elaborated into all which the progress of industry may be mea- its details,-the unities of the undertaking are sured, and by which the peaceful energies of not so grandly preserved, and therefore, to mankind may be most advantageously guided the superficial observer, an idea of general inand controlled. They have thus two impor- feriority may be suggested; but when the vast tant general bearings-the one retrospective, mass of objects here gathered together is closethe other prospective, and to a brief consider- ly examined, their superiority, as compared ation of the present exhibition in both these with things of the same class shown in 1851, respects we now invite attention. At a meet- becomes manifest. It is obvious that in the ing of the British jurors, held some time ago, production of them higher efforts of skill and they made a public declaration of their unani- taste have been exercised, and that a great mous opinion that the Paris Exhibition deve- forward step has been made in every branch lops a marked improvement in all its depart- of industry. Some countries appear to have ments over that of 1851. They expressed in advanced most in one direction, and some in comprehensive terms their satisfaction at the another; but the general progress is comevidences here collected of a progress in which pletely established, and amply confirms the the material interests of the world are bound declared opinion of the British jurors on the up. In the abundance of such evidences rests subject. It will be interesting therefore to the success of the Exhibition, and, with the trace a few of the leading characteristics of view of placing that success in as clear a light this progress, the more especially as the suras possible, we shall endeavor to point out vey may perhaps enable us to form some estiwherein this display chiefly excels that of mate as to the rate at which the tide of peaceHyde Park. First, then, is to be noted the ful improvement is running, and the direction great diminution in the bulk of objects un- in which its main currents are tending. Let worthy the space which they occupy in such us begin with France. Certainly, the most collections. Whatever is exhibited without remarkable feature of the French department some specific merit to recommend it is so is the show in machinery of every description. much cumbersome trash, detracting from the We do not say that this display at all touches high character of these competitive displays, the British standard of excellence, nor would and which therefore it is most desirable to it be difficult to point out many examples of shoot out of the way as rubbish. In Hyde defective workmanship and bad design; but Park there was a very large quantity of such what astonishes one is the magnitude and vamaterial, and unfortunately it was distressing- riety of the Exhibition, and the striking evily prominent in the British department, for, dence which it affords of the efforts our neighhaving had no previous experience in under- bors are making to supplement their labortakings of the kind, a careful and well select- power by mechanical aid. Whether it be for ed display of our industrial resources was not the manufacture of textile fabrics, or for workpracticable. Most people will remember the ing in iron, stone, or wood, or for application number of worthless models which filled the to special branches of industry, such as paper

making, or for the production of what we in great trades of the country embrace, still it England call "Manchester tools," in every cannot be doubted that, during the four years direction the French machinists are tread- which have elapsed since 1851, we have been ing swiftly and vigorously upon our heels, turning to the best account those important copying-not always unsuccessfully-our best lessons which our own Exhibition taught us. methods, and inventing for themselves, as they But, if we have profited much, our colonies advance. Of course, in all the splendid va- have done so still more, and, while the parent rieties of industry which the trades of Paris, State engages in these peaceful rivalries with of Lyons, of St. Etienne, and of Mulhausen the composure which belongs to mature years embrace, a prodigious display has been made; and experience, it is interesting to watch the but that was to be expected; nor need the eagerness with which her young and halfspectator be surprised to find the great na-fledged dependencies descend into the same tional establishments occupying a command- arena. So remarkably do Canada and the ing space, and the principle of governmental Australian provinces especially vindicate their interference and encouragement frequently industrial character and productive resources, and conspicuously illustrated. There is one that it seems very questionable whether Engexample of this which possesses a peculiar in- land has not better grounds for pluming herterest, and which deserves to be included self upon their triumphs than upon her own. among the most remarkable features of the She cannot make much show, in a foreign present Exhibition. The Minister of War Exhibition, of her coal, her iron, her factories, exhibits a splendid collection of Algerine pro- her fleets of ships and steamers, but she can ducts, including a show of agricultural and fairly challenge all the other nations of the mineral wealth which makes one hope that earth to produce so healthy and vigorous an the colony may soon be handed over to a de- offspring as she exhibits in Paris. Except in partment better calculated to develop its re- that way, and from the characteristic collecsources than one governing by the sword. tion of the East India Company, it is not pos Now, let us endeavor to point out the lead-sible to collect a proper appreciation of the ing characteristics of progress as illustrated in share which England takes in this great disthe British department of the Exhibition. play. She sets her useful manufactures against We do not make a very great display in the more elaborate productions of French inmachinery, nor, with one or two exceptions, dustry, the fruits of untrammelled private ensuch as Siemens' engine, is there much of terprise against the costly triumphs of Sévres what is exhibited that is new, although what and Gobelin-the wealth of self-governed cois shown is excellent of its kind. There are lonies against the most brilliant results of several important branches of production in centralization, and, as an exceptional feature machinery which are hardly at all represent- in her political system, India against Algeria. ed, and among these may be mentioned ma- One other point is worthy of notice in the rine steam engines as a conspicuous omission. British Exhibition, not only as contrasted with No doubt, this is in a great measure due to France, but with all the other European coun the pre-occupation of our principal makers by tries which have contributed to this collection. Government orders, but it deserves to be It is that our manufacturers have for the noted as a singular characteristic of the Bri- most part taken their stand upon the merits of tish Department, that it is comparatively weak what they turn out in the ordinary course of and deficient where one might have expected trade, whereas the competition which they enit to be strongest. Not that there has been counter is one largely founded upon special any falling off or even want of progress among and extraordinary efforts. In machinery our mechanics since 1851, for, on the con- this is particularly obvious, as may be observed trary, they have made manifest advances, if from the hand labor expended by the continot in novelties, at least in perfection of work-nental makers upon parts which our people manship and in the simplification of details. finish from the tool or do not touch after castOn the other hand, the influence of the Ex-ing.

hibition in Hyde Park is powerfully developed The Austrian, Prussian, and other German in the improved character of all our manufac- States make interesting displays in which the tures which involve the application of orna- influence of their experiences and observation ment. In furniture, in pottery, in the pat-in 1851 is not doubtfully discernible. Some terns of our textile fabrics throughout all their remarkable examples may be given of this. ramifications, and even in our metal work, For instance, if we are not misinformed, a this is particularly remarkable. It is at once Prussian manufacturer carries off from all surprising and gratifying to see how much competitors the prize for the best finished good taste, combined with admirable work- locomotive. Again, Krupp's display of castmanship, the British collection contains; and, steel, which was so much admired in Hyde although there are some important blanks left Park, has been carried to a far greater pitch unfilled in the circle of industry which the of excellence here, and, though not guided by

that strict reference to commercial utility play calculated to "rile" all the tailors and which we in England consider indispensable, sempstresses in Europe. With these and a is, nevertheless, a thing by itself, which no few other contributions his interest in the Paris other country can approach. Take, again, Exhibition terminates. Austria. Mr. Cobden's constituents of the It will be gathered from what we have said, West Riding will learn with astonishment that that this Exhibition, while it illustrates the the Power which their representative has so progress which has been made in industry often talked of with contempt produces at the during a period of four years, has not so clearly Paris Exhibition woollen cloth better in quality defined a world-wide character as ours; that and cheaper in price than theirs; that they it does not so completely gather into one focus must bestir themselves actively in improving the products of the industry of all nations; their machinery and eschewing shoddy, if they and that within it we cannot find bodied forth would escape the disgrace of being beaten out in the same vivid manner those distinctive of the markets of the world by such rivals. peculiarities which the different races and To a Viennese invention, also, we owe the families of man, according to the geographical discovery of a method for transmitting two position they occupy, impress upon their manmessages along a telegraphic wire in opposite ufactures. Such an Exhibition was alone directions at the same moment. Other illus-practicable in the home of Free Trade, in the trations might be given of the progress which one country the commercial sympathies of the German States have made since 1851, but which anknowledged no fiscal bonds, and were these will suffice for the moment. From the extended with equal impartiality to all. The Scandinavian States come small but valuable political state of the world, too, favored its recontributions; among them two machines alization, and, beyond these influences, investwhich are said to work satisfactorily, and the ing them with a new and indefinable charm, importance of which, if this be the case, it is lay the enthusiasm of a great community for hardly possible to over-estimate. One is the those peaceful arts by which, under the blessrealization of the long talked of calculating ing of Providence, it has risen to the position machine, by a Swede; the other, a composing which it now occupies among the nations. and distributing machine, shown, if we mistake France is differently situated. She retains not, in Hyde Park, by a Dane, and now per- her protective system, thus closing up many fected. Of the remaining countries repre- avenues by which other countries would be sented in the Paris Exhibition it is unnecessary disposed to cultivate with her relations founded for our immediate object to say more than that on mutual benefits. Her ideas of material dethey each contribute somewhat to the pro- velopment appeal to State interference and gressive improvement which is so agreeably support, rather than to the vivifying principle manifested here. As an international display, of private enterprise. She is proud of her esthe collection is not so complete in all respects tablishments, maintained at the public cost, as that of 1851, and its shortcomings herein are irrespective of their remunerative character, rendered the more obvious by a plan of distri- to promote certain favored branches of manubution which has split up the contributions of factures. She pits their superb productions each State into several parts, placed at a dis- proudly in an unequal rivalry with what, in tance from each other. But, though the at- the ordinary course of business unpretending tractiveness of the Exhibition is thus seriously individuals can accomplish. The herald of injured, its intrinsic value and instructiveness intellectual progress, the propagandist of fashare not sensibly diminished, except, perhaps, ion, the umpire of taste throughout the world, in one case. That exception is the United in spite of her adverse commercial system, in States. Why our cousins have not come out spite of a great war which she has on hand, in more strongly at Paris is one of those mysteries spite of the disadvantageous terms on which which it is much more easy to ask questions she invites competition, the nations listen to about than to explain. One would have fan- and take up her challenge. The march of imcied that they would have seized with avidity provement is indicated by no wavering or upon the opportunity of implanting in the doubtful traces at her gathering, and the spepolite bosom of the French capital a taste for cialties of her industrial life assume a meteoric Yankee "notions;" but nothing of the sort. splendor; but we feel that the sublime sentiThe Republican Eagle courts no intimacy ment of universality is not complete, that there with the Imperial bird, and Jonathan has are guests absent whose places would have mainly confined himself on this occasion to been occupied had they been made properly "licking" the mother country in reapers and welcome, that the characteristics of national thrashing machines. He also makes some dis- industries are imperfectly brought out, and play of his favorite India rubber goods, and that, under the pressure of a vicious organiza his scarcely less prized revolver. He exhibits tion within the State, the strict objects of an a machine for cutting out patterns in cloth by Industrial Exhibition are more or less departed steam, and in sewing machines he makes a dis- from.

From Household Words.
FIRST UNDER FIRE.

my first engagement; and his advice to me invariably was, that, as soon as firing had commenced, I should fire and load as expeSOLDIERS who have been engaged in "the ditiously as possible, taking good aim; in dreadful revelry" of war, are often asked how which case, he assured me, that I should feel they felt while performing their duty in the all right after the first few rounds. Poor old heat of battle. I believe that allowance fellow! I passed him as he sat down, after made for all varieties of temperament-there the first few rounds at my first battle, Cerro is a far greater similarity in the sensations Gordo, wounded; but he recovered from his felt on these occasions than is commonly sup- wound, however, and was sent home to receive posed; and that, although habit blunts, to a a pension. certain extent, the perception of danger, it never takes off the keenness of its edge. The impressions of this kind made upon my mind as a fighting soldier in Mexico, are still quite fresh.

We had lain inactive four or five days at Plan del Rio, a few miles from the enemy's strong position at Cerro Gordo, when General Scott having arrived, and examined as closely as possible the enemy's strength and position, The soldier's love of novelty and excite- at once decided on his plan of action. In ment is more than a counterpoise to all de- pursuance of his design, General Twiggs, pressing influences; and at no period of his with his division, comprising the regiment to career does his spirit show itself more buoyant which I belonged, was ordered to advance by than when he has been ordered out on a a newly-discovered route through the bottom campaign. It is only after he has endured of a ravine, and to gain a commanding posisome of the stern realities of the situation tion on the top of a high, unfortified hill. It that he begins to cast a nervous glance or was while moving down the ravine, which two upon the road before him. One of the had been partially cleared by our pioneers, most common and natural of the sources of and while waiting until a party of the rifles apprehension that disturb the young soldier, should have beat up a suspicious-looking bit and which his first engagement always of chaparral in front, that we began to feel finally disposes of, is a fear that his faculties we were on the point of meeting with the may be so paralyzed by the spectacle of car- enemy; but we had no expectation of anynage during an engagement, that, being thing more than a skirmish. A shot or rendered faint and incapable of performing two from the muskets of the enemy was folhis duty, the stain of cowardice may taint his lowed by the craking of our rifles; and at character. With his first battle this appre- double-quick time we descended to the bottom hension vanishes, and he discovers that when of a steep hill, partly covered with brushhe is once fairly in action, the excitement is wood, on the top of which stood a body intense, and his whole energy is concentrated of the Mexican infantry, busily engaged on the work in hand. Comrades fall wounded in firing down upon us as we came in around him and are scarcely noticed; there sight. Luckily for us, their firing did but is no time for pity, fear, or anything but little damage; and, ordered to charge, we, action. with a loud hurrah, began running up the

I am a Scotchman by birth, but en-hill. When near the summit, we began to listed into the American service. It was fire, and the Mexicans went off, as quickly as not my fortune to come to close quarters our shot, closely pursued by us up the with the enemy until I had been nearly hill. An effort was made by some of our three months in Mexico; I consequently captains to form their men into companies as experienced a portion of that uneasy state they reached the top; but they could colof feeling which I have just mentioned lect only a few, and soon gave up the before first meeting the enemy face to attempt. We pursued the flying Mexicans face. I had become familiar with the down the opposite side of the bill, which was sound, and with the fury too, of shot only divided from Cerro Gordo by a ravine, and shell, in trenches at Vera Cruz, and was on easy terms with them. Constant rumors of attacks, meditated on our rear, had helped also to keep the idea of close conflict familiar. In camp at Vera Cruz, I had become acquainted with an old soldier, Billy Wright, a fellow-countryman, who had served in his youth under Wellington, and been in several engagements without receiving any serious wounds. He had also fought with the Indians in the Florida war. I frequently talked with this comrade on the subject of

across which the enemy's battery fired grape among us; while some thousands of infantry, clustered like bees on the top and sides of Cerro Gordo, kept up against us an incessant fire of musketry. Our men now began to fall fast; and it was partly owing to the proverbial bad firing of the Mexicans that our small party of between six and seven hundred-for the united regiments of rifles and artillery did not number more was not annihilated. As it was, our killed and wounded amounted to about two hundred. The affair

lasted between two and three hours; and this was the first time of my meeting the foe face to face.

it, so that you felt yourself quite one with the element in which you stood. The eyes lose nothing of their strength and clearness; but I found the meeting, after all, not such a it is as if the world had a kind of brown terrible affair as I had fancied. To say that I red tint, which makes the situation as well as felt no fear on going into action, would be a the surrounding objects more impressive. I senseless boast. I did feel considerable ap- was unable to perceive any agitation of the prehension on the first burst, and until heated blood; but everything seemed rather to be to a degree of preternatural excitement. After swallowed up in the glow of which I speak. the first few minutes, the fall of a wounded From this, then, it is clear in what sense this comrade would at the best only cause it to condition can be called a fever. It is remarkbe said, "Poor fellow! There's Smith (or able, however, that the horrible uneasy feeling Thompson) down." The first whom I saw from it, is produced in us solely through the wounded in this action, was a refleman. Just as we reached the top of the hill, he dropped his rifle with a cry of anguish, staggering to the rear. A musket-ball had entered his mouth. The horror imprinted on his features made a deep impression on me at the moment, and the recollection of it haunted me long afterwards.

After our return to the bottom of the hill from which we had started in pursuit of the enemy, the excitement of action having gradually passed away, we all felt very tired, and were soon on the ground preparing our rest. The groans of the wounded men, who were collected on a plot of grass close by, and over whom our surgeons were busy during the whole night, distressed us, and prevented sleep for a few hours. At length fatigue prevailed.

ears."

Most persons who have been in a similar situation will doubtless recognize the general truth of this description. Yet it is not a complete account of the soldier in active participation of battle. There is, then, an end of horrible, uneasy feeling; he is not shocked, but pleased-exhilarated. Many a comrade tells me, for his own part, what I always feel myself; that, in the day of battle, war acts on the blood like wine. Goethe's brown-red tint, apparently enveloping surrounding objects, Í have often heard soldiers describe as a thing they had remarked when in action; and I can confirm it from my own experience.

The most trying situation for a soldier in front of an enemy, occurs when he is placed with his corps in reserve after the action has commenced. He listens to the firing, and perNext morning, the regiment to which I haps sees, now and shen, a batch of wounded belonged, together with the rifles and sixth carried to the rear, while he is every moment infantry, had the duty assigned to us of anxiously expecting his own orders to move charging the hill of Cerro Gordo. While forward. Then, he is fidgety and nervous. performing my share of that duty, I again On these occasions I have observed in many felt the same intense excitement, swallow- of those around me, as well as in my own pering up all perception of personal danger, and son, a restless uneasiness of manner, a desire making me feel as if the ground were air. to be doing something, manifesting itself in a As on the former occasion, this state gradually wore off, and was succeeded by a feeling of great lassitude. I also observed, both in myself and others, certain indications of a fulness of the heart, and an inclination not easily subdued, to shed tears, which lasted for some time after the action.

Goethe-in his Campaign in France, after a preliminary account of having ridden out to a battery on which the French were then playing, for the express purpose of realizing in person the effect said to be produced by coming within range of the guns during a cannonade has described his sensations (known as the cannon fever) thus:

"In the midst of these circumstances, I was Boon able to remark that something unusual was taking place within me; I paid close attention to it, and still the sensation can only be described by similitude. It appeared as if you were in some extremely hot place, and at the same time quite penetrated by the heat of

variety of ways. The order to advance brings sudden relief, and the troop gladly rushes on the danger that it was so irksome to stand by and see.

THE MANOR of KennerLEIGH, NEAR CREDITON IN DEVONSHIRE, LOST BY A GAME OF CARDS.-In the year 1848 I was staying with a friend at Kennerleigh, who, knowing I was fond of old places and old things, took me to Dowrish House, belonging to Captain Clayfield, built in the time of King John, the centre only remaining. It is approached through a gate-house. Mrs. Clayfield showed us some portraits of the Dowrish family, and a marble table inlaid with cards and counters, showing the two hands of Piquet held by Mr. Dowrish and an ancestor of playing together, when Mr. Dowrish, thinking the present Sir Stafford Northcote who were he had won the game, betted the Manor of Kennerleigh, and lost it. The Northcotes hold it at the present time. The marble table was made to commemorate this event.-Notes and Queries.