75 
Pror. C. A. Joy gave an account, by request of the mem- 
bers, of the leading features in the chemical department of the 
Vienna Exhibition. He referred to the contrast presented 
between the German and French portions of the chemical 
division. The richness of the latter was mainly, and almost 
wholly, in articles of taste and elegance, as perfumery, etc., 
of which there was an endless variety ; while the German de- 
partment was much more remarkable for strictly scientific 
products, and for such as have high economic importance. 
Particularly interesting was the great and varied display of 
the alkaloids, which were very finely prepared and arranged. 
Grape sugar was exhibited in immense quantities, and formed 
a conspicuous feature. The anthracine colors were also well 
represented. Perhaps the most important feature, economi- 
cally, was the new process for the manufacture of soda-ash 
by ammonia, which attracted a great deal of attention. The 
iron industry also was very largely displayed, by varied pro- 
ducts and models of furnaces. . 
The collections of minerals were extremely rich and inter- 
esting, particularly the sets of coal from the United States. 
In the department of photography, also, the American divi- 
sion was especially rich, ‘the specimens furnished from this 
country being the finest in the Exhibition. A ceaseless throng 
surrounded the large cases that contained sets of photographic 
views from the Yosemite valley and from the Yellowstone, 
and the portraits by Wm. Kurtz. 
The greatest importance, however, probably attaches to the 
Educational Department, in which almost every object relat- 
ing to instruction might be found. 
As a whole, the Vienna Exhibition must be considered a 
great success, despite all that has been said and written to the 
contrary. In its presentation of the industries of the civilized 
world, in its stimulus to labor, thought, and invention, and in 
its liberalizing and elevating influences;—many of them 
peculiar and not readily observed,—it marks an auspicious 
era in the development of regenerated Austria, where a won- 
derful contrast is presented to the condition of ten years 
ago. 
