THE AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION AT HAMBURG. 



BY DAMEL NEEDHAM, OF VERMONT. 



The international exhibition at Hamburg marks an epoch in the history of 

 civilization. Although an experiment, it was successful in every particular. 

 Other international exhibitions had been holden at London, at New York, at 

 Paris, but Hamburg was the first to inaugurate such an exhibition of a 

 purely agricultural character. It was a noble compliment to the art of arts 

 which underlies all individual and national success, and forms the st;pport and 

 strength of all national greatness. Many there were among the most hopeful 

 advocates of the exhibition who questioned its merits, but the merchants of 

 Hamburg, who never hesitated after the first propogition was made, applied 

 themselves with indefatigable energy to secure for their beautiful city the honor 

 of having achieved a signal success in the holding of the first international 

 exhibition, based solely upon the results of agriculture. The chief among 

 them, who for many months had infused life and vigor into the busy acts of 

 preparation ; who had been the great centre around which the merchant princes 

 of Hamburg had gladly revolved ; who had been the light under the iutiuence 

 of which each step had been taken, but a few brief days before the complete 

 fulfilment of all his hopes and labors in this behalf, was followed to the silent 

 tomb by a concourse of mourners whose heartfelt sorrow was written in no 

 doubtful characters upon their countenances. Baron JMerck had been the first 

 to propose, and the chief to execute the great plan ; and when weeks had 

 lessened to days before the grand opening of the exhibition, and hope was fast 

 ripening to fruition, and the gathering people at Hamburg had already swollen 

 to multitudes from Gi'eat Britain and all continental Europe to witness the 

 success of the plan made and brought almost to a full maturity by this master 

 mind, those who would have cheered his passage through the streets of the 

 great city, and showered boquets upon him as he passed beneath the windows 

 of its palatial dwellings, followed as silent mourners to his quiet grave. 



The sudden demise of Baron Merck made many sad days for Hamburg and 

 its multitude of strangers. Pity it was that one who had done so much, who 

 had planned so skilfully, who had labored so indefatigably and disinterestedly 

 in behalf of the great exhibition, should not have lived to see how perfectly 

 every conception was developed. 



No expense was spared to notify the civilized world of the contemplated 

 fair. Circulars and posters, printed in every spoken language of Europe, were 

 sent broadcast, by mail and express, wherever facilities permitted. Thousands 

 of circulars were printed in English, and distributed from Ncav York to the 

 farmers, breeders, and mpchanics of the United States. Nor were the in- 

 ducements held forth of an ordinary character. Large premiums were ofiPered, 

 as well as the rare opportunity of exhibiting, at one of the grandest entrepots 

 of Christendom, specimens of valuable breeds and the results of mechanical 

 skill and industry. 



To America particularly was the invitation of no every-day character. To 

 mechanical America, with her thousands of inventions for lessening agricultural 



