272 



EXHIBITION, CENTENNIAL. 



vide a luncheon for the poorer children. The 

 educational apparatus comprises the abacus, 

 the higher apparatus of the Froebel system, 

 and pictures and specimens of every descrip- 

 tion which can convey instruction through 

 the sight, stuffed animals, mechanical models, 

 specimens of raw materials and manufactured 

 products, exhibiting the methods of the silk, 

 cotton, woolen, metal industries, etc. Hol- 

 land exhibited the work of the scholars of her 

 technical and industrial schools. The Swedish 

 model school-house was exhibited with much 

 pride, and was a pattern public school. All 

 their school- houses are constructed and fur- 

 nished after the same model. It was of pine- 

 wood, solidly made and finely finished; the 

 seats have comfortable backs ; the lighting 

 and ventilation are excellent. In the upper 

 story is the lodging of the teacher. The 

 school-room contains maps and pictures, rep- 

 resenting the national industries and pro- 

 ductions, globes, books of reference, zoological 

 specimens, herbaria, and a musical instrument. 

 In Sweden education is obligatory. In the 

 afternoon the scholars are taught some trade 

 or domestic occupation. Every parish con- 

 tains its regular school, except the less popu- 

 lous parishes, which are supplied with circuit 

 teachers. The books and implements of study 

 are provided by the Government at a minimum 

 price. When a scholar shows a special fitness 

 for any particular occupation, he is enabled to 

 pursue his further studies at the expense of 

 the state. The Swiss with their genius for 

 juvenile instruction have devised a vast variety 

 of appliances and processes of teaching, which 

 were amply exhibited at the Exposition. Nor- 

 way, Jamaica, and Cape Colony, exhibited their 

 systems of primary instruction. The colony 

 of Ontario presented its compulsory system, in 

 which the Catholic and Protestant schools are 

 both sustained at public expense, and answer- 

 able to the Bureau of Education. The Ha- 

 waiian schools, the Art-School of Cairo, and 

 technical and primary schools in other parts 

 of the world, sent specimens of their pupils' 

 work. The Japanese Commission exhibited 

 with great complacency the status and method 

 of education introduced into Japan of late 

 years after European models. They have uni- 

 versities, intermediate and common schools; 

 in Tokio is a special advanced school for wom- 

 en, and also schools for the exclusive teaching 

 of foreign languages, in one of which French, 

 English, German, Russian, and Chinese, are 

 taught, and in another the English language 

 alone. In their exhibited model school were a 

 gymnasium, a school library, the apparatus of 

 Froebel adapted to their special requisitions, 

 maps, anatomical, zoological, and botanical spe- 

 cimens, etc. Their text-books are copied after 

 those of the best European schools; they fol- 

 low English methods in science and German 

 methods in languages. They learn to use the 

 abacus universally in calculations, and acquire 

 great skill in its employ. Education is oblig- 



atory in certain districts of Japan. Of the 

 States, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts made 

 the fullest educational exhibits, while most of 

 the other States exhibited the workings of 

 their systems of public instruction. The Kin- 

 dergarten system was illustrated by two model 

 school-houses, in which instruction was im- 

 parted to classes of little children by two ex- 

 perienced lady teachers. 



WOMEN'S PAVILION. 



The Women's Pavilion, 208 feet square, cov- 

 ering about an acre of ground, was designed 

 to receive the products of female industry and 

 ingenuity of every class. The American ex- 

 hibitors occupied three-fourths of the floor- 

 space. The other nations represented were 

 Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, and the col- 

 onies, France, Netherlands, Denmark, Swe- 

 den, Norway, Italy, Germany, Spain and her 

 colonies, Brazil, Mexico, Tunis, Japan, and 

 Egypt. This was the first collective display 

 of women's work ever attempted, and much 

 of its incompleteness was due to its novelty: 

 nor was it a complete collection of all feminine 

 products exhibited, as many of the best pro- 

 ductions of female art and invention were in- 

 cluded in the other collections. In the centre 

 of the building, grouped about a flower-bor- 

 dered fountain, was an abundant display of 

 ornamental needle-work. The Royal School 

 of Needle-work, patronized by the Queen of 

 England, set up here, as well as in the Main 

 Hall, a representation of their skill, which 

 contrasted strongly in the mediaeval manner 

 of the designs with the productions of Ameri- 

 can ladies in the same field. Two embroidered 

 flags worked by the ladies of New York hung 

 down from the rafters. Designs for woven 

 fabrics, made by ladies trained in the Massa- 

 chusetts Scbool of Technology, showed study 

 and invention. Wood-work carved or inlaid 

 by ladies in the West bore graceful but simple 

 patterns. The Women's Medical College of 

 Philadelphia presented a materia medica, very 

 complete and accurate. A combination desk, 

 invented by Mrs. Stiles, has found great favor, 

 and is a very ingenious and practical contriv- 

 ance for the economy of room, presenting, 

 when closed, the appearance of a cabinet, 6 



