CYRUS HALL McCORMICK 



diamond had been one of the most precious 

 treasures of Asia. It had been worn by the 

 hero Kama. And it had been so often the 

 most coveted prize in war that there was 

 a Hindoo saying " Whoever possesses the 

 Koh-i-noor has conquered his enemies." 



Most of the courts of Europe had sent some 

 dazzling treasure. There were tapestries from 

 the Viceroy of Egypt, and rugs from the Sultan 

 of Turkey, and silks from the King of Spain. 

 There were marbles from Paris, and paintings 

 from Dresden, and embroideries from Vienna. 

 And in the midst of this resplendent Ex- 

 position, surrounded and outshone by the 

 exhibits of Russia, Austria, and France, lay 

 a shabby collection of odds and ends from 

 the United States. 



For three weeks the American department 

 was the joke of the Exposition. It was nick- 

 named the " Prairie Ground." It had no jewels, 

 nor silks, nor golden candelabra. There were 

 only such preposterous things as Dick's Press, 

 Borden's Meat Biscuit, St. John's Soap, and 

 McCormick's Reaper. This last contraption 



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