September r, 1888.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
205 
down. One of Ceylon's best supporters in this line is 
Mr. Robt. Walker, the head of a large and old- 
eBtablished firm. Since he met Mr. A. M. Ferguson at 
the last Exhibition ho has always used Ceylon tea him- 
self, and has pushed it continually in his business. 
There is at least ono crumb from the old table. 
The space has been allotted at last. Ceylon 
has also got not one, but two nice little additions 
to ita space, securing thereby a capital " go- 
down." We are indebted for this to the exceedingly 
obliging and genial Superintendent of Minor Courts, 
Mr. Forbes. He would have granted this earlier if 
he possibly could, and, had he dono so, we would 
have beon able to increase the width of the verandah, 
hut until tho owners of the spaces expressed dissatis- 
faction he could not move. 
Permission was given to the Education Court people 
to leave a large arched window open between our kiosk 
and their rooms, as I think the children's competitions 
would be an attractive feature to ladies who can watch 
and listen as they have tea. A sketch of the kiosk I 
hear goes to the P. A. Mr. H. Mackenzie telegraphed 
at once to Queensland for bamboos, and they are now 
come. (!ns, water, and all such details are arranged, and 
everything will be ready for opening by the time things 
arrive from Ceylon. On the whole I really think that, all 
things considered, Mr. Mackenzie has at last got matters 
on a very satisfactory footing and that the advertisement 
will he both popular and pretty. The main building 
will of course be got ready somehow for the 1st, which 
they persist in keeping to as opening date, but ten 
days ago chaos and carpenters reigned supreme ; 
many of the spaces in the Minor Courts bearing still 
only their chalked numbers, so it does not matter in 
the least that wo are somewhat late. In fact I think 
it car ries »d vantages. 
The (ierman Court was nearly finished and w*s very 
handsome indeed. The promise of the entire Show is 
that it will be worthy of " Marvellous Melbourne." 
Hotels had alreadv begun to fill, rind tin- streetsto look 
more gay. The theatre turning crowds away nightly, 
among the " rushed" being preeminently that beautiful 
new theatre, the Princess's, near the Exhibition, whore 
the London Caiety Company is delight ing the colonial 
" c'uippies," and everyone who bp* s their fioi-ihed, re- 
fined and graceful acting and dancing. 
■ ♦ 
CEYLON AT THE PA1US EXHIBITION. 
Planters' Association of Oeylou, Randy, 31st Aug. 1888. 
T'j lli- Editor, "Cej/loit Obnrver." 
BlKi — 1 beg to enclose letter from Mr. J. L. Shand on 
the subject of the representation of Ceylon tea at the 
Paris Universal Exhibition 1689. — Yours faithfully, 
A. PHILIP, Secretary. 
Ceylon Court, International Exhibition, 
Glasgow, 7th August 1888. 
The Secretary, Planters' Association of Ceylon, Kandy. 
Dear Sir, — I have duly received your letter of 12th 
ultimo, and 1 havi- also to thank you for copy of P. A. 
proceedings which I read with pleasure and sometimes 
wish I were on tho spot to take a part in. 
As regards l'aris Exhibition I have hail, as I told you 
before, enough of Exhibitions, but 1 presume 1 may take 
the fueling expressed in your official letter, and iu 
your Chairmau's private letter, as a general one, ami, as 
that feeling seems to be endorsed l>y those interested at 
home, I feel 1 should be false to my colors iu uot c ruing 
forward now, and I shall be heartily glad to do all I can 
to contribute to the success of Oeylou iu Turin. 
My agreement has been signed, and I will just mention 
again what it is. The British Kmpiro section bands over 
to me a space of about 1-0 M|Utiro mi ters with walls 
and roof, hut nothing more; all llo irmg, tic, Ac, bus to 
be done by me, and for this concession I am to paj 
f 1,200, mj £48 ; for every million riaitora to the Exhibi- 
tion, viaitori meaning t hoM who pay at the gate and 
not iuob ding HeaHoe-tieket-h 'Id. i ■, nor attendant-. I 
havit also a lurgu terrace iu front, and on the tide oi the 
building which will give ample apace, altogether 1 think 
wo shall bavo Helling room for 100 people, : which menus 
a very much larger establishment than wo have en r 
had before. Here we cannot conveniently seat more than 
sixty, and we are slaves to the greed of Exhibition Coun- 
cils and the jealousy of rival relre- liment contractors. 
At the present moment we are parlies to a suit 
for telling our baker he might -ell what in an agree- 
ment with the Council, wt were told we might sell, 
but we are now told we must not. We have con- 
sequently had to maW entirely new arrangements 
from which we may sutler loss, and lor which, of course, 
the Couucil is responsible, and we have the prospect 
of a lawsuit before us. 
In Paris I am assured no such thing can happen, and, 
as we have the only tea-room in the Jiritish section, we 
must show ourselves deserving of the monopoly. 
As regards a Ceylon Court at i'ans Exhibition, it 
would certaiuly be a mistake to try it unless there 
was plenty of money available to do it thoroughly. We 
should come into contact with tho French Colonies 
which are all straining , e^'ery nerve to celebrate a 
great event iu the life of their nation, and though on 
the walls and the corners of our tea-room we might 
make an effective display in a small way. uulessa large 
sum, say £3,000 ; could be raised I think it would be a 
mistake to attempt a Court. 
1 do not know what arrangements have bjen made 
for space for British Colonies. I kuow the whole 
space iu the British Empire section has been 
taken up, and I conclude as none of our Colonies 
are likely to have any official help, none of them are 
likely to form separate Courts, and the charge' for space 
will probably be heavy. 
Again, the circumstances of Paris are entirely diffe- 
rent to Glasgow or other Exhibitions. In Glasgow our 
only chance of not sinking our identity in the Indian 
Empire, and of not being crushed by an extreme rent, 
was to provide our attraction iu the shape of a Ceylon 
Court. Moreover there are social reasons (which the 
members of the Association will appreciate.; which 
make it impossibio lor me or those associated with me 
to appear at an Exhibition in this couutry as mere 
sellers of Ceylon tea, and even if these reasons did not 
exist the stand I have all along taken of representing 
growers and uot dealers is far more likely to do gocd 
to Ceylon. 
Iu Paris things are entirely different, and my ad- 
vice to the Association would he to have nothing to do 
with a separate Court, but to spare no effort iu making 
the tea-room thoroughly attractive, for after all the 
chief object we have had in view in gettiug up Oeylou 
Courts has been to secure a tea-room, and here it is 
secured without the trouble aud expense of a Court. 
Sir \Vm. Gregory writes me very strongly about the 
necessity of making the tea-room attractive, and con- 
gratulates me upon having secured the co-operation of 
Mr. Smither who has kindly ottered me his services, 
and my desire is to decorate this tea-room as no tea- 
room has ever been deoorated before, making it char- 
acteristic of Ceylon and meeting the Parisian love of 
gaiety and novelty. This will, if properly done, absorb 
every penny we are likely to get, aud I should recom- 
mend the Association to confine its efforts to the tea- 
room. Outlay begius at once. 1 am called upon lo deposit 
f 1,2U0 as a guarantee, and we shall want all the mouey 
we can lay our bands upon, but I am very confident 
that at the eiid of the Exhibition I may be able to re- 
turn to the Association whatever sum it contributes, 
or at all events part of it. 
Glasgow goes on steadily : sales are averaging 5,0iH) 
cups per week. — Faithfully yours, 
(Sigued) J. L. Shand. 
BrAETX has abolished slavery. Now let the Ar- 
gentine Republic do the same. Nominally, it has, 
but really it bas uot. There are scatlerud lb ougti 
the couutry Indian captivei who aie to all in) ntl 
aud purposes slaves. I hey are to be fo iud among 
"high lifo " rami lies In the city of Buo.os Aires, 
the capital of the Republic, and all over the c<> mti > 
They are slaves because in bjuds. They work and 
get no w-fcgo. TIiot are nut free to come and go. 
but ate buuled and held as other slavwi are held, 
Ueatei well or abased according to the disposition* 
of thiir masters. " -Buaio* Aim litrald. 
