Such a magnificent display of the products of human ingenuity and skill had never before been witnessed in the western world. Not only did America present its choicest elaborations of industry, in almost infinite variety, but climes and countries to the furthermost quarters of the globe were there represented in countless contributions of the useful and the beautiful. England and France made vast and superb offerings to the great transatlantic bazaar, and their example was followed by the other continental nations. Scandinavia, Norway, Sweden, and the German Zollverein, poured forth the selectest contents of their mines, manufactories, workshops, and studios. Among the former were iron ore, steel, wrought iron for gun-barrels, stearin candles, nickel, cobalt, copper, geological specimens, snow-shoes, reindeer antlers, a musical instrument called the psalmodicon, wood carvings by Norwegian peasants, and for which they are celebrated. From the Zollverein States, there was an attractive variety of objects, the most interesting of which were the works of art, principally paintings. The first artists of modern Germany contributed to this part of the collection, and in such quantity as far surpassed general expectation. The names of eminence which appeared in this connection, were those of Huebner, Achenbach, Muller, Elsasser, Openheimer, and from Vienna, Waldmuller and Swobada.

Conspicuous also among the foreign attractions, was the celebrated picture contributed by Queen Victoria, representing the duke of Wellington presenting a birthday gift to the infant Prince Arthur, the youngest member of the royal family. This picture was painted by Winterhalter, at the queen's express desire; as a work of art alone it secured great attention, and was deservedly extolled by all lovers of beauty and perfection. But the fact of its being the queen's most valued and pet picture, and forwarded, in her own name, as a tribute of recognition to America's great exhibition, heightened the interest with which it was viewed.

The splendid colossal group of Christ and his apostles, by Thorwaldsen-one of the masterpieces of sculpture was the theme of much praise, drawing crowds of admirers daily. The same also may be said of that matchless piece of art, Kiss's "Amazon," a copy from the original work in bronze, erected near the museum in Berlin. Next to the fine equestrian statue of Washington, this of the Amazon was considered the boldest and most striking piece of statuary exhibited. But some of the most beautiful contributions, in the department of fine arts, were to be found among those which, in point of size, were comparatively diminutive. The veiled statues, for example, seemed almost like angelic creations. The cast-iron statuettes from the royal iron foundry at Vienna, were also beautiful; each stood on an arabesque pedestal, and was about twelve inches in height, of a dead black color, nearly resembling ebony, and of the most exquisite quality of casting.

More grand and impressive than anything else in the Italian department, was the statue of Columbus, in the purest marble, his left hand resting upon a terrestrial globe, to which the right pointed. This superb statue was of life size, and from the chisel of Del Medico, of Carrari.

An admirable little group, which riveted the attention of every observer, was the Cage of Cupids, all in marble,—a bevy of the little creatures, represented as tired of their confinement and striving to escape; this happy and unique conception was executed in a style of workmanship that may well be termed marvelous.

Most amusing, to old and young, was the plastic model of Gulliver in Lilliput, made by A. Fleischmann, in Sonneberg, Saxony. From the opening to the close of the exhibition, there was a constant crowd of visitors around this admirably executed work. Quite different in character and in the kind of interest which it inspired, was the collection of ancient armor sent by the English government from the tower of London, and which comprised a helmet worn in Henry the

Eighth's time, or about the year 1520; an ancient shield of the time of King Edward IV., in 1547; a helmet of the time of Queen Elizabeth, about 1560, and a pikeman's lance, eighteen feet long, of the same period; a heavy breast-plate, onequarter of an inch thick, bearing date 1685; also, some very interesting specimens of ancient muskets, one of which, a flint lock with a plug bayonet, was used during the reign of King James the Second, in 1686.

From France came the rarest and most delicate tapestries and porcelains, including some of the celebrated Gobelin carpets, sent expressly by the French government. These carpets are remarkable for smoothness, softness, and fineness of texture, as well as for their strength and evenness, excelling even the Persian in these respects, and the colors and designs are perfect. Some of these carpets require from five to ten years for their completion, and at a cost of ten thousand to thirty thousand dollars. None are sold, being exclusively of government manufacture and use. The largest ever made was more than one thousand three hundred feet. Among other exquisite pieces sent to the exhibition, was the "Subject taken from the Chase and Still Life," and pronounced to excel in the softness, delicacy, and brilliancy, with which all the minute traits of both animal and vegetable life are rendered in this wonderful species of manufacture.

But no details possible within the compass of a few pages merely, would do justice to the vast and varied contents of this

World's Fair, with its four acres of richly teeming surface, from nearly five thousand contributors; nor, indeed, has any attempt been here made to describe those more practical and extensive features of the exhibition, those grand industries, covering so wide and important a range in the elements and activities of modern civilization, which constituted the chief scope and lesson of the undertaking. Of this numerous class are those ingenious and useful inventions pertaining to the various processes of agriculture, mines and their products; machinery for constructive, motive, and manufacturing purposes; etc., etc. For several months, the palace was open to the public, according to its original plan, and subsequently it was decided to make the building and its attractions permanent, the occasion being celebrated by public ceremonies appropriate to the event. Among the speakers was Elihu Burritt, who, in the course of one of the most brilliant of speeches, said: "Worthy of the grandest circumstances which could be thrown around a human assembly, worthy of this occasion and a hundred like this, is that beautiful idea-the CORONATION OF LABOR. Not American labor, not British labor, not French labor, not the labor of the New World or the Old, but the labor of mankind as one undivided brotherhood-Labor, as the oldest, the noblest, prerogative of duty and humanity." Most unfortunately, this beautiful palace, so wonderful in its construction, and such an ornament to the chief city of America, was totally destroyed by fire, in October, 1858.

with hundreds of souls, millions of treasure, and a heavy mail of incalculable value, in consequence of collision with the French iron screw-steamer Vesta. The Arctic was commanded by Captain Luce; the Vesta, by Captain Duchesne.

For many a long day after the time when this superb vessel was due at New York, the public mind was in agonizing suspense as to her fate. From the wellknown immense strength and complete equipment of the Arctic, this was the only sort of casualty likely to be serious to her, and this does not appear to have been anticipated by even the most sagacious sea-faring man. In every respect, the success of the Collins line reflected the highest honor upon American nautical enterprise and skill.

The news of this lamentable catastrophe carried deep and heart-rending sorrow to the homes of thousands both in this country and in Europe. On the news reaching New York, October 14th, that city assumed the appearance of one great funeral. The flags waved at half-mast throughout the metropolis, upon all the public buildings and hotels, as also upon the shipping in the harbor. The office of Mr. E. K. Collins, the founder and proprietor of this splendid line of steamships, was crowded with anxious visitors from early in the morning until the place was closed in the afternoon. All who wished to hear of relatives or friends called there, as the most likely place to learn the fate of those for whom they hoped even against hope. It was a sad gathering of grief-stricken citizens, among whom were fathers, brothers, and sons, tremulously waiting for intelligence which would either give the deathblow to all hope itself, or give back again all the buoyancy of life by the promised restoration of the lost. Often during the day was heard the inquiry put to the attendants in the counting-room of Mr. Collins, 'Have you any news of my brother?' 'Do you think my son is safe?' 'Have you seen any of the passengers who could probably tell me of the affair, and give me intelligence of my

father?' Many, too, with tears in their eyes, grasped the hands of friends, and the questions were exchanged, 'Who of your friends were on board?' and 'Who of yours?' It seemed as if everybody had either relations or acquaintances on board the sad-fated vessel. As each report came in of the passengers heard from as safe, it was a picture full of interest to see the eagerness with which all turned their ears to hear the report read, and the faces lighten up with gladness as the wished-for name fell from the lips of the reader.

Some, upon receiving information of a rescue of the supposed lost, were at once engaged in receiving the congratulations of those about them; others turned around to offer condolence and mingle sympathy with the rest, for whom had come no happy tidings; and others, again, rushed in haste from the building to circulate the report among friends outside, or to convey it to mourning families at home. Wherever this intelligence came, it was like the news of a resurrection from the dead. Notwithstanding in all hope flickered dimly, yet the catastrophe was so appalling, and the chances of a rescue so few, that each was filled with the greatest fear, and all were alike prepared for the worst, though continually hoping for the best.

Not only in the office of the Ocean Steam Company, but in all places, were the same evidences apparent, that some heavy blow had fallen upon the heart, and, crushing out what was happy and peaceful, had placed the burden of sorrow there. At all frequented corners, along the streets, at store doors, in banking-houses, groups were assembled, each with the other canvassing the chances of safety for some friend, or recapitulating the calamitous story of the shipwreck. All business in Wall street was for a time stopped; and merchants and bankers, forgetting the rise of stocks and the fluctuations of trade, by 'one touch of nature' were brought together as participants in the general grief. The Exchange was crowded during the day, but the loss of the Arctic was the sole engrossing topic.

At the time of the collision, Captain Luce was below, working out the position of the steamer. He immediately ran on deck and saw the iron steamer under the starboard bow, and passing astern, grazing and tearing the guards in her progress. The bows of the strange vessel seemed to be literally cut or crushed off for ten feet, and seeing that she must probably sink in ten minutes, Captain Luce took a glance at his own ship, and believing her to be comparatively uninjured, the boats were cleared and the first officer and six men left with a boat to board the stranger and ascertain the extent of her damage. The engineers were immediately instructed to put on the steam pumps, and the four deck pumps were worked by the passengers and crew. The ship was at once headed for the land, and several ineffectual attempts were made to stop the leak by getting sails over the bows. Finding that the leak was gaining very fast, notwithstanding the very powerful efforts made to keep the ship free, Captain Luce resolved to get the boats ready, and have as many ladies and children in them as possible.

No sooner, however, had an attempt been made to do this, than the firemen and others rushed into the boats in spite of all opposition. Seeing this state of things, the captain ordered the boats astern to be kept in readiness until order could be restored, when, to his dismay, he saw them cut the rope in the bow, and soon disappear astern in the fog. Another boat was broken down by persons rushing in at the davits, and many were precipitated into the sea and drowned. This occurred while the captain had been engaged in getting the starboard guard-boat ready. He had placed the second officer in charge, when the same scene was enacted as with the first boat. He then gave orders to the second officer to let go and tow after the ship, keeping near the stern, to be ready to take the womer and children as soon as the fires were out and the engine should stop. The quarter-boat was found broken down, but hanging by one tackle; a rush was made for her also,

To form a raft, it became necessary to get the only remaining boat-a life-boatinto the water. This being accomplished, Mr. Dorian, the chief officer of the boat, taking care to keep the oars on board the steamer to prevent those in the boat from leaving the ship, proceeded to work, still hoping to be able to get the women and children on board his boat at last. They had made considerable progress in collecting spars, when the alarm was given that the ship was sinking, and the boat was shoved off without oars or anything to hold themselves.

In an instant after, at about a quarterpast five, P. M., the ship went down, car rying every soul on board with her.

Captain Luce soon found himself on the surface, after a brief struggle, with his fragile child in his arms; then again found himself impelled downward to a great depth, and, before reaching the surface a second time, had nearly perished, losing the hold of his child as he struggled upwards. On thus getting upon the surface of the water, once more, the most awful and heart-rending scene presented itself-over two hundred men, women, and children were struggling together, amid pieces of the wreck, calling upon each other for help, and imploring God to assist them! Amid this struggling mass of human beings, he discovered his child, and was in the act of trying to save him, wher a portion of the paddle-box came rushing. up edgewards, just grazing the captain's head and falling with its whole weight upon the head of the helpless child. Captain Luce then succeeded in getting on the top of the paddle-box in company with eleven others; one, however, soon left for another piece, and others remained until relieved by death. Those who were left, stood in water up to their knees, the sea