of home exhibitors--five to one in the latter--is shown to be still more
marked. In Agricultural Hall the United States claim less than
two-thirds. The unexpected interest taken in this branch by foreigners
will enhance its prominence and value among the attractions of the
exposition. The collection of tropical products for food and
manufacturing is very complete. The development of the equatorial
regions of the globe has barely commenced. Even our acquaintance with
their natural resources remains but superficial. The country which takes
the lead in utilizing them in its trade and manufactures will gain a
great advantage over its fellows. England's commercial supremacy never
rested more largely on that foundation than now. Brazil, the great power
of South--as the Union is of North--America, possesses nearly half of
the accessible virgin territory of the tropics. Our interest joins hers
in retaining this vast endowment as far as possible for the benefit of
the Western World. A perception of this fact is shown in the exceptional
efforts made by Brazil to be fully represented in all departments of the
exposition, and in the visit to it of her chief magistrate, as we may
properly term her emperor, the only embodiment of hereditary power and
the monarchical principle in a country that enjoys--and has for the half
century since its erection into an independent state maintained--free
institutions.

[Illustration: DOM PEDRO, EMPEROR OF BRAZIL.]

In art domestic exhibits utterly lose their preponderance. Our artists
content themselves with a small fraction of the wall- and floor-space in
Memorial Hall and its northern annex. In extent of both "hanging" and
standing ground they but equal England and France, each occupying
something over twenty thousand square feet. Italy in the æsthetic combat
selects the chisel as her weapon, and takes the floor with a superb