At this rate I will never get down to what I really want to write about. But some things simply stop you dead in your tracks. Well, at least this is what this hygiene Expo did to my original plans. I just find events of this nature highly ridiculous when viewed in light of the time frame they were held at. At the same time examples like this reinforce my belief that we have very little to no understanding about that culture and the infrastructure they possessed.
1911 Hygiene Exhibition Stats
The "Internationale Hygiene Ausstellung, Dresden, 1911," has by this time closed its doors and passed into history. It was one of those rare and remarkable creations of the human mind that will absolutely refuse to die. The exposition itself was only the opening scene in a performance which had its beginning in the month of May and ended with a climax in the month of October, when the curtain dropped. Its real work, though impressive and monumental from the start, has only just begun. Little folks and little minds may criticize the little imperfections about it from a distance. Those who are in the habit of looking for principles in things with broad and generous minds, having taken the trouble to visit and study the exposition more conscientiously, were overwhelmed with its grandeur, its beauty and the nobility of the motives underlying the undertaking. Fortunate indeed are those who were allowed to witness the great event, still more fortunate those who may count themselves active participants in it. For, nothing, no event in history, could be cited as showing the working of the human mind in the Germanic race of man, as illustrating it in all its splendid attributes and as placing it in a clearer light, to better advantage, than did this magnificent hygienic exposition. No other human endeavor could be cited as showing the ultimate motive power in the accumulation of personal wealth to be, in reality, that of aquiring the ability and power of giving to others and of, thus, contributing to the happiness of others, than did this exposition. As an organized endeavor to prevent sickness and prolong human life, to project the living laws of health and happiness into the minds, the hearts and the very homes of people, it certainly surpassed anything of the kind in the whole history of hygiene and sanitation.
The exposition grounds cover in all an area of 320,000 square meters, of which 70,000 square meters are occupied by buildings, 72 in all, large and small. There was not a single visitor who did not regret the shortness of the existence of this great exposition; who did not feel his interest in it increasing daily, while in attendance; who would not welcome an opportunity of returning to it for more instruction and inspiration; who was not moved to wish that every living man and woman might receive the benefits this exposition was intended to convey and to disseminate.
What do you think about the people in the above photographs? Do they look drawn in?
KD: Anyways, this is not an expo I personally want to dive into. Influenced by the theme of this particular expo, I'm publishing it to emphasize the abundance of such events between 1850 and 1915. There are so many we do not know about. I am not saying that the info is hidden, but the sheer number of these expositions would justify (imho) for a new historical discipline:
P.S. Who would have thought that personal hygiene could be that exciting?
- The leading figure organizing the exhibition was German philanthropist and businessman Karl August Lingner, who had grown wealthy from his Odol mouthwash brand, and was enthusiastic to educate the public about advances in public health. Lingner had previously organized a public-health exhibition as part of the 1903 Dresden municipal expo, and its success led him to plan a larger endeavor.
1911 Hygiene Exhibition Stats
- Duration: May, 1911 - October, 1911
- 30 countries participated
- Grounds: 320,000 square meters
- Buildings combined: 70,000 square meters
- 100 buildings were built for the event
- 72 according to other sources
- 5 million people visited the Expo
- 1910: Buenos Aires, Argentina
- 1913: Lima, Peru
- 1914: Genoa, Italy
The "Internationale Hygiene Ausstellung, Dresden, 1911," has by this time closed its doors and passed into history. It was one of those rare and remarkable creations of the human mind that will absolutely refuse to die. The exposition itself was only the opening scene in a performance which had its beginning in the month of May and ended with a climax in the month of October, when the curtain dropped. Its real work, though impressive and monumental from the start, has only just begun. Little folks and little minds may criticize the little imperfections about it from a distance. Those who are in the habit of looking for principles in things with broad and generous minds, having taken the trouble to visit and study the exposition more conscientiously, were overwhelmed with its grandeur, its beauty and the nobility of the motives underlying the undertaking. Fortunate indeed are those who were allowed to witness the great event, still more fortunate those who may count themselves active participants in it. For, nothing, no event in history, could be cited as showing the working of the human mind in the Germanic race of man, as illustrating it in all its splendid attributes and as placing it in a clearer light, to better advantage, than did this magnificent hygienic exposition. No other human endeavor could be cited as showing the ultimate motive power in the accumulation of personal wealth to be, in reality, that of aquiring the ability and power of giving to others and of, thus, contributing to the happiness of others, than did this exposition. As an organized endeavor to prevent sickness and prolong human life, to project the living laws of health and happiness into the minds, the hearts and the very homes of people, it certainly surpassed anything of the kind in the whole history of hygiene and sanitation.
The exposition grounds cover in all an area of 320,000 square meters, of which 70,000 square meters are occupied by buildings, 72 in all, large and small. There was not a single visitor who did not regret the shortness of the existence of this great exposition; who did not feel his interest in it increasing daily, while in attendance; who would not welcome an opportunity of returning to it for more instruction and inspiration; who was not moved to wish that every living man and woman might receive the benefits this exposition was intended to convey and to disseminate.
- All expositions are schools of learning of the most practical sort.
- International expositions are the universities in which the different nations teach each other.
- The exhibits, carefully selected and arranged in groups, represent the achievements of many years, the results of many years of study and labor, in a predigested form and ready to enter the understanding without requiring any effort on the part of the observer, except that he be in a receptive mood.
- There was a time when the attributes of usefulness on the part of the high arts and sciences were regarded as detracting from their value; when the beauty of an object was thought to end where its usefulness began; when sciences, we were told, had a right to exist for their own sake and regardless of their usefulness to mankind.
What do you think about the people in the above photographs? Do they look drawn in?
KD: Anyways, this is not an expo I personally want to dive into. Influenced by the theme of this particular expo, I'm publishing it to emphasize the abundance of such events between 1850 and 1915. There are so many we do not know about. I am not saying that the info is hidden, but the sheer number of these expositions would justify (imho) for a new historical discipline:
- Expositionology (no less important than Egyptology me thinks)
P.S. Who would have thought that personal hygiene could be that exciting?
