Paris Exhibition - visit of Hull Workmen - Part two

“Visit of Hull Workmen to the Paris Exhibition – report of the Visit” [L.331.8]

In a previous blog dated 6 May 2022, the detailed reasons for this trip were given but it was primarily as result of the local MP, Sir Henry Seymour King, funding thirty Hull workman to visit the Exposition Universelle of 1889 in August of that year.

This souvenir volume details the views, musings and observations of some of the workmen who went on this sojourn and is a delightful piece of social history from the late Victorian age [image one].

Image 1 - Acknowledgements inside Souvenir Volume

They were fortunate to spend a few days sightseeing around Paris (including a trip up the Eiffel Tower) as well as a visit to Versailles before visiting the Exhibition on the Thursday and Friday. Each account of the trip offers such insight into the individuals on the trip but the majority did agree that:

Sundays in Paris were markedly different to Hull:

“I could not believe it was Sunday; everybody working, or on pleasure; carriages driving, soldiers on horseback; shops open – everything so different to what we see in Hull, that I thought I must have been asleep a day, and got into Paris on Monday”. [G. H. Wright, Saddler]

“It seemed rather strange to Englishmen to see workmen repairing roads & c. on Sunday morning, but such was the case: and later in the day we found business going on all over – in fact, we almost lost sight of the fact it was Sunday”. [J. T. Lyel, Upholsterer] 

The remarkable cleanliness of the Parisian streets:

“Paris is such a grand and beautiful city that, if the people of Hull were to send a body of gentlemen from the Council to see the beautiful streets, boulevards, &c., how they are laid out, kept scrupulously clean, &c., I believe the money would be well spent; and as a ratepayer I would humbly suggest such a trip to your notice” [image 2]. [Henry Tiltman, Ship Draughtsman] 

Image 2 - Henry Tiltman's impressions

The French are so different to the English!:

“A curious thing to an Englishman is that, instead of driving to the left as in England, all drive to the right, and a further acquaintance with Paris proves that everything – or nearly so - is the exact reverse of what we are accustomed to. For instance, we say Smith Street, the French would say Rue de Smith; the soldiers in England wear blue trousers and red coats, the French Tommy Atkins wears a blue coat and red trousers, and very baggy trousers at that; the English people, as a rule, dwell in a house of their own, big or little, the French people live in flats: in fact, everything appears to the untravelled Englishman to be right wrong”. [John Perritt, Printer] 

“Then we saw the market where the favourite dishes of the Frenchmen are supplied – the frogs being sold similar to us selling tripe; one franc a stick; the snails being kept in tanks for the purpose. It was a laughable sight to see us clustering round the frogs, and the Frenchwomen laughing like mad at us, and thrusting the sticks of frogs under our noses” [image 3]. [G. H. Wright, Saddler] 

Image 3 - G H Wright's thoughts

“We often hear in Hull that women can talk well. There is not one that comes up to a Frenchman: they beat us all. You would think, if you saw two of them talking, they were going to fight. They chatter and move their arms and body about, and you would think it is coming to a pitched battle. After waiting to see the end you are surprised to see them shake hands and part friends: it is only their way of talking.” [G.H. Wright, Saddler]

On the Exhibition itself:

“In my own branch I found several new ideas in machinery, and a good many improvements introduced, but a lot of the improvements noted being only interesting to members of the trade, I will pass on, merely remarking that I did not notice anything which is likely to revolutionise the present system”. [John Perritt, Printer] 

“The Exhibition itself I was unable to do justice to, even confining myself somewhat to the machinery department; many exhibits I could not get more than a passing view, owing to the crowd”. [W.T. Myers, Fitter] 

“The boot and shoe leathers were of ordinary sorts, such as may be seen in any English leather warehouse – the sole leather was mostly (what is termed) branded, a kind which we in this country do not care to push”. [James Johnson, Leather Dresser] 

Mr John Newman, joiner was very taken with the newly invented machines for joinery purposes and specifically mentioned those machines made by an American firm, J.A.Fay and Company. He went on to say – “there was nothing in the French inventions (of course I am only speaking of the joinering machines) to call forth any special remark”. 

Mr C. H Green, plumber was delighted to point out that “on entering the British section the first thing that meets the visitor is a banner with arms of Hull: namely, the Three Crowns”.

Tips for the Exhibition:

“Go early; lounge about slowly; keep in the shade; sit down whenever you feel at all tired; and above everything else, don’t go without making a substantial breakfast. An empty stomach frequently brings on a headache, your temper becomes infamous in consequence and you finish up by hating the Exhibition and all it contains”. [John Perritt, Printer]

All the participants did seem to enjoy the week in Paris:

“Still I am certain that what I did see has given me enlarged ideas, and has certainly led me, as I have no doubt it has many others, to read more, and to think more about our friends across the silver streak, and done much to rub off that insular prejudice against foreigners which is so strongly marked a characteristic of all Englishmen”. [John Perritt, Printer]

“I can assure you that nothing can ever efface from my memory the sights and pleasures we enjoyed” [J T Blake, Joiner]

“I came back to the hotel with the impression that Paris was a paradise. As night I went to one of the open-air concerts in the Champs-Elysees. I thought I was in fairy land, all lit up with coloured lights in the trees.” [G H Wright, Saddler]

“I conclude by advising everyone that can make it convenient to visit Paris to do so, independent of the Exhibition; it is well worthy of a visit.” [J T Lyel, Upholsterer]

Some gave more “damning praise”:

“Also, I saw some beautiful locomotives, engines and railway carriages, which by the way, I think they ought to keep in France; for I think everyone will agree with me that their railway service is wretched” [Walter Skirrow, Brass Finisher]

“They call us a shopkeeping nation; but just now, in Paris at all events, they could give us a long start and beat us. The moment an Englishman wants to purchase, they double the price of the article”[G. H. Wright, Saddler]

They were profuse in their praise for the patronage of Sir Henry Seymour King and the town councillors. Their overall impressions of the Exhibition and Paris itself is best left to Mr. John Perritt [printer]:

“then back to Hull, and work, all the better for our trip, and feeling that, though Paris is very beautiful, and sights of the Exhibition very grand, ‘There is no place like home’.” [image 4]

Image 4 - John Perritt's "There is no place like home"

I do wonder what the wives of the workmen thought about the whole enterprise given they were left behind looking after the children. They may have seen it a great opportunity for their husbands to learn new techniques and see new skills that they could adopt themselves.  I hope that each and every one of them used their sovereign to buy a suitable gift for their wives and sweethearts left “minding the fort”!

Caoimhe West, Reader Assistant, Unlocking the Treasure Project