New-York tribune., 1873-12-27
THE CENTENNIAL.

VIENNA RxH,BfTIoN-How GREAT FAIR 10
CRrArErl-UsEFUL HINTS AND ADVICE FOR THE
CENTENNIAL
irRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRrDuNEl
VIENNA Oct. Sit may be that the Vienna Ex-
hfbtion will never have justice done it in public
opinion outside of Austria. "Give a dog bad
name"-you know the proverb The Exhibition re-
ceived bad name at the start and has never recov-
cred from the effects of its first reputation Proba
bly, nine-tenths of intelligent people in Europe and
America stih imagine that il is failure The jea-
ousy OF the French and English of the new indus
.trfai trlumphs of Austria has had mach 10 do
with creating this opinion In Europe, and
IN our own country the idea appears to
be that the whole fair is poor because
|he American department. is 80 unsatisfactory.
The truth is that the Exhibition so far from being
failure, is remarkable success, and is by far the
greatest and most interesting Worlds Fair held.
it finally gets the credit it deserves the who
organized il and who has carried it through in the
face of obstacles aud dscouragements which no
other enterprise of the kind ever encountered, will
come in for large share of the honor. That man is
Baron Schwarz Senborn, the General Director rs he
IL officially styled. He is the autocrat of the Exh
btion. planning. creating and controlling it,
TO smallest details The Fair is his work from first
to last. He began the preliminary labor in the
midst of the Franco-Prussan War leaving Paris
the plans Tor the undertaking. From that day to
this he has worked as hard as men work outside
of America
A great exhibition is not made in month, or in
year, and our Philadelphia frieirds have not begun q
day too early, and have all they do TO open their
show in 1876. The Baron. after three years of prep
aration, was two months bebndhand and did not
have things in order until long after the opening
day He had the advantage, besides, of having thor
oughly studied the two great London Worlds Fairs
and the Paris Exposition of 1867 having been a CON-
missioner, think, to each of them. So he had no
lhek of experience and preparatory training for his
work. Thinking that the Baron might give some
advice and opinions that would be apropos TO
coming Centennial. called at his Office tho other
day. He has rooms in a rambling one-story build
ing just inside the grand entrance TO the Exhibition
grounds. In ante-chamber there was
very much such a crowd waiting as one
in the reception-roQm of Cabinet Min
is;er in Washington-peOpe of all ranks. from
"Excellencies" down to decently dressed beggars
soliciting petty offices privileges about the Exh-
btion. When my turn came found the Baron full
of the subject of Worlds Fairs and quite ready to
talk about it. He heightened his customary five
minutes of audience time to fifteen or twenty in my
case and by talking very fast went over good
deal of ground. He speaks English fuently, with a
pleasant German accent, and looks enough like Col
John W. Forney of The Philadelphia Press TO have
all the friends of that gentleman who see him
remark the resemblance.
The Baron expressed great interest in the Cen
tennial and said that the fact that it to follow
so soon after the Vienna Exhibition a proof
that there was failure of general interest in
Worlds Fairs as had often been alleged. 1" see no
reason" he said, why you should not make your
exhibition successful in every respect. To do this
you must work hard and must begin at once. There
two things yOu must keep in view. First, in
order TO make your exhibition an international one
as you desire it to be;yon must awaken general
interest in it here in Europe. To do this you must
Use the press 1t is not enough to say you going
TO have a Fair to open such date. The papers
must begin talking about it long time
before it begins; and must contipue to tell
people how great and interesting it will be- Then
Won must induce the different Governments of Eu
rome to assist YOU and take measures To have their
countries well represented. They must appoint
Commissioners. and must attend TO the shipment
and return of goods Without the help of these
Governments you can do very little. The managers
of the New-York Crystal Palace Exhibition did not
understand this They addressed invitations to
manufacturers and merchants in Europe. Many
who sent goods never received them back. Nobody
was responsible for them. People will not send
valuable goods across the the responsibility
of a stock company. Nothing but the guarantee of
their Government will give them fall confidence
that they will not lose their property"
How shall we best interest gnlGovernments
In onr fairl" asked. Through the action Of your
own Home Government" said the Baron, and of
It's Diplomatic agents abroad. The managers of
vour exhibition cannot address themselves directly
To foreign Governments. AS far rs Europe is con-
rerned if must be an exhibition made by the United
States, and not by private parties The Baron
thouQht there already much interest felt In the
Centennial throughout Europe. He had heard much
talk about il among exhibitors and commissioners,
md had heard many express the intention to go to
America in 1876. He hoped TO 90 himself. We
read many books abont America" he said, but we
DO not know what it is like. If we go, we shall lind
much that is new and strange You will make the
world know you by your Centennial It VIII un-
derstand you better than before. That is
what we Rave done in Austria, and
that is perhaps the chief gain 10 coun-
trv of a great exhibition. Now they know
nr resources and our industries. We are better ap-
nreciated and more respected than ever, TO say
nothin0 of the commercial advantages we gain in
The opepipp of new markets for our products" The
second essential thing to make the Centennial sue
.eed Baron Schwarz said, TO create an enthu-
siasrn in its behalf among the American people. Il
heveno d,ubt tins will be DONE" he continued.
sand thai whether your Fair is great as an inter-
,ational display or not il will he a wonderful show
If American products and inventions. fonr people
will learn much about themselves from the Centen-
NAL and will be surprised at the variety and ex-
.ellence of their own manufacturing Industries He
,poke well of the plan of giving 10 each State
,enarate department, which he had heard
.emnlafed and thought that tho competition that
would result would create mucn tuler display thah
r.Ite1