, 1874-02-14

cessfhl Expositions. The American show IA
the ''least creditable part " OF the whole thing
It "would have reflected no credit whatever OF
tied were oficially divided into twcnty-si,
groups America was represented in twenty.
three OF these, but satisfactorily so in but one
OF them. In ali the art groups we e1bibitec
either nothing, or something that was "uretch.
edly and disgracefu1ly inadequate" Mr.. Adamf
| continues:
In Group Xx., being the Farm House, its arrange
mens, furniture, and utensils, aIr F. H. Appleton OF
Vest Rozbury, furnished the solitary contributions
modeat plan Of the farm owned and cultivated by him.
In Group XXI, Of National Domestic Industry, which
included the superb Foteres, porcelains, tapestries.
1aces, metal articles, and carved work. which the
brilliant features Of the Exposition, the only American
contributors were two young ladies', respectively from
Sew York aud Michigan, who sent, the one En-
broidered Picture" and the other "Phanton nou-
quet-" In Group XIII, relating to art applied to
religion, and which included tho entire ornaneotator
Of Ill sacred edidces the American contributions
| two in number. and both from New York, the ono
| being "Dronze Lcctern," aud tho other tn :sIm-
] proved Burial Casxet"
| AL our States that did anything officially
about the Exposition acted too late, and mos: OF
! the men they sent there were worse than the
| wares. Our iurymen knew nothing, not even
| the language in which the discussions OF the
| juries we're conducted. As whole, our officials
were motley collection Of nondescripts."
From this general view OF the Causes Of the
failure OF the Vienna Exposition in general aud
Of the American part ofitin particular, Mr. Adams
deduces the success Of tho Philadelphia Centen-
NAL, provided that there is instant, systematic
action by the States. and that there is no job
berry. There is no possibility Of such State nc
ton, and there is an overwhelming possibility of
iobbery. But, if We get the one and shun the
other. we aro by no means suro Of SUCCESS. This
same general view shows that an international
show. to succeed, neods several things that
the City Of Brotherly Lovo cannot supply
1t ueeds drst-class city, q city rich in
means OF amusement. Philadelphia is not such
city; ono Of her Sundays would drive all the
foreign visitors mad with ennui. It needs guam
titles Of money. The Vienna Exposition cost
512,000,0o0. It's receipts were but 23,000,000.
If we get of as cheaply, where will the Centen-
nial Commission raise funds to meet the 50, ,000,-
900 deficit? 1t needs Government aid 1ndi-
vidusl effort will accomplish nothing. Foreign
Governments will do nothing unless We rs g na-
ton invite them to take part. And this we ought
not to do, because it will tend to commit Us to
the support OF the enterpriso,-a support that
will cost an already-overtaxed people millions.
1t needs Government aid. again, because it can
get foreign goods to show only by remitting the
duties On them. 4 country that has just refused
to allow few dozen paintings to be exhibited in
New York under such conditions is not likely to
grant tho far greater favor. It needs fre-proof
buildings. It needs the power to guarantee e1-
hibitors from loss. Without such build
inga and guarantees, exhibition involves |
great risk, aud is accordingly Stunned. |
Phladelphia can give neither Of them. |
Finally, international show, to succeed, needs
large numbers OF visitors. The supply of |
yisitors depends upon the absence Of any great !
excitement in other parts Of the world, upon
cheapness OF Access, upon goodness and cheap |
ness Of accommodations, upon the weather, and |
upon the merits Of the show. It is quite prob !
able that the European war that is On the cards |
will be at its height by 1876. It will be very e1-
pensiye for foreigners to go to Philadelphis
mono Of them travel nearly as much as Ameri- |
CANS do. Hotel and boarding-ho rates there
during the Exposition will be extravagantly high.
Tie city will be hot enough to roast Shadrach, |
Meshech, and Abednego, and the merits OF the |
show itself will probably not be great. The Con-
tennial Commission should be warned in time. !
Why not abandon vain attempt at worlds
exposition, and have what is surely mora fitting |
as celebration of 8 national biEthday,-an ex-
tibi1ion belonging to that nation alone7 The /
Commission cannot do what Austria has failed !
TO do. II it persists in tho attempt, we aro likely
to have = repetition OF What Mr. Adams calls |
- the national 6aaco st Vienna"