The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-24
The Golden-Egg Goose.

The Vienna International Exhibition Of
1879 was rather superb. 1t had the expo-
rience of the previous shows of the same
sort in London and in Paris TO start with. At
the beginning Austria appropriated $1,000
600 to the project; but with the express sup-
ulation that not another dollar would be
gwen by the Government. The show thus
set on its legs was to stand and 20 ahead
alone 1t was open from May to Nov. l,
exactly SIX months. 1t cost in round num-
beers <l2,OJo,C0O. There were seven and
one-quartcr million visitors. The entrance
fees ba ely pad the running expenses Of
the exhibition, and there was a deficit OF
about SvoOOOO0. In other words, but for
the Gov Inmcnt SUI sidy, the entire cost Of
the show would have been the precise
amount of the deficit.
Various reasons were assigned for this
failure. The financial panic of that year,
the falling of Of visitors in the warmc,,
we"ks, the fear OF cholera, and, possibly,
the freshly discovered spots on the sum- all
had something to do with the deploIable
deficit. But the real caus, - were, first the
utterly inadequate provision for accom-
modatinG the vast influx OF visitors; aud
next, the absurdly extravagant prices de-
manded for such food and lodgings as
were offered. The Viennese set out with
the idea that every mothers son Of them
was to get rich in that short summer The
owner OF the tabled goose waited ut least
until his bird had laid few golden eggs
before he cut her open to see If there was
gold inside OF her. The Vienna landlords,
lnH h.
drawers, walters, clothes brushers, boot
blacks, and ali the hangers-on and haTpies
who haunt the unprotected traveller, sud
denly swooped down upon the strangers
and skinned them ut the start. The plum
dered visitor was driven 10 distraction, or
TO the railroad for immediate departure.
No one stayed IN the city an hour longer
than he was compelled to. The stories OF
the outrageous robberies deferred thou
sands from going there, and the choice
presented OF being swindled OF being
starved drove thousands away.
II is much to be feared that this brief
history may repeat itself in Philadelphia
next summer. A gentleman who was In
that city during the Congressional junket-
Ing OF last week, inquired Of the landlord OF
MS motel what arrangements coulu DC
made in advance for accommodations fol
himself and family, say for a few weeks
during the Centennial show. " My deai
SIR" said the host, with the bland smile Of
q wateriug-place proprietor in the frs
week OF the season, sit Is utterly impos
sible 10 say now what we shall charge TO
rooms or meals We may have to pay
dollar dozen for eggs and n dollar and
half pound for butter, with everythin,
else at like rates. and Of course on
prices will be in proportion" And h
smiled more swcetly than before. Thos
proportionatc prices may be out Of al
proportion to the ordinary purses Of OF
binary peoplei but TO doubt that Phla
delphia has made up its mind to make a
much money as possible out of the show
and especially out OF the visitors, Is 10 dii
regard the cOmmOnest human instiuc
Just now, the Philadelphians are exceed
ingly hospitable 10 Congressman, who ~
expected TO give the million and Ia
A'nr"n'iatinn. and Ia those who visit IL