Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-11-17
Tne CLOSE OF the oreat ExhibItlon.

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The Close of the Great Exhibition.
From the New York Hines November 10.
Six months ago, under bright May
day sun, the International Exhibition Of
1876 was inaugurated, in the presence
of the highest officials of the nation,
throng Of distinguished guests from
abroad, and nearly 10000 people. To-
lay the term Of the great enterprise
reaches its appointed close, which will
be signalized by ceremonies no less APP
propriate and imposing. Between the
two memorable days lies period of sim
gular importance to our country, and of
direct interest to the whole civilized
world. The chief obstacle to the success
Of the exhibition had been overcome be-
fore it opened, and its increasing popu-
larity from that day to this was to have
been anticipated but its true value as
vast educational influence will remain
permanent legacy to the people. In
its extent, completeness, beauty of To-
cation and general arrangement it has
been equally surprise and an enjoy
ment, impressing foreign visitors with
new sense of our American civilization,
and encouraging our own citizens by the
contrast Of their Art and Industry with
that of the world. AS the attendance
will be very large during the ten addi-
tional days after the formal close of the
Exhibition, the number of visits will
reach total Of about 5000, 900 and the
receipts will amount to very nearly s4,-
100000
But we chiefly rejoice in the remark
able material success of the undertake
ing, because it represents such a total of
opportunities, such widespread use of
rare advantages. 1t has stirred tens of
thousands of remote communities with
the sense of fresh knowledge of the
world and its races and nations, 1t has,
moreover, brought Eastand West, South
and North, familiarity together, obliter-
ating narrow local prejudices, knitting
web of pleasant acquaintanceship over
the whole country, and insensibly teach
ing lessons Of patriotism, tolerance and
humanity. In this vast intermixture of
the four quarters of the Republic, not
single jarring tone seems to have been
struck; even the inevitable inconven-
ience of travel over crowded lines were
borne with patience and cheerfulness.
There have been delays of trains, but
only one serious accident; the predicted
extortions and privations have been very
few and far between; the arrangements
made to accommodate the public ON the
Exhibition Grounds have worked to the
admiration of the world aud never be-
fore have so many millions of spectators
gone home so we'll satisfied.
The history of the Exhibition would
thus be wholly illustrious but for two
blotches which stand out all the more
Extensively against such a bright back
ground of success. The American Art
display, which promised to do US honor,
was seriously degraded by what appears
to have been the arbitrary action Of one
individual, in defiance of the earnest
protest Of Committee of Selection COM
posed of some of the ablest artists in the
country. The stipulations under which
the latter accepted their arduous service
were violated at the start, and they were
powerless to prevent the country from
being disgraced. Some evil influence
was also at first apparent in the distri-
button of awards-that feature Of the
Exhibition which most should bear the
stamp of honesty, impartiality, and in
telligenee. This concerns not only our
own character, but the interests of all
nations represented and, although the
step taken was retraced, the impression
produced by it remains as disturbing
influence. 1t would have been so easy
to have left perfectly bright and salts
factory record, that these two shortcom-
ings are specially to be regretted. For
tunately, there has been nothing similar
to our hideous experience at Vienna, in
1873, and we may safely trust that scan
dals of that character will never be re-
newed
This year marks the beginning of a
correct knowledge of our country and
people among foreign nations The Ex-
hibition represented. both in its charac-
ter and arrangement, and in the persons
of its millions of visitors, the material
and intellectual development of the Ma
tion, during hundred years of Repub-
lican Government. 1t seems trite to call
the picture unprecedented; but, by the
power of favoring circumstances, it is
really placed above the reach of any his
f torical comparison. To have offered it
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