The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-11-16
The Close OF shA Great Exposition.

The pressure of political concerns upon
the attention of the American public, has
well nigh diverted all thought from the
closing scenes of The Centennial cXposi-
ton, occurring or Friday last. The fact
Of closing, however, merits more than
passing notice, for it signaizcd the ter
mination of an exhibition which must
ever have record rs entirely credftable to
the American Nation and rejecting
lasting honor on the Intelligence, enter
prise, and skill Of the American people.
In large sense the Exhibition was q
great success. The eXhiNs Of American
products were not only unexpectedly
large and various, but presented excel
lencies not before deemed by the mass of
visitors and examiners as having been at
all attained 1t is safe to ssert that not
one in ten of the American visitors to
the Exposition had previously possessed
any conception Of the degree of progress
really reached by American industry,
science and art. Particularly was this
true in relation to metallurgy, to manu-
features in Steel fine woolens, porcelain
and china ware, and sculptures. The les
sons learned by these visitors, of the
progress actually secured by their own
countrymen in these directions, were
worth, in the encouragement and iucents
i've given to further effort and new sue
cesses, all the exhibition cost and much
more. Scarcely less valuable as educa-
t,onal processes for the American people,
were the views given Of the degree of
excellence in education, manufactures
and art attained ny other peoples in all
parts of the world. In this direction the
Exposition proved wonderous revela-
ton to many whose want of information
had led them to regard ether natlola!ites
as very much more inferior to their own
in productive skill and artistic taste than
the facts at all warrant, So, also, the
very large exhibits made by such nations
as England, Russia, Germany, France,
ct al, with the generous painstaking cvi
denccd by the respective governments
of each to make their contributions
entirely worthy Of the occasion, did very
much to temper, soften, and utterly re-
move old prejudiccs which have long in
tcrposed the progress of genuine cosmo-
poltan views and fraternal feelings. 1t
was certainly worth great deal to hun
dreds of thousands Of untravelled Amer
leans to get correct glimpse Of what the
rest of the world actually is and does.
Above all, the excellent management of
the entire Exposition challenged and will
evermore be awarded the most sincere APP
proval and gratitude of the American
public No attendant upon the exhibit
ton failed to note how admirably every
detail in the arrangements for security, ac-
commodation and comfort of exhibitor
and visitor had bcen cared for, and none
found occasion fot serious fault-fnding in
any direction. Similar, and even more
emphatic testimony, is due to the dispo-
sition manifested towards visitors on the
part of the citizens of Philadelphia, in
general and particular. No exorbltant
charges were resorted to in any direction,
and everywhere, from everybody in Phil
adelphia-holel keepers, business men
citizens, down to the humblest policeman
and street car driyer--0nly courteous
treatment awaited each one who Journey
ed to and remained at the "City of Broth
erly Love" Hcnceforth, Philadelphia
will have kindly remembrance from hun
drcdS of thousands who never before had
trod its streets.
Any review of the Centennial Exposi-
ton and is success would be incomplete
that did not bear testimony to the wis
dom Of the Centennial Commission in
adhCring to the original determination to
respect the Sabbath by closing the cXhi-
bition on that day. The results fully
justify that decision. Aside from all
other considcrations-th regard justly
due to The Christian sentiment of the Ma
ton, the force Of precedent, and the
habits and customs of the American PEG
pie as whole-thc necessities of the eX-
hibitors and the employees alone furnish
ed sufficient ground for hearty approval
of the course pursued in closing the cx-
hiblion on Sunday. No one acquainted
ants, dirlnig an fife months OF the; igffe great
show, could hesitate to say that to them
at least, rest of one day in seven was
an absolute necessity. 1t is gratifying to
note, that in securing them this, and in
respecting the obligations of the Sabbath,
the financial success Of the Exposition
was not jeoparGisci, as we predicted
would be the case, but was, rather, on
the contrary greatly hanced.-Daren-
DOft Gazette