Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-12-01
How tn. Centennial was u Success.

The following is from Edward Kings
closing letter on the Centennial TO the Bos-
ton journal mo previous exhibition has
ever had quite so many paid admissions as
ours, and none has on the whole had any
thing like the same financial success. The
Board of Finance at Philadelphia expend-
ed about seven millions OF dollars in erect
ing the buildings and improving the
grounds This colossal expenditure was
covered by the following receipts: The
appropriation of Pennsy ylvana, 81, 100000 /;
that of Philadelphia, million and half OF
dollars receipts from concessions, from
| gifts, and from interest, about half mill
lion from stock subscriptions, 81, ,500,0O0 /;
and tue National appropriation, 81 100000.
The total cash receipts amounted TO $780,
900 FOR the time that the gates remained
open; and the expenses of keeping the
grounds and the buildings in order, well
policed, lighted, ETC., and Of maintaining
an immense army OF officials and door
keepers, has not been more than 81 ,S30,00O
A surplus OF two millions of dollars is
therefore confidently counted on-that is,
provided the National Government does
not insist upon the repayment of the mil
lion and half dollars which it advanced
toward the enterprise. or course there
will be plenty OF men mean enough 10 de-
mand that the money be returned, but they
ought not to be listened TO. The Govern
ment ought TO be compelled 10 contribute its
share to the financial success OF the Exbi-
bition.
II the Government-that Is, If we, the
| bav nd faH hxyf n
Exhibition-do what is right the original
Centennial stockholders, the men who
backed up the project when 1t seemed TO
have but small prospects OF success, and
when good many of us were scof1ing at 1t,
will get about eighty per cent of their mon
ey back. And that is all that the Exhibi-
ton can pay, even If the Government does
not insist on th @ return OF Its million and a
half.
The festivals 10 have been inaugurated
by each Of the "Old Thirteen" States were
marred by the persistent refusal of Virgin
Ia, North and South Carolina and Georgia
TO participate. This noble sisterhood SEEM
ed inclined to sulk, although it would be
difficult TO imagine any good reason why it
should DO so. 1t is highly credtable to the
patri otism of General Hawley and other
gentlemen prominently connected with
the Exhibition that they did everything in
their power TO induce and encourage the
Southern people TO participate in The fair,
and their efforts were crowned with al least
partial success. The attendance on the day
devoted to Delaware and Maryland was,
with the sin gle exception OF that of Penn.
sylvania Day, the largest seen at the Ex-
hibitiou, and the South offered one of the
most curious and, in many respects, most
entertaining spectacles OF the whole period
the tournament at the foot of Georges
Hill.
The total receipts during the last months
of the fair were enormous. For October
they amounted TO S1,l6O,S11. In May The
| sum received was scarcely one-tenth OF
this in June it was S347, 1888 in July $685.
100; in August s4l5,659; in September
929 ,056, and for The fragment OF November
about $4,000. Unquestionably, had the
Exhibition continued until the first of De-
ce mber the receipts of November would
ha We been much larger than those of Octo-
Der. There is no reason 10 doubt that
next time America proposes TO herselfto
hold an exhibition she may safely proph-
| O sy that she can make it declare an abso-
| Lutte profit.
But it is not by money that one can
measure The success of gigantic undertak
ing of such far-reaching, soul-searching
influence as the International Exhibition
of 1876. Pecuniary profit is OF small conse-
| quence in comparison with the rich spirit
with tie vast culture which has been Law
ished upon our people for the past six
months, and Of which they have been so
| quick TO take advantage. All the subtle
and harmonious influences Of older and
richer civilizations have been at work here,
and with astonishing success. The young
| world has stood face 10 face with the old
| world, and has not been ashamed. Neither
has she been in any sense abased. We
have given other peoples measure for
measure in this exhibition. They have
brought us the triumphs of the cunning
hand, the marvellous color which represent
the laughter of the dawn and the fearful
frown of the twilight, the rich stufls which
| glow with the gleam of Asiatic suns, the
silks whose soft textures contain all the
blossoms of the thousand Flowery Islands,
the perfumes, the pictures, the statues, the
tapestries, the bronzes, the brasses, the
curious and the exquisite.
We have shown them machines that
think great obedient monsters with iron
hands, steel claws, throats filled with steam,
| aid sinews of almost ininile capacity. We
have shown them acres upon acres of these
wonderful machines, which they have new
er been tired of contemplating, and which
in future they will buy from us, and from
us alone. 1t is reserved for the genius of
| particular nations 10 accomplish special re-
suits. The American genius is absolutely
triumphant in the domain of mechanical
| invention. To the few who have remain
ed at the Exhibition from first TO last, and
who have seen the foreign visitors there,
this truth is evident. They came denying
| 1t, and with their hands filed with what
they thought were proofs of their negation.
But MACHINERY Hail." as Western man
said, machinery Hall jest fioored 'em."
The foreigners came TO seotf, aud they re-
mained to pray-or, rather, to adore the gs-
MUS of America, as manifest in mechanic
cal inventions. This is triumph enough
for us. 1t is grand crown for our hun
dred years. 1t is mighty and magnificent
promise for The future.
|