The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-21

respondent in Philadelphia sketching the
Centennial as far as it has gone. 1t is now
ten days since the opening. and our corre-
spondent discusses the question, =" What is
the result of its ten days existence?"
We begin to see, now that the flush Of the
opening excitement is over, how this Cen
tennial Exhibition fails to realize the antici-
pations of its founders. Although ten days
have elapsed since it was all to be in order
since those who were not in their place were
to forfeit their srace-the show is crude, un-
finished and unsatisfactory. Some i'm
portant countries, Russia especially, in
whose exhibit we take SO deep an interest,
make no display. 1t will be the first of
June before Russia, Turkey, Portugal,
Mexico, Italy and France are quite ready.
Philadelphia, which insisted upon having
the Centennial for historical, sentimental
reasons, is unable to handle it. All the
promises of metropolitan energy are fading.
Rapid and frequent transit is dream. The
street cars have gone back to the old
plan Of taking their timc and run
ming when they are in the humor. As
consequence, MS our correspondent shows,
the Exposition is no longer in Philadelphia,
but in a suburban city run up in week
like Fort Hays or Sheridan or some of our
frontier railway towns, and which he calls
Centennialvillc. This town of Centennial
Vile is not the safest place at night, on &C.
coun. of bad sidewalks and unpayed streets.
The tearing up Of the earth and the unfor-
tunate rains have generated malaria, and we
hear Of fever and ngue So if nm enterprise
ing druggist Graves fortune and fame he
should open a quinino exhibit After sun
down Centennialville is cut off from the Ex-
position by the closing Of the gates, and from
the city by tho wretched, slow, uncertain
transit.
AS if to make matters worse, the Puritans
in Philadelphia on Sunday close up their
Exhibition-buildings grounds and all.
The churches are open in tho morning and
evening. After church hours everything is
closed but tho rum shops. This fact nc
counts for the fact that tho keepers of the
hundred rum shops and beer saloons around
the Exhibition, in Centennialville, are
jealous advocates Of tho ''sanctity of
the Lords day." If the Exhibition
were to be open tho chances are
that on q fino day, day like Friday or
Saturday, fifty thousand people would spend
the day in the grounds and keep away from
the rum shops. This would conduce to
virtue, sobriety, purity of life, domestic en-
joyment and on intelligent knowledge Of
this vast display. 1t would enable the poor
man to give the only day which he can
claim as his own, without injustice to him
self and his family. to the Exposition. Ac-
cording to Philadelphia canons this would
be "breaking the Sabbath" So the saints
and the rumsellers protect the Sabbath"
and stimulate the sale of intoxicating liquors.
Complaints still come to us about the extor-
tons and narrowness of the Centennial
management. "A German" in commend
ing the HERALDs article of yesterday, asks
us to send reporter with him to the prin-
cipal beer saloon on the grounds to see how
the poor German is swindled in his
beer. He ordered, he says, three or
four glasses, and no one was more than
half full of beer, all the rest was
froth. We do not mention the name
of the establishment, because we do not
care to do injustice; but unless these griev-
ances are remedied we shall have to nail up
these petty swindlers by the ears. They are
petty swindlers and no more. The gener-
osity of the people has provided great ex-
hibition-the greatest ever seen on this con-
tinent. Foreign nations have sent commits
sioners displays and articles Of merit. The
world is asked to come and see the show.
Yet when the world does come it is to be
swindled, improperly accommodated, over
charged. narrowed down to prim Philadel-
phia ways. In other words, n lot of tavern
keepers who have concessions" and rail-
way owners who have control of the transit,
and spectators generally, mean when they
get hold of the world to make all the money
they can. The consequence is that what, in
its inception, in the energy of its projectors
and in the enthusiasm of the good people Of
Philadelphia, was to be m exposition worthy
Of the Republic and worthy of the centcn-
NAL of its existence is becoming little more
than a county fair.
We agree with oil that our correspondent
says of the hospitality of Philadelphia of
tho desire of its people to make all welcome
who come; of their pride in this Exhibition
and their efforts for its success. But now is
the time to insure success. We see the mis-
take of having opened an international expo
sition in any city but New York. Such an
undertaking required the metropolis to give
it success, and men with metropolitan ideas
to handle it. As it is it needs head. Unless
some strong, able man takes hold of it, and
roots out these abuses; unless the national
and international character of the fair is
appreciated and respected, the Centennial
Exposition of our national greatness will be-
come a Centennial Exposition of national
mcannesS and folly.