New-York tribune., 1877-05-05

Philadelphia, it should be remembered. has no
large floating population. She Is city OF
homes. not like New-York a center of national
travel. where such an advertising experiment
would daily command attention from the clti-
zens of every State. As such an experiment,
1t would not attract public travel to sufficient
extent to make it pay.
The first impression too made on the public
by this Exhibition must of necessity be dlsap-
pointing Everybody will inevitably compare
it with the show of last year, and no matter
how well managed it may be, 1t VIII look
ludicrously like a very small supply OF funeral
baked meats coldly set forth to the wedding
guests. But if it really is the honest purpose
of Philadelphia to serve the interests OF art
science, and manufacture by this undertaking.
there Is but little doubt that she will succeed
in the end, though probably after severe dis
couragement If the people of the country
discover that in Philadelphia there is a great
object-school where they can study the condl-
ton and progress of other countries or even
of their own, in agriculture, manufactures,
ceramics and education, they will go to 1t.
But they will not go to look at the empty
wooden Enclosures of the foreign exhibits OF
last year, or at samples offered by salesmen
for New-York importers or Western factories.
The educational department especially
might be made a national benefit. American
teachers went to the Exposition by the tens OF
thousands last year and learned the alarming
truth that our educational systems were Tar
inferior to those of nations upon whom we
had hitherto looked down with patronage.
The time for comparison was, however, too
short to be of much practical use. If this
Exhibition will set before the public athOrongh
exhibit of the systems and appliances used IN
teaching in this and other countries to which
AN earnest, intelligent teacher can go up to
study and gain the best and newest ideas IN
his profession, it WIN be n permanent advan-
tage to tho whole country. We find among
the names of the committee who have the
matter IL charge tho supcrntcndents OF al
the principal public and private grammar
schools in this country, and those of such men
IA Prof Da Motta of Brazil, Brugsch liey OF
GGuinscn, Mr.. Tanaka of Japan, DR.. Mcyr-
berge OF Sweden, John Hcardt OF Russia, and
many other well-knOwn educators.
These names induce us to hope that the
present plan viii bo adhered to, and this de-
partment at least be made purely educational.
The plan, rs set forth, embraces exhibits 0f
model school-rooms, systems of ventilation
and furniture of each grade, school apparatus,
collections of natural history, collections OF
school laws, reports, journals, etc, ETC.; work
done by students in kiHdergartens, scientific.
technical, normal and commercial schools, and
school books of every class. This is all adj
airablc in purpose The question is VIII the
performance be equally genuine and useful, or
viii the whole matter degenerate into a vehicle
for publishers and manufacturers to display
their wares We hope for the best, and viii
give to the Permanent as to the Centennial
Exhibition our hearty good wishes so long as
it deserves them.