New-York tribune., 1877-06-02
THE PERMANENT EXHIBITION.

WHEREIN 1T Is ONLY A SHADOW OF THE OLD-LFT
TIERS OF INQUIRY-RENAINs or THE OLD DAYS.
PHILADELPHIA, May 30.-Letters received
here from different sections Of the country indicate thar
there are very crude and eXtravagant notions en-
tcrtaned with regard to the Permanent Exhibition, par
ticulaIly in comparing it with that of last These
correspondents nnocently ask whether this exhibition
really equals the great Centennial These notions
the result Of the undue prominence given 10 this local
affair by the journals Of this city and Of Neyiork. Tn
ecat the opening ceremonies the presence OF the Pres
den members OF the Cabinet, and otner distinguished
this time also served TO give It notoriey
and it thus started with nearly as much advertising
as the Exhibition OF last year.
The fact is this cannot regarded as anything NOR
than sdeshow or relic Of the Centennial, and out OF
some 800 exhibitors 600 are from Philadelphia.
would be called fine show under other circumstance
and not dwarfed by the ASSOCIATION with relic
and ruins past gories that surround it every hand
lie who comes here expecting 10 see any Of these
spendors revived will be sorey disappointed and that
poor unfortunate individual who failed TO the great
exhibition will get only faint idea OF its grdndeuA
by inspecting this-its tomb amid the ruins
To one who took an active part in the ceremonies oI
who knew the great Fair from intimate acquaintance
the feeling Of sadness as he looks 10 akin 10
that one feels visiting cemetery. lie wandcrs her
and there the magnificent lawn, pointing out the
sites OF innumcrabc buildings ana places, commenting
their characteristics or past greatness as II recalling
memories OF dear departed friends. This PROSTATE
smoke-stack marks the site OF that synonym for extor
tlon the TrOis Fr6res Restaurant Across the avenue
the great American traveller interviewed the Oriental
among his sandalwood ornaments In TIE TRIBUNE
Pavilion now gone TO Office 70 an iron foun
derry listened by the hour to the garrous old gentleman
from the country as he told how long lie had been
n subscriber and ret0ld rocoectons OF Mr.. Greeley.
Aons this avenue swarmed the crowds, delighted With
the chimes, the caIiope. and the fog-horn
There across the lake. now shrunk 70 a frog pond,
stands the great beehive OF industry, Machinery Han,
silent aud deserted; Agricultural Hall IN the opposite
direction mass Of ruins. The Government Building,
Won!ans Pavilion and the restaurants gone. OF tho
state buildings only Ohio and Pennsylvania remain.
Booths cafes. payons, aud bazaars have taken fight
with all the rest Tie grounds covered with heaps OF
rubbish and ong-neglected grass, look il they bad
been bombardcd ever since the Exhibition closed. let
rs turn now aud see what has been done to retrieve tbs
waste They are making eGJrt 10 revive the beau
fil flowers in and around horticultural II 3D. and the
lawn this region presents very pretty appear-
ancc This is all / can say Tor the outside Nihn
familiar things from last years Fair and feels that tho
thing l. padded with relies. IAc iew hundicd daily
visitors only the ghosty shadows OF Tie thtougs that
sWaimcd these asle'. one Naha'9 aVhS ANA ictts 10
exhibitor bat the sharpyisGsed business man with
sewing gmachines, pianos, or some hNeuuoh I'd sell OK
scheme oi advertising In Wow. one sees no foreigners
that can be recognized such. Ia vain one looks Tor
the cued nal of the eachest picture with bis world
OF curious merchandise or the cute Ntc Jap aud hls
wonderful creations Nearly every thing that nj
tractyo and that drew the delighted crowd s gone, aud
has instead dry goods drugs pianos winmachnes,
Yankee inventions, and doubtful protusiOn. The
Educational Department is the rCdeemng feature In &c
aIe shown an te modern sccntinc anpancas Tor cram
ming and making children iutO little old men and women
before their time. IL Will pay the teacher or those inter-
ested IN educational matters 70 come end study this
study In hls line would be absurd, and he
would regret the loss Of his time and money.