Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-04-21
so.CALLEp WORLDS FAIRS.

structure.
s0-CALLED WORLDS FAIRS.
The apathy exhibited concerning the
approaching so-called Worlds Fair
at New Orleans does not afford an
encouraged outlook for the success
on plane as broad as the name
bestowed upon the exhibition implies. All
the effort on behalf of the New Orleans
exhibition is being made by New Orleans
itself There are two kinds of worlds
fairs. One to the holding of which the
whole world is committed by consent; that
is to say, a fair held by concurrent agree
ment of all countries of the civilized world.
The second, projected by some locality or
section, to which the world is invited to
send exhibits We are disposed to think
that the last worlds fair in the primary
sense has been held The first attempt of
this kind was the great Universal Exposi-
ton originally projected by England, but
actually organized and promoted by the
civilized world, and held in London in
1852. This was in a true sense a worlds
fair-that is, the industrial and art exhibit
tions of the world were gotten together by
the concurrence of the worlds artists and
artisans. The second great worlds exhi-
bition was held in Paris England, for
reciprocal considerations, joined heartily
with the French in making that exposi-
ton great success. The example of the
great worlds fair in London was still fresh
in the public mind everywhere; and, in
somewhat less degree, it may be said Of the
French Exposition that it was in true
sense a worlds fair But it was the last of
its kind, and we are disposed
to think that it was not only
the last that has been held, but is the last
that ever will be held Vienna got up a
grand exhibition and invited the world to
attend. New York did likewise The
Centennial at Philadelphia was a national
rather than worlds exposition. 1t was a
great success because it was backed by vast
appropriations from the public treasury,
and was in celebration of an event which
touched a public patriotic cord everywhere
Upon such an occasion, national courtesy
could be depended upon for the manifesto
ton of considerable interest on the part of
foreign nations. But even the Centennial
was fair gotten up by part of the world,
to which the remainder was invited to par
ticipate as exhibitors. Australia has re-
Gently held worlds fair of the inferior
and subordinate kind and we predict with
confidence that while the exhibition at
New Orleans will be great value to that
city and while the section Immediately
contiguous to the metropolis of the South
will be fully represented, it will not be in
a true sense a worlds fair; nor will it ade-
quately represent the productions, the in
dustry, the art, the skill, or the scientific
achievements of mundane civilization.
This view of the case, which will be
accepted by All men everywhere as
obviously Just, has an important
hearing upon the proposition to hold
worlds fair in San Francisco. No good
can come of permitting ambition to out
run discretion in this matter. A just
measurement Of the highest possibilities is
demanded by every consideration of sue
cess; and the highest possibilities within
reach of the undertaking are confined to
the limits of a district fair to which the
world may be invited to contribute Here
after, one and even more worlds fairs will
be in progress in some part of the civilized
world. Every year will witness at least one,
two and sometimes three, world fairs in pro-
greSS at the same time. The metropolitan
center of any considerable portion of the
earth's surface will be ambitious to become
the seat of worlds fair. The Pacific
coast may reasonably be emulous of obtain
ing the benefits, both intellectual and finan-
cial, which follow such an undertaking.
But it should project the exhibition upon
plain, common-sense, practical principles.
1t should reduce the soaring ambition of
theory to the commonplace world of the
practical And it is plainly obvious that
the exhibitions of London and Paris, both
in the manner of their organization and
the measure of their success, viii remain
forever sui 9ereriS. The New Orleans fair
is, therefore, fair projected in the interest
of single section, to which the world is
invited as an exhibitor If.i is measur-
ably successful it will be initiated at St.
Louis, Cincinnati, Chicago and other met
ropolitan centers And ii is these con-
slant limitations of the worlds exposition
which will contribute necessarily to the
actual elimination of industrial exhibit
tons upon scope, plan and basis as orig
inally conceived and carried out at London
and Paris.