Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-04-16
8eligioms department.
The Engine that did Not Run
On Sunday.

|
The recent death of Hon. George
| II. Corliss of Providence, recalls his
refusal to allow his famous engine
to run on Sunday at the centennial
exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876.
A word or two about this engine
may not be out of place. Not long
after the decision was reached to
hold the exhibition, Mr.. Corliss sub
mltted plans for an engine of four
teen hundred horsepower to move
the machinery in Machinery Hall"
His plans were received with oppo-
sition and he withdrew them. He
then sent out circulars to the best
known builders of steam engines,
boilers and shaftings, asking them
at what price they would furnish
them for the exhibition. From the
answers received it was found ''that
the combined power of all the ma
chinery offered fell short of the re-
quired amount" Mir. Corliss was
then asked to renew his offer. This
he did, and as soon as the work
could be compl, ted the engine was
taken from his works in Providence
to Philadelphia. We are told that
the cost of this undertaking, over
and above other aid furnished,
amounted to over 100000, making
it the most princely contribution ever
made by one individual to an inter
nal exhibition. The highest author
ity places the centennial engine
among the greatest works of the
day-''in every detail masterpiece.
1t may be remembered by some of
this article that it was proposed to
open the centennial to the public on
Sunday. The old plea was urged
which the breakers of the Sabbath
are putting forth, that a Sunday eX-
hibition would be of great interest
and useful service to the working
people. The excitement awakened |
in all directions by the discussion of |
the question was very great. A |
large number of "respectable peo-
pie" demanded the Sunday exhibit
ton. Calmly, but unfinchingly, |
Mr.. Corliss met the question and |
compelled the managers to come to
a halt by declaring that he would |
''shut his engine down, and it should |
not make another revolution during |
the exhibition if the Sunday law
broken" 1t was urged that it was
well enough for well-to-do people, |
who could visit the exhibition at any |
time, to take stand against the |
Sunday opening, but it was hard for
the poor not only to be compelled to |
pay the entrance fee but to lose their |
weekday earnings. Mr.. Corliss
squarely met the objection by say
ing that, so far as he was concerned,
he should urge the observance of |
what in derision was called The |
Puritan Sabbath" because of the |
jealous regard he had for the poor
workingmen themselves. ''Just so
sure,' said he, ''as you break over
the line of the Sabbath YOU have |
condemned the poor to seven days
work instead of six, as witnesses
every employment where by tacit |
undersl anding, work is carried on
seven days in the week. No doubt |
Mr.. Corliss was declared to be pig |
headed and obstinate, but he carried |
his point. There was no Sunday |
exhibition, and he had the hearty |
thanks of the lovers of the oldfash-
toned Sabbath and the no less hearty |
thanks of the overworked and often
dreadfully jaded managers of the |
details of the great centennial exhi- |
bition for securing for them day |
of rest MO7.ni1,O Star