New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-30
ORNAMENTS OF THE WORLDS FAIR.

ORNAMENTS OF THE WORLDS FAR.
The genus crank comes out in force when-
ever popular opinion is invited on puoiic meas
mes. The mass Of letters which Mayor urahC
has received conveying voluntary suggestions
as TO what the Exhibition ought and ought not
70 he would furnish future generations with
noo, idea Of the average mans intelligence, ii
the timely waste-basket were not at hama 10
receive them. Propositions for the dlggihs Oh
deep holes and the erection OF architectural
monstrosites are boldly put forward with pro
found disregard for their intrinsic aDsuru''y'
The one idea which seems to influence tneir
authors is that the Worlds Fair should DE
bigger than anything of the kind the Woriu mas
ever seen. and that, consequently, no freak oil
Imagination is too extravaganza Tor constituent
ton and no scheme too foolish for adoption.
If their suggestions possessed even the merit
,of originality some good might be eX-
pected to result; but so far NJ. Elifel ana Dir
Josepb Paxton. the builder Of the Crystal Pal-
ace in London. have supplied inspiration to
rina-tontbs Of the "cranks' whose ideaS' are
filling the newspapers.
Everybody, of course, understands that the
WORLDS Fair, apart from the variety ana COM
bitterness Of its exhibits, should contain some
entirely novel and distinctive feature, to go
down to posterity as fitting monument Oh
American energy and genius; and unless TINS
featurn is proyided one of the finest oppor-
tunities Of the Exhibition will have been thrown
away. But does the inventor OF the proJece
for erecting two towers at the NaroWS, sur
mounted by statues of Hudson and Columbus
and connected by cables or trestle-work with
= motto in electric lights really imagine that
such 4 grotesoue reproduction of COney Island
on the Fourth Of July would add to the beauty
or impresSiveneSs Of the occasion 10 inc
proud authors of the schemes for mammoth
switchbacllS and miniature MsslSslpps ana
Niagaras tlatter themselves that they are serl-
ousIy promoting the movement for a greab
spectacle? A fine idea foreigners would receive
of orr National taste and sobriety If magni-
fed reproductions of popular toys were to con-
stitute the leading establishment OF the show
grounds Gigantic carouselS and shooting
galleries may be very well in their place, bub
their place is not in the Worlds Fair of 1882.
Fortunately, American inventiveness and en-
terprise have never failed in great crisis.
There are enough original ideas in this country
to stock dozen exhibitions. AT the same
time. 1892 is near at hand, and the conception
and execution of great designs are not the
work of weeks or of months. There is real
danger that in this respect the National ten
dency to prOcrastination and sudden haste may
affect the success of the Exhibition, and the
immediate employment Of the best talent in
the country will be necessary to avert it. What
ever towers or buildings are erected should be
unique, not only in point Of size, but in point
of taste Let us have a display which shall
pattern after neither France nor England, and in
which the handwOrll Of men of genius shall
be revealed-a display which, as the Repub'
lican State platform tersely puts it, shall be
conducted on scale and in manner com
mensurate with the greatness of the Nation and
the patriotism Of the people"