Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-20


us keener appreciation Of our permanent
educational and aesthetic institutions-our
public libraries, parks and conservatories.
The so-called craze for household decoration
and art-furnishing is held, by some author
tiles, to have emanated from the Centennial
exhibit at Philadelphia; and one will
scarcely lament the innovation If we COM
pare the present home of the COM
paratively wealthy of to-day with that of
his compeer of 20 years ago; but how many
of Pittsburg's stanch workmen were then
carving the comfortable home of to-day and
so were unable to take advantage of this
opportunity, content to share the reflex
benefit. But here enterprise brings the
fruit of foreign and domestic talent to our
door, and places them within the means and
comprehension of our vast so-called middle
class, and Pittsburg's tradesmeu are fnan-
cially rewarded, Pittsburg's Clearing House
reports go up notch, and if, as philoso-
pliers assert. the 'freside is the college of
the world" our particular department will
add another chair for the benefit of our
rising generation, viz: practical aestheticism
with all the term implies of what is truest
and best.
Practical advertisement may be consid-
cred the primary object of the Exposition.
The rapiditv with which the available space
disappeared, the energy, ingenuity, and Or
lginality in the design and construction OF
individual exhibits, as well as the scope and
diversity of the industries represented, tend
to show the entire success OF the scheme.
The daily press, the usual advertising me-
dium, recognizes this potent factor and fall
ing into the line of general advance, reaps
the benefit of advertisement by increased
vigor and wider foray into the realm of
journalistic achievement. Not only ex-
hibitors, but the smaller tradesmen acknowl-
edge the increase in trade, not only during
the term of exhibition, but also by the per-
manent extension of trade to the surround
ing towns.
Another point worthy of consideration is
the increased insight into our commercial
advantages which may so readily be obtained
by those who come to us merely in the pur-
suit Of pleasure. Visitors from surround
ing districts have time to investigate, and
cannot but appreciate our healthy location,
our water supply, the railroad facilities, our
internal system OF cheap and speedy transit,
our rapidly developing suburbs, our wide
spread and generous gas supply-all must
commend themselves to the astute capital
ist, and our volume of capitalistic enterprise
may very readily be considerably increased.
This necessarily means enlarged opportuni-
ties for the employment of labor, skilled and
unskilled, as we'll as an influx OF desirable
population, and, in these days of census re-
turns, how gladly do We rejoice at this prob
able result.
"Rivalry is the life of trade" so say the
wise, and what a poor showing old fogyism
has in these bustling Exposition days!
Every nerve, fguratively speaking. is
strained to produce a new effect. Here we
see the benefit of ''mental attrition" in trade
life. Employer and employed have i'm
pressed upon them the necessity of the
latest Improvement, the best procurable
product in every line of trade-the effect of
this worthy emulation can only be limited
by the scope of human ingenuity.
The actual financial income can only be
approximated since railroads, cable and
electric lines, hotel and general produce
appreciate the temporary increase in COM
mon with the general line OF the city's staple
merchandise.
So then, the "benefts of the Exposition
to Pittsburg," though manifold, may be
briefly summarized-a spur to practical in
vention; an incentive to the local artistic tai
ent; power in the construction and furnish
ment of the homes of her citizens, wise con-
servator of public taste; perfect school for
the training of the judicious domestic
buyer; a far-reaching scheme for advertising
not only the staple manufactured lines, but
also the city itself, and its advantages in ad-
dition to placing it where it belongs among
the intelligent and ingenious-all this be-
yond the actual cash distributed by our un-
ceasing stream of visitors.
And what of the building itself? 1t is
study in its architectural beauty and adapt
ability to its benefcent purpose. 1t stands
a monument to progressive and intel
irbf nf brSi nd
when We reflect how much its presence
may do to redeem that naturally picturesque
and historic site from its erstwhile deplora-
BILE state, we long to make the man who
gives US "Duquesne Park" presiding
genius of the cty's beauty. to give him the |
freedom of the city and invest him with any |
rite, modern or me6 6ievsl, to show our just |
appreciation of his most noble achievements. |
May the spirit of these progressive times |
inspire him! And can We overlook that |
genial social phase which is an absolute |
eature of our Exposition? Here, rich and |
poor, aristocratic and humble, meet in the |
mutual enjoyment of our great autumnal |
reat.
If one but stops to consider the instructive |
ind elevating influence of the music, the
beautiful In art and science, and accom-
oanying scenes ot~nirth and gayety thus
placed SO pleasingly before those who other
wise see nothing but the humdrum of ex-
stence, we might catch the spirit that an
mates worn faces and to some degree enter
nto the joy of expectation with which
hundreds OF weary hearts, young and old,
brill, when along the line is passed the
iappy watchwords the Expo opens to-
layr' R. V. BRADSHAW,
209 Juniata street, Allegheny.