Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-06-22

As you were in the purheus OF Paris during
the exposition. forming large section Of the
American exhibit, and climbed VI. Eifel's
tower while your salary was marchir on, it
seems TO me that you might give me a few
pointers am particularly anxious to draw a
crowd az the main door and then get it inside
and have some fun with it If so disposed.
would like TO keep this up every day for a
month, giving the people time enough - sleep
Sundays and rest so that they could START in
fresh again Monday. l tell you as a ma tier of
fact W are TO have great exposition, but
want you to make it sure.
What do you think of introducing the ballet?
Do you imagine that Punch and Judy can can
didly be considered a chestnut? What are the
drawing powers Of Sam Jones and Sara Bern
hardt and Allcock's porous plaster, relatively
speaking. Do YOU think the Siarnese Twins
could be restored with success or a galvanic
battery? What do you think of ex-senator
Blair, Of old New Hampshire, in an Grafton Of
| thirty days durationI How would he compare
with DR.. Tanner on fast for that period of
time? Could they hold the crowd, or would
we have 10 lock the people in? Prov ded
battened down the matches, locked every thing
up and oiled the burglar alarms, do you believe
Jay Gould in the act Of shearing coupons would
draw crowd or An inference; What viii re-
move ink from the letter that never came
from Henry Watterson TO D. Z. Hill? Can you
furnish me, for framing, a copy Of the Law pre-
venting David 3. Hill from running for mayor
Of New York in addition to governor OF and
senator from the Empire State? Can you send
me for the art gallery a certified portrait Of
Annie Rooney, deceased? Should ensila-e be
cut often, and If So in what quarter Of the
moon should the abridgment take place? May
i safely introduce into the restaurant o. the
exposition gumquats as a side dish? Do you
think 1t good idea to fix special days, such as
press day, dog days, or would you leave it to
your next almanac? Do you think that the
free coinage Of silver will interfere with the
counterfeiting industry; if so. in what respect?
Could successfully cross the gold bug and the
potato bug and use the resultant in the fat
stock show? II not, why not? Do you think
John L. Sullivan would be out of place in the
| chamber OF horrors which propose intro iuc-
ing in the exposition?
These are simply details, but If you have any
general ideas upon the conduct of an exp osi-
ton showing how it should be run. / would
Ike to have few sacks OF the early variety.
Yours anxiously, r w. MITCHELL
Secretary and Superintendent
DEAR RoBERT-I am glad to know
| that you are to have a great industrial
exposition in Portland worthy of the
wonderful country of which she is the
metropolis. How you came to be the
superintendent and secretary l do not
know. The Oregonians are humor low
ing people, and like to put up jobs on
their neighbors. Possibly that has some
thing to do with it.
You ask me how best to run the ex-
| position, and SO l will try in as little
space as possible to do so. Having the
Paris exposition still fresh in my mem
DRY, feel like throwing out a few hin IS
regarding the matter which / know
will be valuable.
Expositions should have, in the first
! place, a spinal column Of worthy and
valuable exhibits-a sort of hatrack, if
you please, upon which to hang the pop
corn privileges and other features which
are Of minor Importance. The exposi-
ton must not be gigantic boxoffice,
with slight annex Of corn shelters and
patent beehives. People do not care 10
go a great distance to witness recent
methods Of pulling candy or maxim 2
lemonade without the aid of lemons
We should not, Mr.. Superintendent,
allow the commercial spirit to cast a
gloom over nude art, nor our American
thrift to get cinch on science at such a
time.
The exposition in Paris was a great
success because it was an entertainment
| and an education to see it; not because
it was a big county fair, with oppor-
tunities at every corner for the French
peasant to test the strength Of his lungs
warn you first of all, as superintend-
ent, against the American commercial
spirit, which crops out at all times, but
especially in an exposition. A sausage
stuffng machine is one of the most beau
tiful sights, from an utilitarian stand
point, that ever saw, but it will not
bring people from distance. You must
have something Of art and beauty, and
an element of the wonderful. l would
impress this upon you, for, taking the
Paris exposition as oriterioD-and you
could use it that way if you wished to
do so-the crowd was ever packed about
| fhn ctrnnnn the heantifnl and the WON