The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-09
7hs Great Fair Only a Huge AdVer-
Using Show After all.
THE AMERICAN SCHOOL EXHIBIT
IL the Beat and Most Complete Of Any
Line That 10 Attempted-Fair Does
Not DO Justice to American
tures, ART, Science or Agriculture.
sprcrAL TO TIE NEWS


CHICAGO, Oct. e.-Everybcdy carries
away at least one unique thing from the
fair. IL is the opinion they a Of the
big show. Probably the great majority
are 30 overpowered by the vastness OF it
that any impulse oward independent
Judgment they might feel is wholly
stifed and put away. 1t IL only the most
courageous who can view the thirty odd
acres of exhibits la the manufacturers
building with any power to consl er the
snow on Its merits as q whole. Yet the
moment any sort OF an artistic or educa-
tional or utilitarian test Is applied the
whole thing reveals itself as q hodge
podRe Of the most g~rotesque character.
So of the whole fair, with one or W ex-
ceptions, which are only notable because
they are exceptions and not because they
sre important In themselves Some OF
the best exhibits, bectuss they allow one
20 form complete ideas. are those made
by concerns independently. simply because
they completely illustrate the nechani-
cal tr artistic fact. or state OF progress,
sought to typify. This Is a principle that
has ruled but with : most mild way Ia
tbs minds of the controlling spirits OF
the whole big show.
A Big Advertising Show.
Perhaps this il one OF the inevitable
defects of such q tremendous undertake
ind. Certainly the directors could not
afford to dictate too much to the exhibit
vors, who had to be guided and controlled
BY the advertising idea. The only chance
to secure consistency and completeness
was sacrificed when the fair was turned
over to the Chicago hustlers, and the gov
ernment decided not to undertake 10.
That this fundamental defect does not
apply to the buildings and grounds Is the
great redecmipg feet. The grand ensem-
BILE, outwardly,. 10 irreproachabie. 1t is
far more than that. 1t establishes stand
ards OF art. bold, grand, magnificent.
fact, viewed as a whole, rather
than an exhibit of material pro-
Rress I'D station In the world. 1t il
Impossible TO get any sort of conception
OF tho industrial condition OF the nation
or OF any state. 1t H. impossible not to be
profoundly impressed with the splendid
grounds and buildings a. AN artistic
testimony to the spirit OF the land
aud age Of the highest Significance
and value. One feels that here at last il
the voice OF the twentieth century, mute
yet profoundly eloquent. and while wit
for the future. There is absolutely
nothing petty or mean or conformable
about the white city. 1t IL such an an
bodimont OF genius as appears upon the
earth but once in al historical era, to In
spire man with the certainty OF the
future and the absolutism Of prophecy.
1t IL lniy Transitory.
Yet IL 10 to be tran STORY, and that sad fact
the keenuess OF the pleasure Of
the thoughtful visitor. There seems no
way but demolition, yet demolition
eeems sscrilege. But IL may not be 30.
Probably less than a century will age
The Worlds fair artistic standard so much
~ w~onIA ~ nsr tn -
TO IL descendants of the third. fourth
or filth generation In the future.
This suggests how much the big exhi.
ton owes to the beginning Of great
things. It's interest consists chiefly In
the things we have learned but the A b
plays. for example, is apparent TO the
veriest tyro.. despite the marvellous things
1t reveals. We have scarcely more than
begun TO play with the subtle aud all
powerful fluid that is destined to revolu-
tionize as socially aud morally as we'll as
materially.
Other features of the fair that are of |
the ereatcst interest derive their attractive
power from this fact they are sugges-
tive q Indicative revelations, not
evidences Of exhausted thought. Almost
eloquent OF this. They are the tentaees
Of the benehcent octopus of civilization, |
which are cropping in a light as yet dim
and uncertain, but bright enough at last
to indicate direction and manifest ten |
denotes.
European Exhibits tho Rest.
The European exhibits show flush and
elaboration, the extreme refinement OF |
ideas long entertained and appreci ted. |
Americans have not expended their
energy in this way. They have neglected
polish to seek for originality. Therefore
fbn fnrofOn oxhihifa annual |
~ TO ones love OF flushed beauty than
the American. while the latter stimulate |
the national idea that we are the nation
destined to lead the world toward new
light:
ground OF criticism Of the fair and rouses
sharp regret that 1T should exist at all.
The fair ought TO show better than il
does what the United States has becon q.
IL 10 not possible TO get even a dim notion
Of this that can be relied upon in the
educational line. The man w sne
can. nv studying all the New England
exhibIts. form any proper idea OF any
New England state must be q prodigy OF
= variety. never yet recognized. New
England. In fact. is lost 10 the maze OF
We are emphaticslly not in
it, even little Bit. 1t is
too bad that we are not, but so far as
i can learn In conversation with men who
ought to know il Is not our fault but our
misfortune. Westerners took the lions
share of the space. and whoever in the
East wanted space got a foot where they
needed a rcd.
But the West paid the bills. The rrodi-
gal libersiity Of Chicago entitled its
people TO have their say, aud they were
not In the least backward about clsimlng
Nil the privileges the utmost stretch OF
hberalily could accord them. G.. Il.
The New Baking Powder.
Borsford's Improved.