The record-union., 1893-05-02
OPENING OF THE WORLDS FAIR.

Though in a state of unreadiness the
Worlds Columbian Exposition was for
lnally opened by the President of the
United States yesterday. In the history
of World Fairs it will probably rank as
first in extent and completeness of the
appointments, and also in an architect
ural sense, since the buildings are more
spacious, pretentious and numerous, and
by all conceded to be superior in beauty
and ornamentation to any ever erected
for similar purpose. Whether it will
other respects remains to the future for
determination.
In significance we cannot place it, how
ever, as above and beyond the first
Worlds Fair held-London, 1851. That
initial effort will forever remain in his
torical annals as the most significant and
important, though the least of all the
fairs held. 1t demonstrated the possi-
bility of drawing the peoples of the earth
together in friendly and inspiring compe-
tition for honors for the arts of peace,
and laid the cornerstone of all subse-
quent accomplishment in like direction.
The cost of that first fair was less than
one-twentieth the cost of the Colum bian
Exposition SO far as yet ascertained, and
the receipts were. probably, for the en-
tire five months it was kept open less
than will be the receipts at Chicago for a
single month. Yet it may turn out that
the London fair was more successful in
profit-making than will be that at Chi
cago, since it cleared for its managers
.e2OO, 1000.
The Worlds Fair idea was next pro-
NOTED by Germans who opened the
Munich Exposition in 1854 Its success
was not an unbroken one, and it did not
partake of the internationalch so
fully as its predecessor, or nearly so
significantly as that opened in Paris in
the next year. In both cases the fairs
lost heavily for their conductors.
of these failures-in a financial sense
had so faded from memory that another
Worlds Exposition could be forwarded,
London opening her second Worlds Fair
in 1862. 1t, too. proved a loser, though
III management it was great improve
ment upon its predecessors. In 1867
T,-ia H. =.
ment once more. but with no profit
financially, though it was an exposition
of very high importance. Austria tried
her hand at the business in 1873 with sue
cess, and the United States of America
followed in 1876, with the great Centen-
NAL Exposition, scoring triumphs along
all lines. Two years'later, France again
invited the productive industries and
artistic world to gather within her gates
the best of their examples. 1t was 8
notable exposition and a pronounced
success in every respect.
1t is doubtful If the Melbourne exposi-
ton of 1880 is to be properly classed
among worlds fairs, though so intended
and promoted, but the remoteness of the
locality and the difficulty of access to it
stripped it of great international import
ance, though it was a remarkably fine
affair.
The Amsterdam General Expectation
and International and Colonial Exposi-
tion of 1888 is by many authorities taken
out of the order of worlds fairs, but
probably in justice it deserves to be cata-
logued with the rest. 1t was notable
exposition, and in point of size and COM
mercial importance is entitled to rank in
the history of fairs as next to the Partisan
International Exposition of 1873 at the
Amsterdam Fair the United States made
no official appearance.
In 1S84-S5 the cotton centenary was
celebrated at New Orleans by a worlds
fair that proved to be far greater and
more important affair than even its pro-
moters had planned it to be. 1t was
given character by the action of the Fed
eral Government and the large number
of nations taking part. 1t is worthy of
note that the main building at this fair
had floor space in extent more than
double that of the main buildings at any
other worlds fair. This exposition in
receipts fell considerably short of its ex-
penses; in other respects, however, it was
q credit to the nation.
In 1889 the French Government made
its latest effort in fair promotion and
proved how much the world had profited
by the experiences had, for it eclipsed all
fairs to that date and made a record that
will linger in history with undiminished
luster for all time. At this great exposi-
ton the income proved more than suffi-
cient to meet the expenses.
The present exposition, the next in
order, has cost thus far nearly as much
as all the output for all the other worlds
fairs. 1t, however, starts in with guar
antees-municipal, individual and Gov
ernmental-that will insure its cost fully
SO far as the public is at present advised.
As arcelebration event, a commemorative
act, the opening of this exposition has
been so much the subject of treatment in
essay, poetry and legislation, and the
people of the whole civilized world have
haan So we'll informed concernipo tho