The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-12
THE VALUE OF THE FAIR.
Less in Showing Our Strength Than in
Revealing Our Weakness.

NSfSdiIIS OuI w GdhUCSS.
Tie current number of the Engineering
Magazine leads off with a valuable article
on 1.-THE Worlds Fair and Industrial Art
by Alfred T. Goshorn, the president of the
Centennial Exposition. He points out the
Importance of making the fair great ex-
hibition and not simply great show. The
men in charge of the approaching Column
bian Exhibition, he says. need not be re-
minded of this, but the public. II one may
judge from the tone of current references
to the exhibition, may we'll be reminded
that it has serious lessons to learn in Chi
cago this year-that 1t must 60 there not
merely to be amused by few days or weeks
of light-hearted entertainment, but pre-
pared for the closest observation, the most
keen and diigent study-intelligent COM
paratlye study, which is far from easy-Of
the products of all the peoples OF the world,
with view solely TO our own material,
scientific and esthetie advancement. The
time will be short. the opportunities many.
1t may help TO impress this fact to look
back at the Centennial Exhibition of 1876
and some OF its influences. Can you realize
the changes we have undergone in the six
teen years that have elapsed2 In machinery,
in all applied mechanics, our activity was
vigorous, and in this direction our exhibit
was most cTeditable; in fact, so impressive
was the showing of our natural resources,
and so positive the evidence of our power in
manufacture and commerce, that those six
months Sutficed to completely alter the atti-
tude of the European mind toward us.
From provincial station, one up TO that
time associated with the idea OF colonies, we
became at once to Europe a great nation"
with resources TO be drawn upon by CON-
mercial cancellations. nation to be reck-
oned with in the markets of the world.
But. in culture was it not seriously other
t,.,I hr-f 10
ton of incompatible weakness? The lib
eral arts were manifested in the European
and Oriental exhibits; not In ours. And
we learned the lesson and set ourselves to
applying il until now we must stand amazed
by the penetration of estheticS into every
nook and Granny of our lives. From the
commonest domestic u.enSil to the most ex-
travagant luxury the influence has ex-
tended. Since 1876 we have passed through
many phases OF experience, taking lessons
now from English, now from Japanese, now
from French or German products which
were first extensively shown US 10 Philadel-
phla. Select almost any manufacture. Take
by hazard wallpapers. Compare the de-
signs of to-day with those of 1916, as you re-
call them. Look at the hopeless furniture
of 1876 debased beyond re iemption from
the purer types which had come over IN
colonial times. Then textile fabrics, ceram-
ics-incuding glass. in which American
manufacturers have accomplished so much
in fact, all the furnishings Of your house
from the attic to the cellar. Nor forget the
outside of the house, where architects are
constantly teaching Us purer taste. See
what this has led to in the exhibition build
ings at Chicago, of which the harmonious
grouping aud the beauty aud elaborate
decoration exceed anything yet attempted
in previous exhibitions. even in Paris.
As we went to Philadelphia in 1876, we
must go TO Chicago III 1898 TO learn. 1t can
hardly be expected that so radical change
will result Yet in 1875 we little dreamed
of the shakng-up lG store for us. To now
indicate in what direction we are 10 seek in
spiration would be folly. Each one must go
to seek for himself that which rounds out
his own accomplishment that which con-
tains the richest material for future work
ing. There will be en0ugh-far more than
can possibly be assimiiated. That the
stimulus we shall receive will be not unlike
that in Philadelphia is assured. There is
additional reason for this in the fact that
the advances made since 1876 have put US
on a better footing for future development.
Nor is this true alone in the fine aud the in
dustrial arts. 1t is similarly the case in
other more unitarian directions. Business
organizations are far more compact and eff
cient, combinations of capital are readily
made for the successful pursuit of schemes
OF magnitude hitherto impracticable. In
this respect our manufacturers, merchants,
our capitalists in general, possess a capacity
lar beyond anything that existed in 1876