New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-16
CLOSED ON SUNDAY.

The decision of the Local Directory closing
the Worlds Fair on Sunday ends long con
tloyersy in an unexpected manner. The thing
that has happened is the one thing which
neither party II that controversy prcdlctod
There NAV have been individuals who forCSaw
the result but if so they made no impression
upon the minds of those who have been con
Quoting the debate. The great majority OF all
who wanted the Fair opened on Sunday, IN
cluding the managers with whom the decision
rest ID. believed that the grounds and buildings
would be thronged with visitors on that day,
and the revenues enormously increased in CON
sequence And with few exceptions those who
opposed Sunday opening agree with their adj
versarics on this point In general one side
was convinced that the Sunday visitors would
be quiet. orderly persons dc>rous OF lmpfOV-
ING the holiday, while the other side appre-
hendod a dissertation of the day OF rest by
tumultuous thrOngs of SightSccrS of low
average of responsibility. If anybody had adj
yanccd the proposition that the number OF
sunday visitors should be so small as TO render
necessary their exclusion for financial reasons
after a brief but decisive test both sides would
have rejected the idea.
The event has refuted numerous predictions
and discrcditcd all the prophets. At the same
time il has proved several significant facts. and
at least suggested some interesting c0n>dcra-
tions In the first place, il is just to say that
the Sunday visitors have not been diSreputable
and turbulent and from one point of view
this is an agreeable and satisfactory recollec-
ton. But on the other hand the anticipated
throngs of intelligent labOrng men and women.
seeking instruction and innocent diversion,
glad 10 escape the temptations OF idlcnesS and
gratefully putting their day of rest to a whole
some and elevating use. have failed 10 improve
the opportunir, 50 confidently offered TO them.
And from this point of view many serious
and sincere ad,oca of Sunday opening whom
the gate receipts did not concern in the least
must be greatly disappointed some Of them
may indeed say that thc test is not conclusive.
inasmuch aS certain attractive features OF the
Exhibition have not been visible on Sunday.
But We are inclined to think that a majority
Of those who would naturally be most aversc
to paying tho rcgular,admiS>ion fee 10 Il show
only partly open do not belong to the wage
earning class but 10 n class which is generally
rather more calculating and economical, and
which moreover, is likewise subject 10 other
influences
This unforeseen experience offers some sug
gcstionS aS 10 the element in the population
which is the main support of this particular
undertaking. and. generally speaking. of large
social and educational enterprises. 1t has been
indicated if not concusively proved that the
wage.earncrs are not visiting the Fair in num-
bcrs relatively large. and the inference is a
IL. 81, Ill,
drawn from those who are commonly. if some
what indefinitely. designated as " the plain
people persons who feel a constant impulse
and obligation 10 accept rs many opportunities
of sclf-improvemcnt as possible, who are IN
ausitye for conscience sake, and who have
made numerous novel experiments in mental
and moral culture remarkably successful with
in recent years.
Whatever reasons may be assigned for this
singular failure 10 realize either the hopes or
fears of those who have taken part in the con-
trovcrsy and intenty watched the results, our
belief is that the final decision will he salts
factory to a great number of persons in addi-
ton TO those who have actively opposed Sun
day opening. There must, for example, be
very many who have not felt justified in max
ing an argument of their personal beliefs and
preferences, but who will nevertheless be glad
that financial considerations have finally de-
tcrmned the issue as they have. But il still
remains to be regretted that the managers
were willing to take advantage of legal de-
cision to violate the agreement which procured
for them a large sum of money from the Ma
ii nal Treasury. And even now we think that
they can better afford to surrender than to
retain their moagre Sunday receipts.