The herald., 1894-03-08
SOMETHING ABOUT THE MIDwINTER
FAIR.

that the m1dWlnCor lalr cannot De mace
to pay. The people OF San Francisco
started ont with that notion, and they
have clung to it ever since. We arr
afraid that with many, in this case, the
wish is father to the thought. 1t is o.
a pleasant revelation that there are such
intense rivalries and jealousies in the
principal city of California that the
idea can be entertained even for q mo.
ment chat any large number of San
Franciscans would wish to ace the fair
a blank failure. And yet this is true.
1t may be q question as to whether
pecuniary success is possible for the
venture. 1t was great undertaking
without aid either from the state or the
city of San Francisco. Under the cir
cumstances, there was something in the
venture that was akin to knightly
chivalry. Everything about it was in
such contrast to the munificent methods
by which the Columbian Worlds fair
wAs pampered and petted by govern
ments national, state and municipal.
1t must bs admitted that, un'
der tho circumstances, the venture waE
daring and praiseworthy in the ex-
treme. In the highest degree it was
calculated to challenge the attention ol
the whole country to the Golden State,
and to confirm the good impression that
California made at the worlds fair.
Ali the incidents of this phenomenal
bid for public favor are such as 10 make
it obligatory upon the peopls OF the
'shole state to assure it's success. We
have all heard the objections to it,
They have been numerous, but they
can be briefly summarized. 1t is said
that it Invited a comparison with the
mammoth Chicago exposition that could
not fail to be invidious. This consure is
conceived in the genuine spirit of hyper
criticism. There was and could be no
spirit of rivalry with a grand interns-
tional display in which every quarter OF
the United States and of the world was
laid under contribution, and whose
treasures exceeded a thousand fold the
glories of a Roman triumph. 1t was
added that it came too soon upon the
heels of the Columbian worlds fair. As
a matter of fact, this was the time, or
never, to give variety and information al
significance to the midwinter fair. II
WAS announced at time that permit
ted many OF the European visitors at
Chicago to participate in it. Il it had
been delayed they would have hied
themselves, with their wares, back to
Europe. This circumstance, also, is
sufficient apology for holding the fair at
a time when the hoodgates of heaven
are opened and it generally rains cats
and dogs around the bay.
Another, and most isrcicai objection,
is that the fair was held at time when
everyone is hard up, and when Califor-
niane, in common with all citizens o.
the United States, are experiencing all
the incenveniences OF the most pro-
nounced financial stringency that has
ever been witnessed in this country
and in the world, for that matter. Jusi
here is where the wisdom OF the mid
winter fair will approve itself to the
Judgment of the most intelligent. Ii
was primarily designed to afford an
object lesson to the tens of thousands
OF tourists and people of means who
every winter, come to the Pacific coast
and particularly to California, Lesson
which should embody in q striking man
ner a summary of our illimitable re-
sources and possibilities. Looked al
from this point of view, it is not easy tc
exaggerste the value OF the fair to this
state and to this coast.
Perhaps the most puerile of all the
objections to the midwinter fair is that
which relates to the personnel of the
gentlemen who have. the exposition in
hand. We have not the slightest in
tention OF entering into any defense oil
the persons who are at the head OF it's
management. Such objections should
have been made at an earlier day, and
those who think they could have done
better ought to have crowded to the
front and taken charge of it's executive
There are several gentle
men OF standing and large means in San
Frsncisco who could have put their
hands in their pockets and have gone
easily to the front in the management
of the fair. The public will not approve
of dog-in-the-manger cry at this late
hour.
We do not know whether or no the
midwinter fair will prove to be Pc
cuniary success. What we do know is
that it ought to be a success pecunisrily
as it is artistically, and that the whole
state should zee to it that its Golfers
shall be filed full and flowing Ger.
From any point of view the fair has been a
great thing fo1 the Colder Stats, and
there is not county in its broad ex-
panse that will not be the better for
its having been held.
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THK 0fITEhJI