The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-24
Il THE EXPOSITION pAssINGs

Up TO the present time IL has been COM
monty believed that the great exposition
which 1t is proposed to hold In Paris in 1850
would be something even eciipsing the great
Worlds fair In Chicago. The French are
adopts at handling great shows, both in the
matter OF attractions and successful finsn-
cial management. and when the boast was
made that they would excel the great Amer
ican exposition. there were many reasons
for believing that II sould be done. Tie cost
OF the proposed Paris exposition was piaced
even higher than that st Chicago which. as
is commonly acknowledged, was very OK
trsyagantly run, and so far as architectural
and Landscape features are concerned, plan
has been adopted which indicates that it
rrshensfyeness and magnifcence such as
has never been eaualed.
The French project was approved By the
legislative body in July, 1892, and already
extensive preparations have been made for
carrying IT out Recently. however. an OPP
position has arisen which appears 70 be
gaining in strength so rapidly throughout
the entire country that the promoters and
managers may well apprehend failure
through a lack of popular support. The ex-
position has been attacked on the grounds
of utility. OF morals and Of political oppor-
tuneness. Provincial France has condemned
the scheme and Paris itself is not nearly so
enthusiastic as the exposition people eX-
pected. The leading review of France, tie
Revue des Deux Mondss. has spoken very
iec.slvely against the project. claiming the
progress OF the times does not warrant it,
and arguing that universal expositions ere
Improbable anyway TO the mass of the geo.
Pile who labor and have 10 pay for them;
that they are merely an increase OF useless
burdens. bringing together a mass of coarse
and feverish specta les which appeal only
10 the baser instincts. lower civic dignity
and tend to popular decentralization.
This is a rather severe arraignmeut OF
world fairs. and quite unexpected coming
as IL does from Parisians the leaders Of n
ternational expeditions. with their accom-
panying pageants. Perhaps there IS some
truth IN it. Perhaps this hostility arises
from the fact that the world Is tired of great
shows From a financial standpoint the
last French exposition was SUCCESS The
balance was on the right side and bank &C.
posits, railway receipts and profits in gem
eral trade showed a large increase during
the exposition season. The main argument.
however. is to the effect that expositions
do no good. that their educational side has
been neglected ard that their bsneaeial re-
suits do not ce,fnterbalance the evils fol
lowing their demoralzng influences. It
may be- that with the wheat there IS nuca
char, hut universal expeditions appeal 10
tho world and il the world Is willing to pay
~ see them. the promoters must necessarily
cater 10 the worlds fancies. II may NJ hat
in course og time eNpositions Niu become
specialized a. Nspolean suggested in 1855.
ana viii be especially devoted 10 showing
she Advancement 80 certain lines of indus
Try or the progress made Ia scientific re-
search and invention Such cxpositions
viii be educators bat II Is doubtful II they
lecome popular outside or circles whteh
have q personal or professional interest in
them 4 worlds fair 70 he a success mast
appeal 70 az manner OF amen IN the world
and these great comprehensive shows will
pronal}y be mere ~ an education 20 more
people than rhe specialized expostuons.
even Il they display ohespness. vulsa~s,y
aul some commonplace characteristics