New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-27
TIE ST. LOrIS EXPOSITION

The visit Of President Roosevelt TO st Louis
for q glimpse Of the international exposition
there, which is about TO close, will revive in
thousands Of minds the lamentabIe sequel OF
Journey 10 Buffalo by his predecessor three
years ago last September In view Of the nos
sibIe risk TO which the head of the national gov
eminent would be exposed on such an occa-
sion, no doubt the country would have approved
Mr. Roosevelts decision had he declined alto
Gether the invitation 10 attend the fair Never
theless he has done wisely in accepting the
proffered courtesles 1t has been customary
in Europe for presidents and emperors to honor
such exhibitions by their personal presence
To have stayed away from ST. Louis, therefore
would have looked Ike an admission that the
life of q ruler is less safe in the United States
than In foreign countries, and we fancy that
Mr.. Roosevelt is the last man IN America who
would assent 10 that doctrine.
The exhibition itself which comes to an end
on Thursday next, has served useful purpose
In the fact that IT covered a larger area than
any previous worlds fair there is no special
cause for boastfulness. Quality rather than
size Is the great essential, and the St Louis
show has cOnformed so closely TO established
precedent In this respect that It cannot have
failed TO fulfil its mission as a popular edu-
Gator. For obvious reasons its patronage has
come mainly from the central part of the coun-
try. Since the Columbian Exposition in Chi
cago eleven years ago fresh generation has
come 10 the front beyond the Alleghanies; and
only limited proportion of the elder element
Of the population there had the opportunity Of
attending the Pan-American show in Buffalo
Hence, there were millions OF intelligent pe0-
pie within a radius Of q thousand miles Of St
Louis who have had their first experience of
the kind within the last five or six months and
mill ha
been treated 10 impressive architectural effects
unlike anything witnessed before looked upon
6 great many mechanical marvels and displays
of metal work that were pleasing revelations
of human skill and ingenuity, and in the pictu-
rescue and strange sights of the foreign quar-
ter have found a pleasure that could be other
wise derived only from a tour abroad
so short has been the interval Of time since
the next preceding worlds fair was held that
the one IN 81. Louis could hardly be expected TO
indicate any marked progress in civilization.
Wireless telegraphy is among the most recent
scientific novelties, and by one Of the inventors
who has contributed TO the development Of that
art "A exhibit has been made this year which
was suggestive, If not instructive, TO the unini-
tiatad. They had q chance TO see the tower en-
pi0yed 20 sustain the necessary upright wires
even II they did not fully understand their use
Another new feature was the series of aero
nautic contests arranged to be held at st. Louis
These have proved somewhat disappointing. in
respect both TO the length Of the voyages made
through the air and the standing Of the contest
ants, but we believe that no such competition
has occurred at any previous worlds fair Per-
haps the most startling scientific discovery of
the last year or two has related to the properties
OF radinm. Hence. 1t was happy thought of
tie United States Geological Survey m disr1or
p collection OF literature apparsfus ana -,
sis illustrating the subject Of radio activity ana