The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-18

militarylike precision and punctuality,
as well as the m~agniicence of Germany's
exhibits, which always left a decided
impression upon the beholder. What
ever nations might be delayed or unready,
Germany's exhibit was always complete
and ready to open or the day the fair
itself opened. There could hardly be n
more impressive illustration Of the Ger
man spirit Of thoroughness and prepared
ness than she has shown wherever and
whenever a great worlds fair has opened
Its gates. That such a country cele-
brating an imperial event would set a
new pace, at least 40 far as exposition
making is concerned, may be taken for
granted, and il is therefore not an alto
gether pleasant surprise TO learn that at
a recent meeting Of the Chamber Of Com
MERGE Of Berlin the project OF holding
the great international fair was killed,
there being only seven votes in favor Of
the proposal.
II is not improbable that this result
was brought about by the refusal of many
other German cities to favor holding
such a fair. Whether Emperor WILLIAM
himself looks with favor upon the scheme
is not stated. If he does It is not
unlikely that even yet the plan may be
revived, though with the big matters
now commanding the worlds attention it
is fair to assume that the Emperor has
other and more important things to think
Of than a celebration planned nominally,
at least, in his honor.
There is reason also TO believe that
in deciding not TO hold a worlds fair
in 1912 or 1913 Berlin, like New York in
regard to a similar proposal as to the
Fulton celebration, decided wisely. 1t is
true there was no lack of exhibitors at
st. Louis, each clamDring for more space;
but at the same time that fair on the
whole may be said to have emphasized
the fact that the great shows were be-
coming too common. The rarity Of an
event heightens its distinction, but when
every ambitious city is anxious 10 hold
an international exposition to comment
crate something not of universal inter-
est the idea is no longer startling or
even interesting and descends promptly
TO the commonplace.
OF the stereotyped worlds fair, as VI.
HANoTAUx, ex-Minister of Foreign Az
fairs, said at the time Of the last Paris
exposition, everybody is tired. In his
opinion once in twenty-five years is as
often as such an exhibition should be
undertaken, and the decreased interest
Of the public in the last two or three
occasions OF the kind seems 10 confirm
his opinion. Such enterprises to be inn
pressive, spectacular and with a world
wide appeal, such as their title would
seem TO claim, are toe great a draft on
the invention and imagination of me-
chanics, artists and engineers 10 be
honored at sight by every city whose
ambitions outrun its ability in actual
performance.
Even Paris, "the mother Of EXPOSE
tons, is not always successful in putting
a new edge on the popular appetite for
international novelties in the way Of in
dustrial and artistic display. New York
and Berlin, therefore, have probably both
acted wisely in not Selling opportuni-
ties which much smaller municipalities
would not have let pass TO hold celebra-
tions which have long since lost whatever
charm of novelty they once had.
This philosophical view of the causes
Of the lack of general interest in expo
sitions may help to console our James
town friends. who certainly had a sub
ject of general interest 10 serve az the
rdison detre of their fair. As to the com
ing Alaska Yukon exposition already
in course Of preparation-its promoters
have a definite purpose in view, which
they will no doubt achieve TO a certain
extent. They are not flying their arrow
at the gun, but nevertheless they may
hit the housetop.