The Detroit times., 1913-08-01
CRYSTAL PALACE
IS SAVED TO The
ENGLISH NATION
Million To Keep Historic Resort
Out of Hands of Spectators
Raised
MANSION HOUSE FAILED;
LONDON TIMES SUCCEEDED
Great Newspaper Took Only a
Fortnight to Complete the
Required Fund

LONDON, July 29.-The historic
pleasure resort known as the Crystal
palace, which was erected SO years
ago and dedicated TO the late Queen
Victoria. liz TO be preserved in per-
petuity to the English nation.
This announcement, coming after
repeated threatenings that the entire
building, occupying l6 acres, with
100, 900 square feet OF exhibition
grounds, together with surrounding
park of 200 acres, was TO be sold TO
the highest bidder, has caused the
greatest jubilation TO thousands who
| visit the palace annually TO witness
the great football and cricket con-
tests that take place on the best kept
grounds in the kingdom
Field For 100000 Spectators.
| The Crystal Palace combines the
characteristics of Madison-sq garden
and Van Cortlandt park, being a sort
OF permanent exhibition center stu
ated half an hour from Charing Cross
at Sydenham. Ten thousand tons
of iron and 500 tons OF glass We're
used in It's erection Its football fields
accommodate over 100 900 spectators
IL was dl the tIgsldl lndt NHc
American exhibition OF 1902 was held,
when some 100000 people visited
the park between May and Septem.
! Der.
Two years ago a conference was
held at the Mansion house under the
chairmanship OF the Lord Mayor Of
London. when means were discussed
| for preserving for the nation this
| magnificent playground II was hoped
! to raise 81 10000 TO save the pal
ace and grounds from being handed
over to the building spectators An
appeal was made to the public for sub
scriptions, but only disappointing
response resulted
In October, 1911, Lord Plymouth
came forward with laudable public
spirit and made himself personally
responsible for the amount needed
and thus held of the threatened sale
In emulation OF his lordship's gener-
osity Lord Strathcona. high commits
sioner for Canada, little later prom
| ised $4,000. further conditional
| donation was made by a mysterious
private citizen" who offered TO give
| $3.50, 900 If 100000 were subscribed
before a certain time by the general
public.
But in spite of these gifts Sir David
Burnett, the lord mayor, was still
short of the necessary amount Ac-
cordingly on June 30, this year. he
made an appeal TO the London Times
requesting that great newspaper con.
trary TO its established precedent. to
open a subscription and so raise the
required balance.
Times Takes II Up.
On June 80 the public appeal was
made In the Times. and exactly IA
days later the newspaper was able to
announce that the desired amount of
S450,00O had been subscribed
Among the chief helpers of the fund
was Richard Burbidge, managing di-
rector OF Harrod's stores, which claim
to be the largest In the world, not
excepting the great department stores
In New York or Chicago. Mr.. BUR
bidge telephoned the lord mayor to
learn how the fund was progressing,
and learned that certain sum must
be Immediately forthcoming to Sc
cure the donation of the private citi-
zen" he at once sent his check for
amounts already collected In ms
store
The identity OF the private citi-
zen Is causing much speculation. 1t
Is announced that he Is not a mem
Der of either the house OF lords or
of the house of commons. Nor is he
newspaper proprietor
II is hoped that further subscrip-
tions will still be forthcoming which
VIII 90 toward an endowment fund,
FOR hitherto the Crystal Palace has
not been paying concern except on
rare and special occasions, although
its weekly display of fireworks. its
athletic events, and the world ia
nous Handel festival are visited by
thousands.