Evening star., 1926-05-16

The Centennial Exhibition was fol
mally opened at Philadelphia on the
o, 10th OF May, 1876, with
Centennial elaborate ceremonies
Onened President Grant deliver
ing an address in the
presence of q multitude estimated al
100000 persons. The event was re
garded as of national Importance. The
Star, In its issue Of the day preceding.
May 9, 1876. said of the great fair:
THE great Centennial Exhibition III
Philadelphia will be formally opened
TO the public with appropriate cere-
monies tomorrow and the Indications
are that an immense concourSe Will
be present. The Centennial authori
ties have been interchangeable in pre-
pairing for the occasion and there IS
every reason to believe that the ar
rangements made for opening and
continuing the exhibition will be as
near perfect as possible. The exhi-
bition. which is of course regarded a.
a prolonged celebration of the one
hundredth anniversary of the life of
the Republic, was first suggested in
| 1859. The suggestion met with gen.
eral favor and during that year sew
eral delegations from the States went
70 Philadelphia to confer with th9
Centennial committee which had al.
ready been appointed by the city
councils. The movement took
form when Congress in March, 1871,
passed a law providing for an inter
national exhibition. the appointment
of Centennial commission. etc.
THE international feature OF the
exhibition was opposed by many men
bers of Congress and by none more
earnestly than Senator Sumner. wh9
no
distinctively American, since its main
object was the celebration of a great
national anniversary in which the
monarchical governments of Europe
had no sympathy and should have no
part. The last speech of his public
life, delivered in the United States
Senate, was an earnest protest against
this feature of the bill. In 1872 Con.
gress created by law a Centennial
board OF finance. with authority to
raise subscriptions to the amount ot
10000. 900, in shares Of not more than
$40 each, for the purpose OF erecting
suitable buildings. Pennsylvania
through her legislature. contributed
$1,000,000 and the city of Philadelphia
100000. Since then liberal contribu
tions from many of the Northern and
Western States have been made in aid
of the project. and the present Con-
gress appropriated $1,500.00 for the
same purpose.
1T is not a matter for congratu
lation that while the exhibits of for
eign nations are comparatively com
plete and quite in readiness for in
spection. the representation Of the
United States is behindhand. Foreign
nations took time by the forelocL in
the matter, but many American ex
hibitors delayed until the last moment
before placing their goods in the
buildings. 1t is to be regretted that
the exhibition of the interesting ma
terial of the different executive de
partments of the Government musI
necessarily be restricted because OF
the failure of Congress to grant the
appropriation asked for in aid Of this
representation. AS il is. however, this
feature of the exhibition will doubtless
be an interesting one TO visitors.
THE closing Of the exhibition
grounds and buildings on Sundays is
meeting with a general protest The
Philadelphia Times believes that the
action of the authorities will be recon.
sidered and urges not only that the
grounds and buildings be thrown open
on Sundays, but that the admission be
free on such days. This. it thinks. in
wolves no abrogation of the Christian
Sabbath, while it would deal generous
justice to the poorer classes, who can
spare neither a secular day from labor
nor the necessary expense of adrrlis-
sion for themselves and families. The
Press suggests that the grounds be
opened free of charge on SUNDAYS. and
also the art gallery and horticultural
hall"