Year: 1876

We understand that Saturday, Sept. 80, was
the last of the halfprice days at the Exposition,
the managers having decided mot to con-
"tinue them during October, as they were at
"tcnded with too great pecuniary loss" The
Commission have shown so much discretion IN
the general conduct of the Exposition that we
are sorry to see them blunder here. The re-
ceipts on this last half-pay day amounted
to $2G.122, although the day was very
stormy. Receipts as large as these must
certainly insure the Commission against
actual loss on these days. Even if it
did not, their enormous receipts on State
days should secure them freedom to eX-
crcsc some iibcmlity on other occasions. No
other International Exhibition has placed
the rate of admission 50 high as ours.
Yet the highest attendance i'll Paris
(on the Sunday when but 10 cents
were chargetD fell short by 100000 adj
missions of that of Pennsylvania day, when
the admission was 80 cents. In short the
Americans, in this as in everything else, have
not spared their money when a positive good
was to be acquired. AS soon as they were
convinced that the Exposition was worth
seeing they have come up to it by hundreds
of thousands from all quarters Of the country,
the mere entrance fee being Except to
Philadelphans) but small portion of the
necessary expense attending the visit. The
railroads during the last month have cut down
their rates to almost nominal prices, so as to
induce larger attendance. Excursions are
arranged in every State. Every train coming


into the city brings fresh crowds, the majority
Of ,ybnu, rnp,oin ~ yyppk of more.


The Commission have every reason to be
satisfied with the pecunary success OF the
Exhibition. and make a mistake to show just
now n narrow spirit in the arrangements
for the closing weeks. The half-pay days
are especially beneficial to the masses of
aboring men and their families in and near
Philadelphia, and to the children. Nobody
who has been on the grounds on one of these
days can doubt that these classes have fully
used their opportunity The buildings are
crowded with children of every condition, who
certainly are present in very few numbers on
other days. The mechanic brings his wife
and the whole brood of boys and girls with
market basket of lunch. Servants and their
mstresScs the great importer and the man
who drives his drays, 20 through the turn
stiles together, for once in friendly fellowship.
Tens of thousands of people come every half
pay day who would not otherwise come at all;
and whether they come to study intelhgently
or to stare at the crowd they learn, whether
they will or no. knowledge for once forces
itself through their eyes.


There is no way to estimate the advantage
to the manufacturers or mechanics of the cOtn-
try of this Exhibition, if studied by their Oper
atiyes. 1t would pay a percentage beyond
money value if it were opened for the remain
ing six Saturdays without any charge what
ever To the classes who have crowded to it on
the Saturdays in September. If the Commits
sion regard it, however, simply as a money
making speculation, they are right to put stop
to half-pay admissions. If they recognize it
as a great educational power, they will continue
them on one day of each remaining week and
reduce the rates for children on all days.