Year: 1873




When we consider the work that is to be
done before the American Centennial Exhibi-
ton at Philadelphia can be opened in 1876, we
must confess that there is no time to waste in
preparing for that event. A worlds fair is the
work Of Years of preparation. Were the Ex-
hibison to be entirely, as, in the very nature
OF things it must be, essentially American,
three years would not be too long period to
gather together all that the Continent has to
show. But as it is our desire that the whole
world should be represented three years are
scarcely enough. European and Asiatic po-
tentates are likely to be lukewarm, in the be-
ginning, at least. in their efforts towards the
promotion of the American Exposition 10
all of them America is distant and new


country; to many of them it is an unknown


land The Khedive will need some urging


from the President before he can be persuaded


to rebuild for us his Egyptian palace in which


to display the rich fruits of Egypts civiliza-
ton. A like remark applies to the Sultan. In
a less marked degree it applies also to the
Emperors of Austria. Russia and Germany.
The unfortunate and disgraceful management
of the American department at Vienna adds
to the difficulties that are in the way, and
makes the success of the Exhibition, in the
universal sense, less certain, except by great
labor and unceasing effort.


How, then, shall we 60 to work to make our
American Exposition great American
triumph? 1t is plain that neither Philadel-
&Io
work unassisted. The Legislatures of the
different States are likely to be apathetic unless
Congress takes the lead and sets an example
to the local Legislators. Every State and
Territory ought to provide for the display Of
its own products and Of the results of its in
dustry and ingenuity, while the general gov
ernment cares for the whole and sees to it that
the rest of the world is represented. For this
purpose large appropriation, to be expended
under proper safeguards and restrictions, will
be required from the next Congress. The
Secretary of State must be instructed to bring
the matter automatically to the attention of
other governments. Much will depend upon
the manner in which our Ministers serve us
in this respect, but more still upon the wis
dom and liberality Of the action of Congress.


We printed letter on Monday, from cor
respondent of the HERALD at Vienna, which
was particularly valuable for its suggestions
relative to the Centennial Exposition, and
we print another letter this morning on the
same general subject, which gives the Phila-
delphia view of the situation. Our Vienna
correspondent shows that many things at the
Austrian Exposition are not to be initiated,
but avoided. The first among these are the
by which some of the necessities
Of the Kaisers government were supplied by
making the Exposition pay. AS consequence
visitors are heavily taxed for every luxury and
Chairs on which to rest the
weary body are abundant, but one must pay
the tax before he can occupy them. Even the
soap and water in the toilet rooms are sold
No speculative Yankee ever conceived o more
thorough system of making money out of peo-
pies necessities. At Philadelphia all similar
extortions must be avoided. 1t is easy enough
to afford visitors a reasonable degree of COM
tiring rooms without making them an excuse
for extortion. We have no idea that there will
be any difference in the price of admission,
for nothing would be more unpalatable to
Americans than cheap and dear days at the
Exhibition.


At the present moment the most interesting
question in regard to our Centennial Exhibi-
ton is the selection Of the style and kind of
exposition building. We are told of long list
Of designs submitted by the architects; but
mere picturesqueness and beauty must not be
allowed to stand in the way of convenience
emma building our correspondent declares it
inefficient for purposes Of observation and
study, and he illustrates his meaning by show
ing that-''If, for instance, you desire to go
from the American department, where our sew
ing machines are in operation, to the Turkish
department. where there are specimens of
unique and wonderful embroidered work, done
by the rude but cunning Oriental hand; if, as
is quite probable, you desire to compare the
achievements of modern science in America
with the quantity wrought ancient industry of
Turkey, you have to walk for half an hour-a
journey as far 1 should think as from the
Battery to the City Hail." Abuilding in which
all the national departments shall form con-
centric parts of the great circle or rotunda,
like the French building of 1867, seems better
adapted to our purposes than parallelogram
with wings like the building at Vienna. The
circular form brings all nationalities nearly
together, making it only few steps from the
entrance of one department to the entrance of
another. If we can have beautiful palace on
the banks of the Schuylkill let US have it, but
by all means let us have convenient building.


We must not forget, however, that the de-
signs and construction of the Exhibition
building, however perfect in themselves, will
not of themselves make the Exhibition q great