Year: 1876

1


If our approaching WoFld's Fair had
no purpose other than TO crafty curios,
ity, by providing a great show Of beau
tiiul and curious objects, it might we'll
be doubted whether il would be worth
the cost. 1t has f;ir higher ends, how.
ever, and its results will be seen when
the muliitudes that will thrOng Fair
mount Park next summer shall have
forgotten everything save the most
striking features of the spectacle.
The value OF the exhibition to all who
are interested in the study cf the rela-
tive development Of nations will be
incaiculable. An American who spent
five months at the Vienna Exhibition,
remarked after its close that he felt
rs ifhe had gone around the world, and
had observed the manners and customs
of all countries. "ShOw me the books
you read, " said wise man, "and will
describe your character" Show Us
the articles n nation makes-the ma
chimes it invents, the pictures it paints,
the furniture and apparel it uses, the
food it prepares-and we can judge of
its arts, its laws, its domestic life. The
visitor to the Centennial will see far
more of the world than Phineas Fogg
saw when he made his eighty days
journey.


We did not intend, however, to
speak here of the value of the Fair
to the man of science, the artist, the
farmer, the mechanic, as Il mine of in
formation, but rather to refer to its
probable effect upon the mercantile
interests of the country. The business
community, stunned by the panic of
1873 has been in half lethargy ever
since. 1t requires some stimulus to
arouse to new exertiOns. The panic
served purpose in checking a mania
for a reckless speculation that was the
offspring of a long period of unexam-
pied prosperity, and the hard times
have enforced useful lessons of econo-
my. The country has taken a two
years rest; its breathing spell has
lasted long enough; it is ready to start
afresh, and only lacks confidence in
itself to run another course in the race
OF mateImal progress. Inns conn-
dence, we believe, the Centennial will
leave behind it as a legacy. When
we have gathered the products of our
empire and set them forth in orderly
array besides those of all other nations
of the earth, We shall better appreci-
ate our resources. We are more boun-
tiful endowed than any other land the
sun shines upon. We are young,
strong, inventive and quick-witted.


No oppressive government cripples
our industry; no hostile heighbors
threatening US; We have not the bur-
den of standing army to carry. In
comparing our condition with that of
other peoples, we shall see that we
have the advantage over them in most
important respect, and if in some
things we are lacking-if our fine arts
are backward, our manufacture want
ing in taste, our agriculture unscien-
tiic, or our domestic life wasteful-we
shall see our shortcomings so plainly
by contrast that We shall make a great
effort to remedy them and thus by
perceiying wherein lies our weakness
we shall augment our powers. When
the Centennial is over, the whole ma
ton will feel refreshed and encouraged.
The universal outburst of patriotic
feeling will of itself do much toward
setting the wheels of trade in motion.
After man has hurrahed Justify for
his country, he is in the best possible
frame of mind to 60 to work. His
doubts as to future have vanished
He has confidence, which is the life of
all enterprise. BY thus giving our,
people better understanding of their
own wealth and strength, by causing
them to see and remedy their failings,
and by awakening in them a stronger
love of their common country and a
livelier faith in its destiny, the Cen
tennial ought to bring about rapid
rival of business.-N Y. Tribune.


An Old Bill.