THE CENTENNIAL WELCOME TO ALL NATIONS. BRIGHT on the banners of lily and rose, Wreathe the black cannon that scowled on our foes; These are around her, but where are her foes? Lo, while the sun of the century sets, Peace with her garlands of lily and rose! Welcome! a shout like the war-trumpet's swell, Welcome! the walls of her temple resound! Thrones of the continents! Isles of the sea! Yours are the garlands of peace we entwine! Thrones of the continents! Isles of the sea! -Oliver Wendell Holmes. CHAPTER XI. THE CENTENNIAL. AS THE first hundred years of American independence were fast drawing to an end, it was generally conceded that some fitting celebration of so momentous an occasion should be undertaken. Just what form this should assume was long discussed. Patriotic meetings, to be held in every hamlet of the land, were suggested. Others thought that each state should provide some special celebration. Finally a national exhibition was talked about but when the idea was advanced that foreign nations as well be invited to join, there was a strong impression that England would be loathe to share in any commemoration of American independence, and that her attitude would influence other European states. However, this erroneous conception was soon dispelled when preliminary investigation was guardedly made. It was found that European countries would welcome an opportunity such as an exposition in America would afford. No previous exhibition had commemorated an anniversary or historical event, and in those lands where international fairs had earlier been held, there had arisen no question as to where such exhibits should properly be made. The capitals of England, France and Austria were most appropriate in each case. But in the United States the situation was quite different. Several cities contested for the honor. New York maintained that its position on the country's threshold should insure it preference; although Washington was not then able to provide such accommodation for strangers as would be required there were many who felt that it was the most suitable place for the fair. However, when it was remembered that Philadelphia had been the seat of the Continental Congress, that it had once been the capital of the republic, and that it was midway between north and south, popular sentiment settled upon it as the most acceptable location. Accordingly, an act of Congress provided for "celebrating the One Hundredth Anniversary of American Independence by holding an International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine, in the City of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania in the year 1876." In 1853 New York had attempted to hold a fair modelled after that of London. This had not been successful, for while its promoters tried to advertise it as a national undertaking, it received no financial aid and little influence from the general government. Moreover, such an industrial showing in New York at this time aroused bitter antagonism in other states. Europeans were invited to enter exhibits, but knowing well that few from their own lands would visit our distant shores in those days of retarded travel, they exhibited only for American spectators. A building in the form of a Greek cross was erected in what is now Bryant Park. It covered 170,000 square feet. Of the 4,100 exhibits entered, a considerable number were provided by the various states. Such farm implements and machinery as were brought from Europe proved to be far more clumsy than ours. In the departments of silks, broadcloths and glass there were no rivals for European products in this country. Little art was shown. The doubtful success of this project counted against New York when the site for the Centennial Exposition was under consideration. Philadelphia generously raised $1,500,000 and the state of Pennsylvania $1,000,000. Congress appropriated $1,500,000 besides $500,000 for the erection of a Federal Building. The success of the fair was soon assured and in 1874 invitations were extended in the name of the President to the governments of foreign countries to participate—it being expressly stated that no expense should attach to the United States for any exhibits made by foreign nations. England immediately appropriated $250,000 for the purpose of making a creditable showing and little Japan $600,000. The special event which this exhibition commemorated was not forgotten. In periodicals and various publications of the time the experiences that these hundred years had brought were summarized. This historic feature should be borne in mind in any study of this first world's fair held within our borders. Dwelling at length upon the vicissitudes of our countrymen, one wrote: "They have reached their first resting-place, and pardonably enjoy the opportunity of looking back at the road they have traversed. They pause to contemplate its gloomy beginnings, the perilous precipices along which it wound, and the sudden quagmires that often interrupt it, all now softened by distance and by the consciousness of success. Opening with a forest-path, it has broadened and brightened with a highway of nations." Fairmount Park, including 450 acres, was chosen for the exhibition grounds. The city of Philadelphia expended a considerable amount in providing good roads and a fine bridge to give access thither. In addition to the Main Building1880 feet in length and 464 feet wide-Machinery Hall, Horticultural Hall, and Agricultural Building, Government Building, the Woman's Building and an Art Gallery were erected. Furthermore, twenty-six states provided each its own building and several foreign countries were represented. In comparison with buildings which subsequent expositions have been able to show, the state buildings of the Centennial were like dwellings of modest proportions. Twenty-one acres were roofed by the various structures. The exhibits numbered 30,864 and were contributed by the various states and territories and by forty-nine foreign powers or their colonies. Spain and her colonies entered 3822; England and her dependencies 3584. The United States furnished 8525-excelling as before in her display of machinery. Five South American states were represented. The lighting facilities of the age did not permit the buildings to be opened in the evening. Gas was piped to various parts of the grounds to accommodate night watchmen. In view of our present day conveniences, a smile is provoked by reading the self-congratulatory comment of that day to the effect that whereas in 1851 the Cornelius chandeliers for burning lard oil had been favorably received in London, "now that is the light of other days, thanks to our new riches in kerosene." One of the new devices that interested Europeans was the signal service, which for the first time was shown in 1876, interpreting the weather and predicting storms. Unusual condi tions in the United States, where one wire under the same control extended throughout the breadth of a continent, permitted the trial of this system as no European country could have done. It was the proud boast of this service at the Centennial that it was able to have daily observations made at one hundred stations scattered over the continent. The Bell telephone was now for the first time exhibited and excited much interest because one was thereby enabled to speak with someone in a different portion of a building. Soon after the fair the American bicycle manufacture developedthis country having profited by the English cycles exhibited. Among educational innovations, we note with interest the advent of the kindergarten-today everywhere regarded with favor and generally required. A journal of the times commented upon it thus: "Of the divers species of Garten-Blumen-, Thier-, Bier-, rife in Vaterland, the Kinder- is the latest selected for acclimation in America. If the mothers of our land take kindly to it, it will probably become something of an institution among us." That its efficiency might be demonstrated among people to whom it was wholly strange, children from an orphanage were brought each day to a little building and given kindergarten training for the entertainment of visitors. This was the first time in the history of the world that any complete collection of women's work had been arranged. A woman designed the building and throughout plans for this exhibit were made by the women themselves. Again, the Centennial afforded the first opportunity for Japanese art and goods to become generally known in America. It is difficult to estimate the exhilarating and educative influence of this exposition upon the life of the American people alone. Their fathers had hewn homes out of a wilderness; gradually a nation had been welded together. Before any marked degree of material prosperity had overtaken the country, it had been plunged into the horrors of civil war. Now came this great fair on the wave of material progress that followed the period of reconstruction. Before the Centennial there had been little that was artistic. Houses had been made substantial and useful rather than attractive; there was little art to be seen. For the first |