172 THE EXHIBITION A FAILURE. CHAP. ix. 



in every place resorted to by working people. To 

 accommodate them, lie opened the exhibition at eight 

 instead of ten in the morning ; and kept it open until 

 ten o'clock at night. 



It was of no avail. The millions did not come. 

 The attendance even fell off. Some days only a few 

 pence were taken ; on other days nothing. Days, 

 weary days, went on, and still there was no success. 

 Yet Edward had plenty of advisers. Some thought 

 that the collection should have been exhibited near 

 the centre of the town, where the working classes 

 lived. Edward was fain to think that there might 

 be something in this. He found a large room which 

 he thought would answer the purpose ; but he was 

 required to pay the rent beforehand, and to give 

 security for ten pounds. This was entirely out of 

 the question, for he could not give security for " ten 

 bawbees." One person, who had been a showman, 

 advised him to have immense placards outside, and 

 to have a band of music to attract the people. He 

 must have show and hubbub. " That was the thing 

 that attracted folk ; whereas his exhibition was all 

 in the inside." But Edward would not have any of 

 such attractions. 



In short, the exhibition was fast approaching its 

 end. The rent of the shop had to be paid, and he had 

 no money to pay it. His wife and family had to 

 be maintained, and he had no means of maintaining 

 them. All that he took at the door, was required to 



