PLAKTS OK THE WORLD'S FAIR GROUtfDS. 



137 



upon thousands of its citizens, and helps to stimulate the 

 world's progress. 



" Such an exhibition is an illustrated history of progress. 

 Every exhibitor contributes a line, every industry a page, and 

 every country a chapter. It is the duty of the management to 

 so arrange these parts in their proper sequence, that the pur- 

 pose of an exposition shall be plainly manifest. Exhibitors 

 will not concern themselves as to the purpose of the exhibition 

 as a whole. Their primary motive is to advertise their bus- 

 iness, and in doing so to make a display that shall excel that of 

 their competitors. Such competition, if properly managed, 

 can be made to serve the main purpose of the exhibition. 



"In individual and State exhibits at this Fair, especially 

 among Americans, a comprehensive display fairly representing 

 the products of the exhibitor was, in many cases, made second- 

 ary to a mere showy spectacle, designed to attract the attention 

 of the multitude, — a good business policy, perhaps, in the 

 attractions of the Midway, but not alone sufficient to develop 

 a permanent business. It appeared that an exhibit, to be a 

 good advertisement, must be of a character to attract the atten- 

 tion of a large number of people, amongst whom there would 

 likely be some from whom the exhibitor could expect to induce 

 trade, but for these something more than a mere spectacle 

 must be provided, something that shall represent clearly the 

 merits of the product of the exhibitor and convey the idea 

 that it excels in some particular. This last purpose would 

 appeal especially to the foreign visitors, a larger proportion of 

 whom made the long journey to be instructed, rather than 

 amused. In many exhibits, the two objects were combined in 

 a most admirable way, the material of which the exhibits 

 were composed being well adapted to make an attractive dis- 

 play; but too often an attempt was made to combine that 

 which was, to a greater or less degree, suitable for such a pur- 

 pose with that which was entirely unsuited. 



"A spectacular exhibit that, in a dignified way, distinctly 

 conveys a meaning, is of value. The great orange obelisk of 

 California will be remembered by thousands who will not be 

 able to recall a single individual or collective exhibit from that 

 State. As an advertisement of the State, and one of its prin- 

 cipal products, it was a success. The big load of logs from 

 Michigan was another notable exhibit by a State of one of its 

 most important products. In the Forestry Building there was 

 an attempt to combine miscellaneous wood products of a State 

 to produce a decorative effect. For this purpose a pyramid 

 was made of curious knots, pieces of wood, wooden spoons, 

 shoes, shovels, etc. The result, as a whole, was neither im- 



