REPORT OF MR. ADAMS.
9
all these matters the country has been kept so very fully informed by the writers for the public press, that any further details as regards them in my power to supply would seem to be quite superfluous. As, however, preparations are now making for the American Centennial of 1876, in which Massachusetts as a state will not improbably feel obliged to take a prominent part, I shall briefly refer to a few points, a due consideration of which, as it seems to me, may save us from grave mistakes. It is true that Massachusetts is not directly responsible for this undertaking, and can exercise but a very limited influence in its direction. But if, as is proposed, it is to be a national affair,—and as such it will necessarily be regarded in all foreign countries,—the practical questions connected with it become matters of moment to each of the several states.
As a universal exposition, that of Vienna was undoubtedly the largest and most ambitious attempt of the kind which has yet been made. In some respects it was a most brilliant and gratifying success ; in others it cannot but be considered as a very lamentable failure. From the careful study of it in each aspect, many useful lessons touching the coming Centennial might be drawn. Among the features of success were the structures and the surrounding grounds, which were all upon a scale of unprecedented magnitude. Yet magnificent and imposing as respects constructive skill and the space covered by them as these unquestionably were, the buildings can hardly be considered as having been well adapted to the purposes for which they were designed. They w T ere laid out for their proposed occupants on the geographical plan: that is, taking them in order, the visitor passed through the whole range of countries as they occupy the surface of the earth; the American department being at one extremity and that of Eastern Asia at the other. This is an admirable arrangement for a bazaar, in which the largest possible sales by expositors is the single end in view ; and it so proved in this case. If, however, an exposition building is designed, not as a general sales-room of the world, but as a competitive field of excellence, a worse arrangement than that described could scarcely be devised. At Vienna, productions of the same nature from different countries were not only not brought into contrast and com- 2