REPORT OF MR. ADAMS.
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devised for any community than the embarking in a world’s fair, without first knowing exactly where to find that one man who both has a perfectly definite conception of what it is proposed to do and an equally definite conception of how it is to be done. An exposition cannot be made, through repeated failure, to result in ultimate success. Its fate depends wholly upon the concentration of its management and the executive capacity of its manager. At Vienna, while the concentration was perfect, the executive capacity was deficient. The danger for Philadelphia will probably be found in the attempt to evolve a management out of a caucus, which cannot but result in the absence of every accessory to an assured success.
Another point in its history having a decided significance for the Centennial, was the failure of the Vienna Exposition in respect to the number of visitors who* attended it. It is true that this deficiency was partly due to special causes. A wide-spread apprehension of the cholera prevailed throughout Europe during almost the whole summer, and most exaggerated reports of its ravages at Vienna were everywhere current. This, however, was but one of the minor causes which deterred people from going there; it was not, indeed, even so influential as the systematic and outrageous extortions practised by the Viennese upon their visitors. During the later months of the Exposition these were not, perhaps, greater than might have been expected in any city under similar circumstances. A lasting reputation had, however, been achieved during the earlier weeks. The Viennese then showed the full spirit which ordinarily takes possession of the inhabitants of a provincial city which thinks it has for a time secured to itself the first-class attraction of a metropolis. It was thought that the whole world must come to the Exposition,—that it could uot stay away; and the natives prepared to take full advantage of the necessity. During the few days of assured confidence in the unparalleled success of their great show, the extortions practised upon strangers were so unblushing, so impudent, so aggravating, as to produce a lasting impression throughout Europe. This was especially the case with the English and the Americans,—the two people most lavish in their expenditure of money,—among whom a bitter prejudice was created which was not subsequently effaced.