The Centennial And Its Effects

If our approaching World b Fair had no purpose other thun to gratify curiosity, by providing a great ahow of beautiful and curious objects, it migbt well be doubted whether it would be worth the oost. It has far higher ends, however, and its rosults will be scen when the multitudes that will throng Fairmount Park nest sunimer shall have forgotten everything nave the most striking features of the spectacle. Tbe value of the exhibition to all who are interested in the study of the relativo development of natione will be incalculable. An American, who spent üve months at the Vienna Exhibition, remarked after its close that he feit as il he had gone around the world and hac: observod the raanuers and customs o: all countries. " Show me the books you read," said a wise man, " and I will describe your character." Show us the article8 a nation makes - the machines it invents, the picture it paints, the furniture and apparel it uss, the fooc it prepares - and we can judge of its arts, its laws, its domestio life. The visitor to the uentenmal will seo íar more of the world than Phineas Fogg saw when he made his eighty days' journoy. We did not intend, however, to speak here of the value of the Fair - to the man of science.the artigt, the inechanic, the farmer, as a mine of inform&tiou - but rather to refer to its probable effect upon the mercantile interests of this country. The business comtnunity, stunncd by the panic of 1873, has been in a half lethargy ever since. It requires some stimulus to arouse it to new exertions. The panic served a good purpose in checkiog a manía for reckless speculation that was the oil'spring of a long period of unoxamplod prosperity, and the hard timijs that followed have enforced useful lessons of economy. The country has taken a two years' rest ; itH breathing-spell has lasted long enough ; it is ready to start afresh, and only lacks confidence in itself to run another course in the race of material progress. Thia confidence, we believe, the Centen nial will leave behind it as a legacy. When we have gathered the producís of our empire and set them forth in orderly array beside those of all the other nations of the earth, we shall botter appreciate our resources. We are more bountifully endowed by nature than any other land the sim shines upon. We are young, strong, inventive, and quick-witted. No oppressive government cripples our industry ; no hostile neighbors threaten us ; we have not the burden of a standing ariny to carry. In comparing our condition with that of other peoples we shall see that we have the advantage over them in most important respecta, and if in some things we are lacking - if our fine arts are backward, our manufacturera wanting in taste, our agiculture unscientific, or our domestic life wasteful - we shall see our shortcomings so plainly by contrast that we shull make a great effort to remedy them, aud thus by perceiving wherein lies our weakness we shall augment our powers. When the Centennial is over, thewhole nation will feel refreshed and encouraged. The universal out burst of patriotic feeling will of itself do much toward setting the wheels of trade in motion. After a man has hurrahed lustily for his country, he is in the best possible frame of mind to go to work. His doubts as to the future have vanished. He has the confidence which ia the life of all enterprise. By thus giving our people a better understanding of their own wealth and strength, by causing them to see and remedy their failings, and by awakening in them a stronger love of their common country and a livelier faith in its destiny, the Centfnnial oueht to brine about a rapid