Like Mr. Lumley at Her Majesty's Theatre, the managers of
the 4 eh
Great Industrial ibition• have favoured the public with a few extra performances after the close of file regular season. But Wednesday the 15th witnessed the " positively last appearance." Prince Albert and _ the Commissioners • presented themselves on that occasion to discharge the most • difficult . and delicate of their duties—the announcement of the parties to whom medals and honorary mentions had been adjudged. The task of awarding premiums, in any circumstances an invidious one, was particularly so in a case where so much national as well as per- / sonal sensitiveness was certain to be called into play. The prn.- deuce of the directors in undertaking to decide on the comparative merits of exhibitors was called in questio t the time when it was first announced, and the results have go good Way to confirm
the misgivings that were entertained on re. It was -felt that even the interposition of juries_ would be a feeble protection from the wrath of disappointed competitors ' • 'and therefore the Council of Management judiciously resolved to imitate the schoolmaster in Gil Blas, who sought to conciliate the parents and friends of his pupils by awarding prizes to almost all of them. This device, however, has only assuaged, not altogether averted the exaspera- tion. Pretty audible murmurs are heard ; and, strange to say, the first discordant sounds hive emanated from the Idusical Juryy.. The Americans were the next to raise the voice of complaint, indignant that their "revolvers " have not been deemed worthy of a prize. The judges might -have sheltered themselves under the -plea of humanity, but that; Unluckily, a prize had been awarded for ruling- tackle. As yet, howeVer, the complaints hove been for the moat . part faint and sotto yaw; so that the CommisaiOners may congra- tulate themselves upon having got pretty well out of the scrape. Expressions of dissatisfaction have been heard from a wider pultio because the Exhibition was not elated with more of jmiap.sndtair- onmstance. These appear to be unreasonable. Mats and p. rate are for occasions at hope and Madness: they were apple- pnate at the opening ailhe Orp61 Paisee, wink its trans- parent spaciousness and curious and gorgeous contents ; they would have been inappropriate lit its close. The sentiment most gene- rally felt and uttered on Saturday, the last of the pay-days, was melancholy at the reflection that the last had been seen of a spec- tacle such as was not likely to be witnessed again in the lifetime of any of the beholders. In good time the Exhibition has closed. It was impressive and attractive to the last ; but the gathering of dust on the less accessible parts of the building, the shaking of the tattered calico on the roof, the dropping of the leaves from the elms in the transept, were all premonitions that the glory of its freshness was departing. Even the skyey influences combined to give warning that it is unwise to protract too long the enjoy- ment of pleasure : the lowering skies and incessant October rain of Wednesday formed a depressing contrast to the sunny glimpses and genial atmosphere of the May-day which saw the Crystal Palace inaugurated. The spectacle has been greatly enjoyed ; but it is time that the exaggerated phrase in which it has been talked about—the genuine utterance of first impressions kept up by an effort, as a lady tries to wear the smile which once became her, after it has ceased to be spontaneous—should be given up. This wonderful display can bear to be spoken of in the simple lan- guage of truth. Many admit that they were beginning to get weary of it. The managing Committees are heartily tired of their labour ; the inhabitants of the vicinity complain of the dis- comforts it brought upon them ; the fickle public longs for some new topic of discourse. To keep the Exhibition longer open would have caused ennui ; the endeavour to repeat it would be about as wise as that of the citizens who having enjoyed extremely an ex- tempore picnic, resolve to have one at the same place on the same day every year. Extraordinary pleasures can only be tasted once. Let us be thankful for the good we have had, and wait patiently for what Providence will send us next.
