Tallis, John: Tallis's history and description of the Crystal Palace and the exhibition of the world's industry in 1851 (Band 3) (London, 1851)

OF THE WORLD'S INDUSTRY. 97

that wait upon, industry; the high tone of urbanity and morality that may be imparted
to entire communities, by the cultivation of pure taste; and the wisdom of nations
cultivating the friendship of each other, and promoting their own interests by an exchange
of benefits; instead of exhausting their blood and treasure, and demoralising themselves,
by a system of warfare which, even in professed time of peace, still requires to be kept in
readiness for the moment of hostility. The spirit of the Crystal Palace has also incorporated
itself with history; and future ages will read with astonishment, the details of the
difficulties attendant on the undertaking in its outset; the energy that overcame them;
the entire success that crowned its completion; the surpassing ingenuity and beauty of the
edifice; the wonderful supplies that enriched it from all nations; the order observed in
its arrangements; the millions that came from far and near to behold its treasures; the
admirable decorum of all classes of visitors, raising the national character to a height
it had never yet been able publicly and incontrovertibly to display; the benevolence it
called forth; the happy meetings of friends and relatives that it fostered; the religions
solemnity with which it was opened and closed; the blessing of Providence that preserved
it, and all and everything connected with it, from harm or loss!

The account of its contents will form a history in itself, of the whole range of art and
science in the nineteenth century; and the effects of the public display of them, and the
examination and comparison of the objects iu each compartment, thus afforded, will be
daily evident in the improvement in every art and manufacture that has here had its
representative, and beheld its competitor. Equally conspicuous will be the effect of the
Crystal Palace upon our architecture. Many an edifice now dark and gloomy, will bear
testimony to the advantages that belong to the new adaptation of iron and glass—
ff Light, the prime work of God,"

will be no longer denied to our noblest structures. It is already in contemplation to
over-arch some of the spacious courts of the British. Museum; and many a lofty hall, now
only exhibiting "darkness visible,'" may thus be thrown open to the aspect of the
heavens, and have the sunlight streaming on its sculptured walls. But we must pause, or
we shall write a volume, instead of the mere passing sketch we l^ad originally intended.

CHAPTER XVII.
CONCLUSION.

HINTS FOR THE FUTURE—TO BE OR NOT TO BE—VARIOUS PROPOSITIONS—THE CRYSTAL PALACE X

GYMNASIUM----NATIONAL BATHS-—A VAST READING-ROOM!—A LUXURIOUS LOUNGE—A CASTLE

OF INDOLENCE—A VAST PICTURE-GALLERY, ETC-, ETC.—THE CRYSTAL PALACE REMOVED PROM
HYDE-PARK—THE PALACE OP THE PEOPLE AT SYDENHAM—RAISING THE PIRST COLUMN—MR.
LAING'S SPEECH—REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS, ETC., ETC.

Having in our preceding pages described the rise, progress, and completion of the
building of the Crystal Palace, and both with the pencil and the pen endeavoured to
illustrate its most attractive features and its vast variety of objects, and having, at
length, witnessed and recorded its last, its closing scene, we have now to relate what
took place after it was no longer the grand emporium of the world, resounding with
"the busy hum of men;" but when, despoiled by degrees of all the various tributes
of so many nations, it stood, for a brief period before its final fall, a silent and melan-