Chapter VII., it is sufficient here to state, that the amount received

from the admission of the public will very much depend upon this point. On the other hand, the difficulty and expense of conveying the things exhibited, will not be very different in different localities. This arises from the fact that if a package has to be taken from a boat, a ship, or a railway, and to be conveyed by cart to the locality at which it is to be exhibited, the expense and the danger of injury will be but very slightly increased, whether it is carted an additional quarter of a mile, or mile, or even a still greater distance.

Another very important question arises as to the price of admission to the Exhibition. There is no doubt, that if it were entirely free to the public, it would be almost entirely useless. Nor is it less certain that various prices ought to be charged on different days. The Commission seem to have made a very fair selection for the commencement of the experiment. Perhaps it would have been better to allow Saturday to be one of the cheapest days of admission, because in many workshops the journeymen leave their work at an earlier hour on that day: by the sacrifice of the half day’s work, they would then be able to spend a considerable portion of the day in examining those objects in which they take an interest.

Perhaps on a future occasion some such scheme of admission as the following might be found most productive. After the exceptional days at the commencement, occupying the first fortnight, the admission might be charged thus:—

May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Mon. 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 6 0 6 0 3 Tues. 10 0 5 0 2 6 2 0 1 6 1 0 Wednes. 5 0 2 6 1 6 1 0 1 0 0 6 Thurs. 2 6 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 6 0 3 Frid. 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 6 0 6 0 3 Sat. 1 0 1 0 0 6 0 6 0 3 0 3

The principle of this scale is, that each week day shall gradually diminish in actual price, but shall always preserve its relative price. Thus Tuesday is always the day of dearest admission, Wednesday of the next dearest, whilst Saturday is always the day of cheap admission. These periods might be distributed by weeks instead of months.

Whatever arrangement is made as to the price of admission, it is of very great importance that the number of visitors at the various prices should be noted and recorded for future use. It will indeed be unfortunate if knowledge so important for any similar occasion, should not be registered on the present.

For this purpose _every_ entrance should have one or more self-acting turnstiles registering the number of those who pass through it. Not only the public who pay, but the exhibitors and all who have free admissions should be registered. At the end of each hour, when the clock strikes, each gate-keeper should enter in a book the number indicated by his register. Such a collection of facts, extending over the whole time of the Exposition, would not only be invaluable for any future one, but would furnish materials for other important inquiries.

The general state of the weather, which of course would have a powerful influence, might be known from other registers: but it would be advisable that at the end of each day some note were made of the general state of the weather at the Crystal Palace itself.

§ After the first of these Expositions it seems probable that their advantages will become so well known, that it may be quite possible to let out the stalls to exhibitors under certain conditions. Foreigners might still be admitted to exhibit without payment, because the expense of carriage would more than compensate for the rent.

Some stalls might be granted without rent by the Commissioners, the peculiar circumstances of each case having been considered. Again, other stalls, or at least other means of exhibition, might be accorded to those who contributed articles of actual use in the building; as for example, a large striking clock, a steam-engine to drive the machinery or to supply the fountains.

Other means might be readily devised of increasing the receipts, giving at the same time increased convenience to the public. Thus, from the great extent of the building, and from the crowd, it may become difficult to pass easily from one part of the building to another. Now if the stalls were placed back to back along the centre of the great longitudinal avenues, a railway formed of wooden planks placed edgeways might be raised above the middle of them at a height of about eight feet, which would interfere but little with the stalls.

On this open railway cars mounted on wheels bound with india-rubber,[6] in order to avoid all noise, might travel at the rate of from one to two or perhaps three miles an hour. These cars might have luxurious cushions, and hold parties of different numbers. One line in a side aisle, the “express,” might be devoted entirely to conveying passengers from one end to the other at the rate of three miles an hour, setting down at six or more intermediate stations: the payment might be one penny, or perhaps, on grand days, two or three pence. The other lines should take parties slowly along, so as to allow time to see the crowd below and the wonders of the exhibition, which might be rendered more distinct by means of opera glasses. Each trip might occupy twenty minutes or half an hour, and be charged threepence, sixpence, or a shilling, according to the price of admission on that day. By these means multitudes of ladies, children, and even of men, relieved from bodily fatigue, might be able to acquire knowledge or derive pleasure, which without these resources it would be impossible for them to enjoy.

It is probable that the light iron framing of such cars might be provided gratuitously by some exhibitors, and the spring cushions and ornamental drapery might be supplied by others, in consideration of the advertisement thus afforded of the purveyor’s taste and skill.

The chariots of these railways should be drawn by means of a rope connected with the motive power.

If dumb railways are not thought expedient, small galleries at least might be made to which admission should be obtained by a small payment, so that those who wanted to traverse quickly from one part to another of the building, might thus, by avoiding the crowd, save time.

Umbrellas, and sticks, and great coats might be taken charge of by ticket on payment of one halfpenny. Also, any visitor might be allowed to deposit on his departure a bag containing his catalogue, note-book, or any articles which it might be inconvenient to him to take home with him each day, as is customary at the railway stations.

Other accommodations will suggest themselves, to be provided on the payment of a very small fee; for example, soap and water and a clean towel may be very desirable to some visitors, especially to those who may examine the machinery.

It is probable that there may occasionally occur large crowds pressing for admittance. It may be worth while to consider whether in such cases an additional reserved entrance might not be opened, through which ladies and children, and men whom age or indisposition has deprived of the physical force requisite for encountering a crowd, might be allowed to pass on the farther payment, say of sixpence or a shilling.

If it were possible to have a similar reserved enclosure close to the building, in which carriages might remain on payment of a small fee, much inconvenience would be saved to some of the visitors, and some advantage would result to those who did not avail themselves of it, in consequence of the diminished line of carriages at the public entrances.

[5] “What shall we do with the Glass Palace? By Spiridione Gambardella.” London: Aylott & Jones, Paternoster-row.

The speech of the rash “commander of the Channel fleet” (page 9) is worthy of the pen of the celebrated wit who bestowed that appointment.

[6] Or the rails themselves might have grooves lined with vulcanized india-rubber.