338 THE STORY OF COLUMBUS AND THE WORLD'S FAIR. 
view them. And -we shave welcomed to our land those older 
nations, and have bidden them bring their choicest, that we may 
compare them with ours. And while we make a holiday in 
which sixty-six millions join in friendly rivalry with the skilled 
of other countries, we send up a song of praise that we have 
been so guided as a nation, through turmoils and mistakes, 
until we have taken our stand, among the powers, with none to_ 
scoff. : 
So while we have a noble incentive in thus gratefully writing 
the name of Columbus upon our Exposition, we will tell you 
something of other expositions which our century has seen. 
First among them comes the Great International Exposition 
held at London, which was opened in Hyde Park, May 1, 1851, 
by Queen Victoria. This exhibition was projected by Prince. 
Albert, who desired to have one on a larger scale than any yet 
known, as an illustration of the progress of the arts and 
sciences. | 7 : . 
This was held ina vast iron and glass structure called the 
Crystal Palace, and Sir Joseph Paxton was the architect who 
was employed in its construction. | 
This building was one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one 
~ feet long by four hundred and eight feet wide, and forty-eight 
in width were added for about half the length. Nineteen acres 
of ground were covered by the one building, and its cost was 
$850,000. The greatest number of visitors in one day was 
- ninety-three thousand, and these were not distributed through