Farewell to the Fair

Had I my way, we would disestablish the United Nations and maintain in its stead a perpetual World’s Fair. Mr. Robert Moses would be appointed permanent secretary-general. Low farce thus would be supplanted by healthy comedy; the demagogues and the oligarchs would depart; and we might learn to live together in the spirit of carnival.

Let carpers say what they will, I loved every inch of the New York World’s Fair, all two seasons of it. I hope and pray that as many pavilions as possible may be preserved and kept lively. Immensely varied and cheerful, the Fair was in good taste, honest, and— astounding, for New York—even civil. Like the small boy who sneaked in and hid for several days, I should like to have slept there nights, keeping body and soul together by retrieving coins from the fountains.

RK

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Russell Kirk

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Had I my way, we would disestablish the United Nations and maintain in its stead a perpetual World’s Fair. Mr. Robert Moses would be appointed permanent secretary-general. Low farce thus would be supplanted by healthy comedy; the demagogues and the oligarchs would depart; and we might learn to live together in the spirit of carnival.

Let carpers say what they will, I loved every inch of the New York World’s Fair, all two seasons of it. I hope and pray that as many pavilions as possible may be preserved and kept lively. Immensely varied and cheerful, the Fair was in good taste, honest, and— astounding, for New York—even civil. Like the small boy who sneaked in and hid for several days, I should like to have slept there nights, keeping body and soul together by retrieving coins from the fountains.