The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1876-05-25

tween the main gate the railroad, ana
corner Of the park. Here is the micro
cosm, the raree show outside, full Of ho
tells, theatres, beer pavilions, costly res
taurants, houe.Car stations, and the ar
irving multitude. The sound Of ham
mers has now well-nigh ceased, and the
clap Of the trowel and the click Of paper.
hanpers' shears ID more common. A huge
opera.house, the skeleton Of its develop
ing oorporeality, Is just beside hotel Of
plSstered wood where two thousand beds
are to be made and the bar privilege has
sold for S6O,OOO. Opposite is another
hotel Of brick which will have seven
hundred and fifty beds. A brick re.tau-
rant, very well built indeed, with plate
glass windows, will dine two thousand
people at once. Beer is prepared to few
at Fifty eccentric booths, some built high
and trellised, others squatty and en-
powered. Painted carry-alls and chaises,
Cars, drags, women, country people, lean
Danes full of spectacles, and Norwegians
with high cheeks, japanese, everybody,
everything, go along in stream. Ban
ners fiy up yOnder, and everywhere all
are CHEEKY. The dust blows like the
deuce. And still it is weeks OF.
EXHIBITION BUILDINGS.
Arrived at the sguare of the main gate,
not yet up, we have the depot behind us
where Colonel Scott is to discharge the
people Of the world. A broad avenue
in a straight line Of mile and a quarter
lies outside the paling Of the show, nearly
its whole length bestridden by the two
majestic rectangular halls of painted
wood, iron, and glass, which are to con-
tain the belly OF the exhibition, Their
size is truly international, but lost in
their symmetry, and they look like two
broad lakes filled with pOsies which had
stood up and ceased to aow. The entrance
is screened by latticework buildings,
monsters themselves except in height,
for the commission. Enter and pass
these edifcesl Others open out beyond
them, a whole village or royal court Of
curious dwellings, lakes and monuments,
acres on acres in extent. An avenue
straight as an arrow starts Obliquely
across the prospect, forming a cross with
& second. Their place of meeting is the
center Of all views and midway of all
and there stands the plain,
edifce of the United |
States, with a pretty new lake and grav-
elled shores between it and the great !
hall behind us. To balance !
this lake, in front of the other or main |
hall in the rear Is the monumental !
structure, which l presume' to be the
future state capitol of Pennsylvania,
called Memorial hall. 1t is for its great |
the quaintest and most pleas
ng piece Of architecture we possess, in
height, one colossal story of corner pavil-
Ons connected by cOlOnnades, and on
he main facade only carrying out a
enter Of three arches from a dome which
rises within it. Built of massive stone,
aised on an eminence reached by a fight
Il stairs, its ornaments few and strong,
Is purposes expressive, and its open door
o the west, this hall is, no doubt, to sue
.eed the old state capitol at Harrisburg,
IlFeady Anticipated and withoutTeverence.
The state gave the money for Memorial
lall, and the century upon which We
AVE entered does not require legisla-
uFes to take to the woods at the APP
roach Of the militia,
examined this hall, still unfinished
,ut soon to be ready, and now packed
nth works Of art not taken from their
asses, and saw that in every feature it
Vas a legislative capitol and the nOblest
n the country. The central pavilion
pens into a palatial ante-chamber and
hat into a dome, FROM which lie Oh, to
light and left, two skylighted Legislative
Ialls, perfect except for chairs. From
hese are committee paTlors along the
hell Of the editice, ample Hobbies, and
OyernOr's and speakers rooms. In
ow weeks these fresh walls will be hung
With such q collection Of paintings as
europe probable has not seen, and deco.
ated with marbles whose limbs / saw
a the latticed packing boxes. Coming
lOwn the steps of this building the rep
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