The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-06-15
Looking for the Maine Building.

YESTERDAY afternoon, standing near
the principal entrance to Paramount
Park, l noticed a tail, raw-boned New
Englander who had just made his way
through the turnstile, and who stood in
evident amazement looking at the great
buildings about him, and staring in open
mouthed wonder at the immense crowds
that thronged the avenues. He was a
young man, evidently just fresh from
some interior village. He was naturally
no fool, but it could be plainly seen that
he knew next to nothing of men or of the
world, and that his visit to the Worlds
Fair was the browning event in his quiet
life. He had his best clothes on, "store
clothes suppose he would have called
them, and in his hand he carried a new
and shining black carpet-bag, which
probably contained the greater part of all
his earthly possessions. He chung to it as
if it contained untold treasure. For fully
five minutes he stood looking about him,
and then in an humble and deprecatory
kind of way he approached police
black and red, and almost bursting with
an overpowering sense of his own i'm
portance. Timidly the villager asked the
mighty official; Will you please to tell
me whereabouts the Maine building is 81
That's it sir" said ''the guard" with
a toss of his head toward the grand pal
ace of industry, and then as became a
person of his dignity and position, turned
on his heel and walked away. TheCoun-
tryman looked at the immense structure
that had been pointed out TO him, and
then shaking his head walked on a few
PAGES. He passed two policemen without
daring to address them. Then he came
to a jolly faced member of the French
Commission, and making profound bow
attracted that gentleman's attention, and
again asked the question, "Will you
please to tell me Whereabouts the Maine
building isl" The Frenchman could not
understand him, and laughing good-na-
turedly, shook his head and passed on.
AT this the New Highlander began to lose
his temper, and growing very red in the
face he muttered something about 'darned
fools that wouldn't answer civil ques-
tons" Then, Ibis native courage hay
ing risen within him." he went up to an
other policeman, and asked, "Be you a
police offcer:n "Yes, sir was the re-
ply. well, then, If you be, just tell me
whereabouts The Maine building is"
That's it, sir" pointing like his
colleague, to the grand hall. At this
the counryman Indignantly exclaimed,
Look here, mister, | hain't
come here 10 be fooled l want to know
where the Maine building is, and want
to know quick" 81 told you once that
the main building was over there" was
the angry response, land if you don't
believe me you can get satisfaction some
where else" The positive tone of the
policeman seemed TO stagger the country
man for moment, and he looked first at
the grand hall, and then at the crowd that
was beginning to gather round him. in a
dazed and puzzled kind of way that was
truly laughable. Then he caught sight of
Lieutenant of the Guard, who walked
down the avenue "rich in the many trap
pings of his station" and rushing over to
him he asked: Say, mister, is that the
Maine building" " Yes, " said the officer.
politely, THAT'S the main building, sir"
Of course such authority as this could not
be doubted 1.-THE gentleman from Maine"
drew one deep sigh Of relief, and in the
tullness Of his heart exclaimed: Well.
swan to man, was sure the old State
want goin' back on Us, but hadn't no
idea she'd put up buildin' like thatr
As lost sight Of him he was still mutter-
ing about the Maine buildin' and the old
State. "-PhNadeLPhia Cor. N. Y. Times