, 1880-08-15


The scope for grand and exqujsIt effects Of
color outline and illumination afforded by the
Exposition Building have been most artistically
taken advantage Of by the Tricnntal Committee,
and the result rs unit and in detail Is artistic
il the extreme. There Is nothing heavy, for the
structure is arincss ITSELF and the plan followed
Is one Of extreme lightucss and dclicacy.
The central entrance on Michigan avenue is
marked on the interior By three Gothic arches,
supported on conyoute columns of black and
white. themselves Of like color. IN tho centre
OF c'ch of these haugs tho crimsoncd cross and
iewctcd crown of gold, symbolic of the Passion.
On either side nrc draped two broad blue pen
nants Of satin, painted with devices. The spuce
between IL fcstooned in n maze of curves with
violet and white, depending from starry centres,
whence hnug exQu,sit baskets of exotics OIL in
visible wires. From tho gallery above rise sim
ilararches Of like hue over which are three ban
Ecrs, the first bearing tho figure Of q knight,
with lance couched. charging the inildcl foe;
tho second, that OF Cceur do Leon in Palestine
raising tho standard; the third, that of Con-
stnntjne-
Under these, upon a shield Of snowy radf-
ance,
"Gold rays describe the venerable sign
That quadrluts joining in circle make"
the symbol OF Mason's craft.
Opposit rises a. similar series Of broad arches
In double tier of green mtticcd with red, from
whose capitals descend In gentle curves myrIads
of lines traced out in green, red, black. aud
white, gathering to centres and then extending
again, until the span between ts fairly q net
work OF vivid and sombrc hucs inter
stand, hidden behind q broad lattice OF
green and crimson, from which rise
three arches Of similar hue. In the centrnl one
stands the mystic \. P, upon IN ensauguincl
and triple base, tho letters being Of azure and
white. Under this, upon the lattice, nre tho
three most sacred stundnrds, the central being
tho sanjak shcrif OF Masonry, to express 1t by
antithesis.
The thfrty-one trussed arches supporting the
building, each Of lao feet span, ure white, thu
!atttce traced out IN blue, and the lower edge
broadly cri1nsoncd. The ntuItitudinous inter-
lEcfrg braces md supports, which give such an
airy appearance to the frettcd roof, are OF
purcst, gltstcning white. The base Of ench arch
IS cluster OF cvcrgtceas, fr,,n1 whose emerald
frnnds 1t seems to spr.ng. Between each arch Is
drnped u Mnsonic ling in black and white. OF
these there are tffty-seyen In the building, IF
teen feet long by six wilc.
In the centre plays the mammoth fountain.
~hnsc cafFen stone rises to tho h:ght OF twenty
feet, a1d about whose bEoad basin arc ,eighr
bronze aquarta. Here are
-. Towering odors, caasta, nard, and balm, !
4 wilderness OF sweets, for Nature berc
Wantons rs in her prime and plays at will =
Her virgin fancies, POURING. forth more sweet,
Wild above rule ur Art.'
Save the grny old stone Of the. fountain itself,
there Is nothing to lie seen but the crystal Hood
aass that leaps 'neo the mr. toppes from its hight
Murously falling into the expanse below, :
''"here grow broad tug flowers, purple prankcd
with white,
And strong river-buds among tho sed9c,
And Aoatlny water lilies, broad and white"
Here, in n nook of fantastic beauty, font two
majestic swans with archcd~nccks, and eyes