The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-12-20
JOAQUIN MILLER.
The Magnitude Of the EXPOSE
tion Buildings.

The following is part Of long and
graphic letter written by Mr.. Miller
for the Times Democrat:
II wonder If any one understands
the imperative magnitude of the
buildings in which the Worlds Fair
here at New Orleans is to be opened
now in few days. / doubt if even
the men who planned andbuilt them
fully appreciate their vastness and
splendor. 1t is the fashion for folks
who have been abroad not very great
deal to go into raptures ovor the
spread and general largeness OF the
"Scala" at Milan. Well, it is a big
and broad structure, grand and n
glorious place OF song. But this Main
Building of the Worlds Fair here is
nearly one hundred times as large.
You could set the Could and Wander
bilt Opera House of New York right
down on the floor OF this Worlds Fair
ediRce, and if you would take the top
and the chinneys off you might east
ly look upon it as display OF some
sort OF patent chair set up for exhi-
bition.
AS you set out on your milo walk
from TIM end of the big building,
which is next to the Mississippi river,
to the extreme end OF the Government
Building, you pass nave or auditori-
um to the left You see what seems
to be little arch there and few
chairs. You might easily pass this
little arch and platform and pile OF
chairs unseen, it is 80 small apparent
ly-this whole arrangement of plat
form and auditorium. And yet that
appearentlo small auditorium has
chairs for the comfortable seating Of
10000 people. l only speak Of this in
order to give some faint notian of the
vastness of the edifce.
On this platform and in this nave tC
the left, where 10000 people may be
seated, the ceremonies of inauguration
are to be held. Here, it is said, all thu
Presidents of all the republics of tn,
land of Columbus are to be gathered
together, Here, Judges and general
men of science and of letters, teacher
and thinkers--a congress of all that i
great and illustrous-shall be held
About this ten thousand, on eithe
side, rise two vast wings that stretcl
far away and look down over the Who'll
scene. These lifted wings are to b
devoted to the press.
1t is fact that you could put neal
~ the entire buildings of Paris an,
Vienna, which were devoted to thei
fairs, into this one Main Building c
the New Orleans Exposition. 1t
about one-third larger than that Of til
Centennial at Philadelphia. 1t is b
all odds the largest edifice OF whic
history gives any account. The CC
liseum at Rome, a structure whic
gave word to the world by which t
express magnitude, does not compass
half as much space as this Exposito
at New Orleans. But, of course, tn
is not as lory and substantial rs til
Coliseum was.
The engines to be used here fC
lighting the place alone are more tr
mendous than all those set in motto
at tho Philadelphia Centennial by I'll
Emperor of Brazil and Gen. Grant
the moment Of opening the Fxhih
ton there. But one wearies OF the
repetitions of magnitude. Brief
then, tho whole arrangement ia G
this vast plan. 1t is worthy of Il
country. 1t is fashioned after it in
vastness and its splendor. Cut the
in the Mississippi, lording the who
scene, will be the Great Eastern, SOC
to arrive from Europe fit compa
ion OF the great event.
Perhaps some conception Of Il
largeness and the positiveness of Il
place might be arrived at by contei
plating tho number of acres involve
We have here about seventy-fve acI
under roof. Now, il you will 60 O
into the country and try to find a fc
as large as this, seventy-five acres, Y
can in some feeble sort of way und
stand that here We have on hand t
most colossal werk that ever was.