The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-11-06

merS urlvlng every day. Fifteen hundred
thousand nails every few hours will get
her done mighty soon, now"
The buildings are rife-shot from the
banks of the Mississippi. The place Ia
high aud dry now, Of course above all
approach Of floods level as o lawn,
green, cool. beautiful, with avenues of
oaks that have no equal on earth; but
the grounds are going to be muddy. The
ground is deep black Oregon Camas
muck; it is the mud Of Illinois, in fact,
worked over and washed down and made
tenfold more sticky by its long trauspor:
tation. But of course planks-and there
are plenty of them here-will keep your
feet from the mud. It isgoing to be simply
tremendous success. can tell you
more of the details two weeks later. In
the three great Expositions Of the past
wsssent TO reportupon the show grounds.
| was sent to Fieuna, to Paris, and also
to Philadelphia, as am sent here, long
in advance Of the opening; and / can
only say that things here compare most
favorably with the best prospects, as /
remember them and recounted .hom. at
these other places. And that is about
all that am justified in saying now. /
will say this, however, to my friends and
readers-and l have about million, I
belieye-that any one who fails to visit
this city aud thesa scenes ut this coming
Fair, health and all things permitting, is
simply silly. This city hopes to get some
good out Of the coming show. The main
good, my friends, will be TO the North.
You want to learn some hing of the size,
the story, the glory ant the splendor of
your land. You want I see these people
hero, too. a yanquisIed, beaten and
impoverished people; but brave, and
good, and true, and warpo at heart es the
sun above them. lam already assured,
from what see, .!,st il is gcing 20 he the
greatest thing of its kind that hrs ever
been on earth. Tha. ia saying very
great deal, certainly. But hear in miud
that outside of the million dollars, these
brave sunny.hearted and show.loving
people have perpetuated their Carnivals
through all their trials and have long
been celebrated for their matchless skill
In getting up auch things. So you can
safely calculate that to miss this EXpusi-
ton will be life regret. .s
But to continue the Sundays excur.
sione. went to see the Bandit King"
snd "Bunch of Keys" at night, alternat-
ing between the two theaters, which stand
close together. The heat was too intense,
and before the plays were over l went
out, walked down Canal street, stripped
aud plunged into the river from the
wharf, which slopes to the wG.er's edge.
Not soul In sight, not even policeman.
The electric light made the water sheet
of silver, and did not see that the swift,
strong river had caught me up in his
arms aud was rushing on with all his
nigh to the sea. Perilous But what
did it matter2 When got back and sat
catching my breath on the edge of the
wharf saw q lot of jet black bugs as big
as mice sitting on the edge of the plank
at my side. never saw such creatures
in my life. Now and then they would
dive of into the water. One of these
bugs finally elbowed around, and lifting
upon his hind legs, looked me squarely
in the eyes. He had mustache like the
King of Italy. fled precipitately, as
soon as could dress.
sauntered up Canal street two blocks
end turned down q street to the right. /
heard men calling out games and names
which had not heard called for thirty
years. Up wide, bright stair of brass,
and gambling was before me in all its
doubtful glory. A policeman looking on,
good order, no noise except the men call
ing out their games. Twenty seven
tables going in this room. No woman in
eight. The dealers were generally little
pot.belliel and bald.headed Frenchmen.
The language L.ostly spoken was English.
l went out, down, up again saw four
other places, all 80 alike thatI need not
mention them. rr
passed on, down a hundred yards or
60 toward the French quarter, and 1
heard wild, discordant music and the
cracked and squeaky voices of matured
women who were dancing and singing by
dozens right and left; T pushed open
some Of the doors; the dingy floors were
pached with mon and women.
1t was time 10 60 home. I wish I had
not seen it all. Iwish did not, as q
truthful chronicler, have to set it down
here. It mars my picture of discoveries
and of the lnighty scenes that have been
before me. God. how pitiful 10 man, and
how contemplate he can be, even in the
presence of all this majesty Of Nature.
JOAQUIN MILLER.