The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-12-31

is not yet the complete and perfect Expo
sftion It will become a month hence. F0
weeks before the opening every foot o
space within tho walls Of tho colossa
buildings were engaged tardy people who
wal ted until the last few months 10 make
their applications were met by courteou.
sorry, but we've no room." In spite ol
this iact, there is still soine empty space
and everywhere carpenters are hammer.
| Ing, painters arc coioring, upholstcrers arc
decorating, and exhibitors are arranging
their wares. The flag Of imperial Russil
now waves over
LITTLE But DARE BOARDS.
and yet that astoundingly progressive
nation has shipped from her snowy shores
q great quantity and variety Of uncommon
and valuable things. The red cross OF St.
George droops modestly over the large
space soon to DO covered by tho myriad
manufacturers of England, rs il ashamed
Of British slowness. Our own eagle looks
rather crestlallen in the presence OF his
double.headcd kinsman from Austria,
who has already abeautiful exhibit spread
out beneath his crooked claws. The red
sun OF Japan beams bright OIL his snowy
ground, and sheds complacent rays upon
tile varied productions already in place;
upon the precious porcelains, the exaai.
site enamels, the famous fabrics Of that
island kingdom OF which there are still
50 many interesting things TO be learned.
The great clock Of Connecticut lacks its
pendulum. The largest organ in the
world is minus its pipes. The ex-
hlbits In the gallery are just
T. CLIMBING FROM CHAOS,
the pictures are hiding their light under
cover OF wood and paste board; the ma
chincry is not yet in constant motion.
But for all that, the exhibits eren now Of
absorbing interest. So much has been al.
ready done that no one can realize in
gazing upon the Main Building, with It's
almost incredible size OF l,G56, $50 feet: the
Government Building, with its lofty tow
ers and graceful front; the Horticultural
Hall, with its tropical trees, brilliant flow
ers. its equally brilliant fruits and magical
lights; the artistic Art Gallery, with its
Grecian porch and Ionic columns; the
Mill and Machinery Buildings that con.
tain the wonders OF American invention:
the Mexican Building, with its national
architecture and coloring; the grounds.
with their verdure and beau.y--tf1at ali
these marvels have beenAwrought in less
than two years from the day when the
irst idea Of this enterprise was seriously
entertained. The most salient point Of
TnEwoSDRous PICTURE,
the one that would profoundly impress a
stranger as he arrives by the river, or de-
scends from the street cars, is the avenue
Of liveoaks that extends from the river
front in n continuous line to the Govern
ment Building. No words could convey
an idea OF these forest kings with, their
robes OF glossy green, their grey drapery
oil Spanish moss, of their contrast with the
bright grass which their long limbs over
shadow, and~with the blue sky their
"towery tops" aspire to reach. The home
Of thousand mocking.birds, the shelter
oil gay beauties and gallant cavaliers, the
outdoor nursery Of gamboling children,
the guardian sentinels OF the Exposition,
they are as worthy OF poets praise and
painters ecstacy rs the famous "Charter
Oak" as Tennyson's garrulous old tree, or
the English oak in which tho Merry Mon
arch concealed himself from Round-hcad
rage. ,r=
THIS ANCIENT AVENUE
is best seen when approached from the
river, which is itself one OF the great
natural wonders Of the world; the river
tossea great fleets upon its waves, and
plays with the merchant ships that lie at
its wharvcs, as il they were feathers fallen
from the gulls that hover above its tawny
shining surface. The spice OF danger that
enters into every nervous persoh 5 enjoy
ment OF the Mississippi when viewed from
one OF its own boats, makes the trip from
city to Exposition still more exciting. II
the tourist is timid soul, and afraid of
the great riyer-iion that roars and shakes
his yellow name, that lashes his tail and
threatens TO fall upon the Crescent town
trembling beneath him, why then, the
timorous tourist can gaze upon him from
the shore, md gain the Exposition build
ing by means Of tho street car running
ceaselessly to and fro, discharging from
its door Il crowd large enough to fill a
country meeting-house.
THE NEW ORLEANS MAN
is not, apparently, "merciful to his beast"
Certainly not to the beast that draws the
car over the level streets that run parallel
with the river. The Prytania line will
convey the stranger through very nris.
tocratic street, with aristocratic mansions,
built OF wood and painted, too often,
white that glares and glitters under the
burning sun and that makes fortune for
the oCulists OF the town. The st. Charles
line conveys passengers through one OF
most beautiful streets in the world, past
gardens that keep their bloom throughout
the winter, past houses, white, TOO, alas!
but veiled by vines and half Hidden by
golden globes that hang upon their
branches until they are displaced by
THE nLossoN BELOVED OF BRIDES,
until they are removed to make way for
next years oranges, which are injured,
like other younger children, if "the older
set hangs on too long" Another means
Of conveyance, the Snake Line,n So
called because it curves md winds about
like Il serpent in motion, is usually full OF
workmen and market women, and yet by
means OF its curvesit approaches so many
places that ladies and gentlemen some
times patronize this line in preference to
the patrician prytania or charming St.
Charles. OF course, there are people
who 30 in carriages. Strangers these.
New Orleans people are not accustomed
to carriages. Our carriage roads are rs
few rs they are bad. But there is a broad
asphalt pavement that will soon be ready,
and the beauties OF St. Charles avenue
can be enjoyed without twisting ones
neck to look out OF crowded car windows.