Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-11-08


MAGIC TRAsFoRN.rIoN SCENE IN THE UFPER
CITY PARK-THRrY-THREE ACRES OF GROUND
COVERED BY THE MAIN srRUcrURE-TuE HeR-
TlcULTURAL HALL AND THE ART GALLERY
Correspondence Of TIE EVENING STAR
New ORLEANS. November s.
Just now the Great Cotton Centennial Ex-
position" is the ground; work upon which the
patches OF general conversation are scattered
Men OF business and lovers of progress sneak Of
1t with the grave dignity befitting some imnor-
tant era in the worlds affairs: editors and re-
porters grow lively when it is introduced; the
architects, engineers and hundreds of lahorers
engaged in the work, refer to- with pride and
confident hope Of complete success: landlords
and clearinghouse keepers rave over it as
coming harvest from which they are to grow
| rich. The ladies spend their time in studying
how they may appear most bewitchlng. and
talk of this Worlds Fair" from morning TO
night, then dream or il from night to morning
Even the school children are wild with ex-
citement, each believing that his individual pro-
duction viii attract attention at the eNlIosi-
tion." The thing has become a living entity i'm
our midst and has done wonders in bringing out
the ego.
We do not wish to imply that there are no
constitutional grumblers who view il with dis
contented eye, for croakers dwell in every lati
tude and the mental vision ofsome people is In
chronic state of jaundice. Fortunately, how
ever, these are but the exceptions that 90 to
prove the rule that the general public approye
of and look forward with pleasure TO the event
One is apt to think. in reading what the local
press say on the subject. that there Is consider
able stretching of the truth. but visit to the
spot proves that the reality tar surpasses the de-
scrptions.
THE EXPOSITION GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS
Little more than seven months ago the Upper
City Park, as the site OF the grounds was then
called, was vast, uneven unimproved area OF
land. whose only attraction was the number Of
grand old live oaks with their drapery OF gray
moss, looking like so many venerable sentinels
at the outposts Of the city. The place was
rarely visited. save by picnic parties In the sum-
mer, but the birds made their homes there all
the year round. Now, il seems as though the
wand of magician had touched the earth so
wonderful and rapid have been the changes
wrought 10y the spirit OF improvement. Three
hundred acres OF ground have been enclosed
and laid out In every conceivable design the
good sense of the managers leaving the mag
nlncent oaks standing in undisturbed majesty.
Every line of cars in the city connects with the
grounds and most run directly to one side OF
the other. long, pleasant ride through the
garden district. now gorgeous with every variety
OF flower coloring. landed us at the door of the
main building. which covers thirty three acres
and has front elevation of sixty leet. On en-
tering we were lost In wonder at the magnitude
OF such an undertaking and i'm admiration of
the perfection already attained. The galleries.
thrty-iye feet wide and twenty-three feet from
the hoor. extending round the entire building
are reached 10y numerous broad starways aud
twenty hydraulic elevators. A walk through
the different aisles covers a distance of six
miles.
But statistical figures can give no adequate
Idea OF the impressions produced by look into
the vast building. without Partitions but in
stead innumerable lines of small pillars to be
clothed when the time shall come In every bril-
liant color known to nature or art. One might
well doubt if Theseus could find Ariadne even
with the aid of her thread. In such labyrinth.
THE GREAT MUSIC HALL
in the center of the building seats IL 600 hear
ers, the stage 600 musicians and the musical
ear tingles in anticipation OF the treat in store
Immediately at Its right stand the sections de-
voted to the exhibits of Austria and Hungary,
on the left those Of Russia and Belgium. while
beyond. on either side. lie the spaces allotted
to the other nations of the earth. Imagination
loses itself in pcturing the scene when ali these
spaces will be filled and the antipodes viii stand
no longer foot TO foot. but face to face
The polite chief engineer. 5. III. Gilman in
formed The STAR correspondent. In reply to a
question as to whether everything would be i'm
readiness TO open at the appointed time that
they would have their part DONE and il would
only remain for the exhibitors to come forward
with their specimens About one thousand feet
from the main building stands the government
building. on which $50 men have been huSily Mt
work since the 10th of August and which is
nearly completed. IL is one-llalf the size OF the
main building and will be much more elaborate
IN finish. Here the forty-nine sister states aud
territories will hold high carnival decked i'm the
rich garniture of their agricultural products
aud leweed with their mineral wealth Ii will
be sight calculated to make every American
heart throb with pardonabe pride
HORTICULTURAL HALL.
Next in size and Importance is tic Horticul.
tural Hall, built entirely of glass and iron, in
which broad-leayed tropical plants and trees are
already unfurling their luxuriant green banners
beneath the genial rays of the southern sun.
Many floral wonders have already arrived from
Mexico including innumerable- varieties of
orchids and yoluptuous looking productions OF
nature unknown even in this latitude. In the
center OF this modern Garden of Paradise q
fountain, nearly one hundred feet high. will be
constantly ar play. scattering its liquid da-
monds over the gno.nes, fairies and brobdig-
nags of floral life.
The tender nothings that will be whispered to
willing ears among the langushing perfumes
and gorgeous colors of this sweet wilderness
during the six months of the Exposition would
serve as materials to poets and novclists for Q
decade to come.
An art gallery one hundred feet long built OF
iron and entirely freproof, is in course Of con-
structon, and will offer a safe resting pace for
the magnificent paintings and statues which
will be sent from all parts of the country so
that lovers Of the fine arts will have ample OBJ
portunity for indusng their taste
In short. every effort has been made to pro-
duce perfection in the several parts so that the
gigantic whole may be grand climax in mod
ern enterprise.
L. A. Burke, the director general of the ex-
position, not many years ago came a stranger
to New Orleans, and by sheer force OF character
worked his way into public notice. lie entered
the arena OF politics, soon became !. leader was
elected assistant administrator Of imDroye-
ments, then tax collector and is now serving a
second term as treasu er OF Louisiana.
When 1t was determined to hold cotton GEN.
tennial and its location was under discussion.
Major Burke was chiefly Instrumental in having
New Orleans selected as its site. His labors in
Congress obtained the loan Of $1,000 coo from
the general government, and. in the state legs-
iature, an appropriation OF 100000
ADIDNAc.
'Buo EggelstOn's' Neglected Grave.
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
was at Glenwood few days AGO. and while
rambling round / came across the neglected
grave OF ''poor Bud Eggelston." Ii looks moro
like the grave Of paupcr than OF q man who
iaoored late and early to suppress the terrible
wee or intemperalc0. He was the friend of the