The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-01-16
FROM THE WORLDS FAIR.

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we often have in Kansas in summer
time when every breeze seems to bring
a shower. But we have some lovely
days between times. The roads are
shamefully muddy. The Louisiana
mud is very sticky and there is, indeed
no bottom to the mud, unless the
roads are paved. There are three ma
terials used for this purpose; first
New England granite blocks which
are brought here in the holds of ships
as ballast. The principal business
streets of the city are paved from curb
to curb with these. Second, small
shells which are brought from the
shores of the Gulf and used as we do
gravel. Oyster shells are also used as
fast as the oysters are brought here for
consumption. Third, asphalt to a
very limited extent. The wagons are
heavy and the poor mules and horses
are shamefully over loaded. 1 think
Bergh would find plenty to do here.
1t is hard matter to keep these
great buildings from leaking, and
when it rains hard, the management
get some sharp scolding from the ex-
hibitors. But they are gradually get
ting things in good shape. Mexico
has her fine building of cast iron al
most complete. They have a solid
cast of silver in the Main Building
weighing 500 pounds, and is worth
Sill 400. 1t is made to represent the
mountain of chihuahua, and has two
peaks The ravines, precipices, ETC.,
are well represented, am told. In
one corner of the grounds is located
the barracks of the Mexican soldiers
there are several hundred of them
here and they are busy in fatigue suits
at work on their building and exhibits
They are planting good many o
their cacti and century plants. One
of the latter has tall stalk that will
soon bloom. On the grounds is row
of some twenty large century, or az
they are called agava plants, which
have in each large basin scooped Out
in the center or heart of the plant just
like wash bowl in shape and size
this is for holding the juice or say
which eXudes from the inside surface
of this basin. 1t is of a sweetish taste
when fresh. 1t is queer to see the
tawny Mexican with his wide palm
leaf hat, gathering the sap in gourd
The end of long-handled gourd
which has the point cut off to make 8
hole for the sap to flow through the
inserts in the basin, and with his
mouth sucks the air out of the gourd
through a small hole in the big end
and the sap is thus drawn up into the
gourd and thence, when filled, are
poured into bucket through the hole
through which it came There are
now two large glass jars of this liquid
in the Horticultural Hall. 1t looks
much like milk and soon ferments like
apple cider and becomes alcoholic. II
then tastes much like beer, am told
aud is the native liquor of Mexico and
is called pulque; it is quite intoxicat
ing. There are some apples on exhi
bition from Mexico, which are rather
small and poorly favored, but owing
to their nearness to decay a correct
idea cannot be formed.
England has over 100 varieties of APP.
Piles OH exhibition. They are very
scrubby looking apples to US from the
apple districts of the United States
But few of our known varieties are
found among them, and they are al.
most unrecognizable. Their quality
is just tolerable. The exhibitors say
that these are fair samples of English
apples.
Russia has an apple exhibit which
is not yet on the tables. Next week
the great competitive apple show
comes off, and many of the exhibitors
are getting their fruit i'm readiness.
We have not been furnished Que bit of
cold-storage as promised, but have
held the refrigerator car in which it
came until now, and have iced the car
three times since its arrival. Some of
our varieties are badly decayed, but
yet we hope to be able to show some
fine specimens. The reason of this
failure to supply cold-storage is the
usual bungling tardy-yes lazy way
of doing things here. But the super
told me yesterday that we
would surely be well supplied by Mon
day next. ...
When northern people come here
they first try to make things go as US
ual, and then scold and fume, and
some curse good deal, but all to no
avail. 1t is like kicking against a
stump and SO try to take things pa
tieutly; and l think some become..lazi-
er than they were at home.
The Kansas state display in the
Government.Building is rapidly reach
ing completion. 1t is generally agreed
even by our competitors. that Kansas
has the handsomest monument in the
building. The work is the design of
Mr.. Robe, of Lawrence, who has charge
of the arrangement and execution of
the state display. This monument is,