St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-09-07
EXPOSITION HALL.
A Glance at Its Attractions in
EnbryOtic Condition.

The decorations and exhibits of the
main hall are not quite completed yet,
but if what has been dOneis is a precursor
of what is to follow, the hall will be one
artistic chaos of beautiful displays. At
the south end of the hall near the en-
trance stands a large fig tree loaded
with half-ripe fruit, growing up, as it
were. from miniature garden, encaSed
in wooden box. All around it stand
little fig trees and shoots, and, taking it
altogether, it reminds one, upon enter
ing, of sudden transport to the far off
Occident or the sunny South. The fig
tree is the property of John Weiden-
former, of this city, and bears three
crops of fruit in year. In the center
of the hall on a raised platform
is an exhibit of musical instruments
including pianos and organs. OF
course. the building in: the main
looks a little rough and unfinished, as
the exhibitors are still busy at work
putting in their displays, but by this
afternoon everything will be in shape.
The entire half of the east wing is de-
voted to the display of woman's handI-
work. Elaborately embroidered tides,
crazy quilts, patchwork, and all such
articles as the deftnesS of woman'S
fingers and needle can produce hang
about in artistic confusion.
The leather and shoe exhibit in the
other wing is another feature of the
hall. Every kind of leather that the
inventive mind of man has found proc
eSs for tanning is displayed. They are
hung on a frame in the center of the
wing. In the middle hangs the skin of
the monarch of the serpent world-the
boa constrictOr-yellow and scaly, and
to any one of an imaginative mind a
thing to dream about. Around it are
porpoise and lizard skins; skins of the
aquatic terror, the shark; seal. alligator,
kid and calf skins. In fact. there is only
one kind of hide necessary to make the
collection complete one, and that is
the human hide. Across in glass cases
are samples of shoes and slippers made
from these various kinds of leather,
some OF them masterpieces of the shoe
makers art, especially the ones made
from the leather of the boa constructor.
Edison's phonograph is being placed
in the building, and to-day the visitors
can stand and listen to speeches made
thousands of miles away and to music
played on other continents. The fur
exhibit is also clever one. A huge
white seal stands at the opening of the
booth, made up from a mass of soft,
luxurious furs; and back of him. on a
raised pedestal, stands another and
smaller seal, and above that again
Bengal tiger stuffed so cleverly that the
life-like appearance is almost startling.
The w. c. T. .. ladies have not for
gotten that their country sisters are
very likely to become tired walking
about and looking at the displays, so
n raln
booth with seats inside where ladies are
invited to come in and rest. Then there
is lady in attendance who passes away
her time by distributing temperance
literature to those who desire to read
about the workings of the cold water
cause.
There is another unique exhibit in the
hall of Minneapolis flour. Miniature
sacks of it are piled up to resemble
fort and surmOunted by the stars and
stripes. Taking it all through, the st.
Paul mercantile business is pretty we'll
represented in the hall, although the
exhibits do not excel those those of last
year by any means. The grocery exhibit
is good, and fairly large one, while
clothing and dry goods take up consid-
cradle of the space. There is also an
exhibit of tobacco, which is interesting
to those who are nOviceS in the mode OF
manufacturing it into cigars and other
smokers articles.
The floral exhibit, while it is not as
yet complete, will be good one, and
wagon loads of sweetly smelling flowers
and exotic plants were received during
the afternoon to form it. At the side of
the north entrance an enterprising st.
Paul Photographic firm is fixing up a
booth, and will remain there throughout
the fair and take photographs of the
principal events tranSpiring, with the
view of getting up an elaborate
souvenir,