The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-22
ALL SORTS OF GATHERINGS.
Congresses Galore to Be Held in Chicago
During the Fair.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
CHICAGO, June 30.-The record of the
proposed special outside features of the
Worlds fair-that is to say, of movements
originating in patriotic impulse, but not
officially under the control either of the
national commission or the board of di-
rectors-continues to grow as week sue
| ceeds week. 1t would already make a
good sized pamphlet, and at the rate that
new schemes are being originated it gives
promise of becoming bulky volume be-
fore very long. If but a small proportion
of the schemes under way are carried into
effect, there will be such an aggregation of
gatherings of one kind and another in Chi
cago in 1893 as to bewilder the most phleg
matte visitor, and the newspapers will
have to treble the present size of their
sheets and more than double their stats of
reporters in order to keep up with the pro-
cession for the benefit of their readers. In
the matter of conventions and congresses
in particular the list grows daily.
Some time ago reference was made in this
correspondence TO the fact that initiatory
steps had been taken for holding a series
of international conferences to discuss
questions of education, temperance, mat
ters relating to religion, and so on through
a long catalogue. Since that time the
musicians have taken hold of the subject
of an international musical congress, the
artists are seeking to have a round up of
their profession, the German turner's have
taken the first steps toward an interna-
tional festival, the Welsh clans have de-
cided to hold an international eisteddfod
or competitive musical festival, and the
English residents are quietly canvassing
concerning the feasibility of having big
reunion of the Sons of Albion.
1t is hardly possible just now to make
correct estimate of the number of conven-
tions, congresses, festivals and reunions
that have been projected by earnest men
and women who will doubtless succeed in
carrying their ideas into effect in some
shape or another. To put it at 200 would
certainly not be a long way off of the
mark. This would mean a gathering of
some kind or another for every day of the
six months of the fair, including Sundays,
and as some of the affairs are intended to
cover an entire week and many others have
been Professionally set for the same dates
many of our foreign friends will have to
make pretty long stay in Chicago if they
expect to take in the fair and pay due at
tention to a particular movement, whether
1t be woman's suffrage, temperance, music
or art, that will bring them to these shows.
1t is very much the same in the matter of
special and supplementary structures for
the Worlds fair grounds
There are on file four or five hundred ap-
picatfons for ground on which to erect
paviGons booths and one story structures
for one purpose or another. These, more
over, do not emanate from tradesmen or
people who are looking out for number one
in an advertising sense, but from munich
palities and local and national societies.
Two or three secret benevolent societies,
for instance, are anxious to put up pavil
ions where their visiting membership may
feel at home. Agricultural and similar or
ganiZations are desirous of having head
quarters, and there is no small number of
Egyptians and Arabs and Turks who ara
willing to put up very ornamental build
ings for the purpose of illustrating their
street scenes and their modes of living. 1t
is hardly possible that one out of ten of
these applications can be granted if any
room Is to be left within the inclosure for
the purposes of pedestrianism.
Even with their large and efficient staff
it is difficult to understand how the Fair
officials manage TO keep track of all that is
being suggested to them or set before
them without becoming dazed and be-
wildered. 1t is little wonder that Promo
ter General Handy is commencing to age,
and that Vice President Bryan, despite the
the diplomatic suavity that is part of his
nature, looks and talks sometimes as if he |
would like 70 emulate the example of Rob !
inson Crusoe and HE himself TO a desert |
island until some kind OF order has been |
restored out Of chaos. /
HENRY NJ HUNT.