The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-07-01
A SCENE OF SPLENDOR.
The Magnificent Spectacle Which
the Worlds Fair VIII Present
The Arts and Mechanics VIII Contribute
Their Ablc-t Productions to Beau
tify aud Magnify the
Gr.-I-I ifs.Iir.

tify aud Magnify the
Grand NG.'ir.
The following is from Mr.. Van
Rr,Ipt-S description of the Columbian
exhibition in the Century: we have al
ready said that this vcst,huic was IN
tended % Introduce the visitors u the
exposition into new world. As they
emerge from it~ east archway and enter
the court. they must, II poSsl"i'. receive
a memorable impression of arCAitectuFal
harmony on a vast scale. To TINS chu
the forums busilicaS and baths OF the
Roman empire the Villas and gardens
of the princes OF the Italian kenais-
sancc. the royal court yards 81 thS
palaces of France and Spain, must yleid
10 the architects. in that now World
which is the old their rich inheritance
of ordered beauty, To make possible the
creation OF a bright picture OF ciylc
splcndor such as this great function oi
modern civilization would seem to re
quire. &
AT the outset it was considered OF
the first Importance that the people, IN
circulating around the court or enter
ing or leaving the buildings. should s."
far as possible be protected from yhc
heat of the midsummer sun. To assist
in accomplishing this object the great
uuadruugIC viii BE- closed IN 10y a Ncri'-
of sheltered ambulaturS. like the tTccS
stoa. included in and forming part oi
the facaGcs of the palaces Of machinery
and agriculture or the right, and OF tnC
liberal arts and electricity on the lci;-
The vast fronts of these buildings. far
exceeding in dimensions those of any
.llt,-v. az. sisFr .af.T If.s4f
pruuD. with their monumental colon
uadcd pavilions. their sculpuIred en-
rfchments. their statuary, domes and
towers. win appear in mellowed ivory
marble relieved 10y decor. tiOus " color
in the SEadOyV rCeeaScs OF the poru'C'~.
Immediately before him the stranger
viii behold the GREAT basin $50 feet
wide and LOO feet long. stretching
eastward in the middle Of the cours.
bor,iercd with doubled walled terraces,
If which the lower viii be decorated
with shrubborv and flowers. and the
upper With halustradcs. rostral COZ
umns. vases and atutUary. Broad stairs
descend from the main poTticos OF the
buildings to the water, and the canals.
which enter the basin on each side. are
crossed by monumental bridges. ON the
fh-I'A lLlst' hAi 'H' 'i'N ''t''''i'- ''i-
in the axis of the court. Le will see a
smaller circular basin 800 feet in diam
cter. on level with the upper Terrace.
tlanl,od by two lofty columns bearing
eagles. In the center of this. On au az
tipuc galley OF bronze 90 feet loI.
eight colossal rowcr,, porIaying a."
arts and sciences. stand four on a side.
bending to their long sweeps: in the
Prov Is poised the herald Fame, with
trump and outspread wings; while, aft.
Time. the pilot. leans upon his helm, and
high al,ft on throne. supported by
chcruEs. sits Columbia. = fair. youthful
figure. eager and alert, not repcsiug
upon the past. but poised IN high cz-
pcctatiou. Eight couricrs PrcccGe the
barge. mounted upon marine horses
ramping out of the water. The whole
triumphai pageant is seen through q
mist of intCriacing fpuntain-jrts, and
from the trimming basin the water
falls fourteen fcgt i'm series OF steps
into the greater sheet below. a half
circle Of dolphius ~poutiu- over the cas-
cadc. This pomPous ailcgory is the
work of tn" sculptor Frederick Mac
MOnuic>. At thv outer end of the basin
a colossus of the republic 10y tine Sculp-
tor Daniel G. French. rises from the
water. Il l., treated aoa,wGG- in the
Greek archaic manner, with strong
acccutuaJiou OF vertical lines. but with
a simplicity and breadth which give the
figure an aspect ui majesty and power.
Beyond it. double open culouuade. or
pcristylc. sixty feet high, like that OF
HyIniui in front of st. Peters. forming
three sides OF square. closes in the
great court toward the lake. OF the
two wings Of this cOl0uuadr one is a
concert hall. and the other a casino or
waiting hall for passenger by boat. Its
columns typify the states Of the union.
In the center OF this architectural screen
j. q trIuunhal arch thrown over the
canal which connects the basin with
the harbor. Through this and through
the open screen of the colonnade one
may see the widc-Spreading lake, the
watery horizon. and. still in the axis OF
the court and thousand feet from the
shore. a lofty pharos with an island
casino at its base Animating the
whole, banners and goHfalons tiuttcr
Eayly from inuumcrahlc staffS; people
OF all nations walk in the shadow of the
pOrches, lingcr on the bridges, crowd
along the broad pavement OF the ter
races and watch from the balustradcS
the inceSsaut movement of many-colorrd
boats and electric barges upon the
water