Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-02-11
WORLDS FAIR EXHIBIT.
What Some Foreign Countries Will do
for the Exhibition

It is evident that there will be massed
together in the foreign quarter gaudy,
impressive, and unfamiliar tumble of
picturesque and peculiar structures, con-
trasting strangely with the stately group
of huge palaces on the main grounds.
We know that with part of Mexico three
fourths of a million of dollars she will
erect a fac-simile of an Aztec palace;
Guatemala will put up, out Of her
S12OO0O, a model of a palace that dis
tinguishes her ruined city of Antigua;
Columbia, which has appropriated $780, 900,
will reproduce her splendid capitol; Ecua-
dor, which has allotted $125 900 for all
her expenses, will again show, as she did
in Paris, copy of her temple of the Sun;
Brazil will make a magnificent contribu-
ticn, at cost of at least half a million of
dollars. Around the beautiful palace
which she will erect will be gathered
lesser buildings illustrative of the habits
and industries of her people-huts with
native inhabitants, a sugar mill, and
coffee planters outfit. Glimpses of the
rubber industry will be among the addi-
tional exhibits. Brazil's most famous
band will he sent here also, perhaps to
compete with the band of the Coldstream
Guards of England, and certainly to blend
its melody with that Of the great orchestra
which Theodore Thomas is to lead, and
with the music of the thousands of choral
singers to be trained by Professor Tom
Inns. Almost all the South American
countries, even the smallest, and even the
colonial islands off the Atlantic coast,
have signifed their intention to present
themselves at the fair.
It is known that there will be sent from
India all that is needed to picture life in
an East Indian village. Turkey, reluctant
to bear the expense herself, has authorized
private individuals to construct a realistic
reproduction of Turkish street, probably
of shops, and showing not only the wares
peculiar to the country, but her mechanics,
artisans, and professional entertainers.
Egypt will show a more complete and
picturesque reflex of the life of her people
than that which was demonstrated by the
famous Rue de Claire in the Paris EXPOSE
ton. This exhibit will also take the form
of street. 1t will be four hundred feet
long, and lined with shops, cafes, dwell
ings, and amusement halls. 1t will be
peopled with donkey drivers, Egyptian
serving maids, dancing girls, juggIers,
merchants, women, and children Japan
will spend half a million dollars in repro
ducing what is most picturesque and
effective in her architecture and in scenes
from home life; while China, exhibiting
with governmental sanction for the first
time, will add notable feature of che
fair. Persia also promises what will
prove a glistening drop on the colossal
bucket 1t is whispered that from many
of these foreign countries royalty itself
will come in numbers and consequence
GIT alter than ever distinguish any uni
versal exhibition since the last effort of
imperial France. A dozen kingly and
princely visitors are talked of as our pos
sible guests. All or more-or none at all
may come. No one Can speak one wilt
more positively upon the subject. 1t is
even possible that some of the things that
are here set down as fixed and certain at
fractions of the exposition will be changed
or omitted. 1t Is certain that a host of
inviting features not yet known even to
the managers will be added to those here
set forth. Allowance should be made by
the reader for the uncertainties Of so long
ead.-Julian Ralph, in Harpers Mag a
zine for January.