Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-06-16
A MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE.
he Worlds Fair as it Will Appear In 1893
When in Full Blast.

The following is Mr.. Van Brunt's
description of the Columbian EXPOSE
ton in the Century: 1--WE have al
ready said that this vestibule was in.
tended to introduce the visitors to the
Exposition into a new world. As they
emerge from its east archway and en-
ter the court, they must, if possible,
receive a memorable impression of ar
chitectural harmony on a vast scale.
To this end the forums, basilicas, and
baths of the Roman Empire, the villas
and gardens of the Italian Renaissance,
the royal courtyards of the palaces of
France and Spain, must yield to the
architects in that new world which is
the old, their rich Inheritance of or
dered beauty, to make possible the
creation of a bright picture of civic
splendor, such as this great function of
modern civilization would seem to re-
quire.
cat the outset it was considered of
the first Importance that the people,
in circulating around the court and
entering or leaving the buildings,
should SO far as possible be protected
from the heat of the midsummer sun.
To assist in accomplishing this object
the great quadrangle will be closed by
a series of sheltered ambulatories, like
the Greek StOG, included in and form
ing part of the facades of the palaces
of Machinery and Agriculture on the
right, and of the Liberal Arts and
Electricity on the left. The vast
fronts of these buildings, far exceed
ING in dimensions those of any other
ancient or modern architectural group,
with their monumental colonnaded
paviIions, their sculptured enrich
ments, their statuary, domes, and tow
ers, viii appear in mellowed ivory
marble, relieved by decorations in
color in the shadowy recesses of the
porticos.
Immediately before him the stran-
ger win behold the great basin $50
feet wide and 100 feet long, stretch
ing eastward in the middle of the
court, bordered with double walled
decorated with shrubbery and flowers,
and the upper with balustrades, ros-
trail columns, vases and statuary.
Broad stairs descend from the main
porticos of the buildings to the water,
and the canals, which enter the basin
on each side, are crossed by monu-
mental bridges. On the nearer margin
Of the greater basin, and in the axis of
the court, he will see a smaller circu-
lar basin $50 feet in diameter, on
level with the upper terrace, fanked
by two lofty columns bearing eagles.
In the centre of this, on an antique
galley of bronze 90 feet long, eight
colossal rowers, portraying tie 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 aloft on a throne, sup
ported by cherubs, Columbia sits, a
fair youthful figure, eager and alert,
not reposing upon the past, but poised
in high expectation. Eight couriers
precede the barge, mounted upon ma
rine horses ramping out of the water.
The whole triumphal pageant is seen
through Il mist of interlacing fountain
jets, and from the trimming basin the
water falls IA feet in series of steps
into the greater sheet below, a half
circle of dolphins spouting over the
cascade. This pompous allegory is the
work of the sculptor Frederick Mac
Monies.
AT the outer end of the basin a CO.
lossus of the Republic, by the sculptor
Daniel G.. French, rises from the water.
1t is treated somewhat in the Greek
archaic manner with Il strong accent
uaton Of vertical lines, but with a
simplicity and breadth which gives to
the figure an aspect of majesty and
power. Beyond it, double open col
onnade, or peristyle, 60 feet high, like
that of Bernini in front Of st. Peters,
forming three sides of a square. closes
i'll the great court toward the lake. Of
the two wings of this cOlonnade one is
concCrt-hall and the other a casino
OF waitinghall for passengers by boat.
Its columns typify the States of the
Union. In the center of this architect
ural screen is triumphal arch thrown
over the canal which connects the ba-
sin with the harbor. Through this
and through the open screen of the
colonnafe one may see the wide
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 gonfalons tiutter gaily from in
Vulnerable staffs; people Of all nations
walk in the shadow of the porches,
finger on the bridges, crowd along the
broad pavement OF the terraces, and
watch from the balustrades the inces-
SAINT movement of many-colored boats
and electric barges upon the water"