Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-06-03
a GRAND SPECTACLE.
The Worlds Fair as it VIII Appear
nificent Buildings.

nificent Buildings.
The following is from Mr.. Van Brunt's
description of the Columbian exhibition
In the May Century: I'VE have already
said that this vestibule was intended TO
introduce the visitors to the exposition in
to new world. AS they emerge from Its
east archway and enter the court, they
must,lt possible. receive a memorable i'm
preston of architectural harmony on q
vast scale. To this end the forums, basil
lcas, and baths of the Roman Empire, the
villas and gardens of the princes of the
Italian Renaissance, the royal courtyards
OF the Lalaees of France and Spain, must
yield to the architects, in that new world
which is the old, thu lr rich inheritance, of
ordered beauty, to make possible the crea-
ton OF bright picture of civic splena0r
such as this great function of modern ciyi
llzatlon would seem to require.
AT the outset 1t was considered of the
hrst Importance that the people, in circu-
lat1ng around the court and entering or
leaving the buildings, should so far "a
possible be protected from the heat of the
midsummer sun To assist in accomn-
fishing this object the great quadrangle
viii be closed IN by a series Of sheltered
ambulatorles, like the Greek stoa, includ-
ed IN forming part Of the facades of the
palaces OF Machinery and Agriculture on
the right, and of Liberal Arts and EIrctri-
city on the left. The vast fronts of these
buildings, far exceeding in dimensions
those of any other ancient or modern
archcbltectural group, with their monu-
mental colonnaded pavilions, their scpIn.
tured enrichments, their statuarv. domes
and towers, will appear in mellowed ivory
marble, relieved by decorations in colorin
the shadowy receSses of the portilos,. I'm
mediately before him the stranger will
behold the great basin $50 feet wide apd
HOO feet long, stretching eastward in the
middle OF the court, bordered with double
walled terraces, of which the lower will ba
decorated with shrubbery and flowers. and
the upper, with haIustrades. rostral col
umrs, 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 monumental bridges. On the
nearer margin of the greater basin. and
in the axis IF the court, he will see a
smaller circula basin $50 feet in diameter
on a level with the upper terrace, fl mixed
by two lofty columns bearing eagles. In
t1e center of this, on an antique gallery of
bronze 80 feet long, eight colossal rowers,
portraying the Arts and sciences, stand
four on one 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 all # "a hrone, support
ed by cherubs, Columbia sits, a fair
| youthful figure, eager and alert, not re-
posing upon the past but poised in high
expectation. Eight couriers precede the
barge, mounted upon marine horses ramp
ing out of the water. The whole triumph
al pageant Is seen through a mist of
lnterlaclng fountain jets, and from the
| brlmmlng basin the water falls ID feet in
series of steps into the greater sheet
below, haif-circle of dolphins spouting
over the cascade. This pompous alegory
Is the work of the sculptor Frederick Mac
Monnies. Al the outer end of the basin a
colossus of the Republic, by the sculptor
Daniel G. French. rises from the water.
| 1t Is treated somewhat in the Greek arch &c
manner, with a strong accentuation of
vertical lines, but with simplicity and
breadth which give to the figure an aspect
of majesty and power. Beyond it, double
open colonnade, or peristyle, so feet high
| like that Of Bernini In front of St. Peters,
| lol ming uulCc Sluth u square, closes In
| the great court toward the lake. OF the
two wings of this colonnade one is a con-
cert hall, and the other casino or wait
ing hall for passengers by boat. Its
columns typify the states of the Union.
In the center of this architectural screen
is a triumphal arch thrown over the canal
which connects the basin with the harbor.
Through this ard through the open screen
OF the colonnade one may see the wide
spreading lake, the watery horizon, and,
still in the axis Of the court and a thousand
feet from the shore, lofty pharos with an
island casino at its base. Animating the
whole, b tnners and gonfalons futter gaiIy
from innumerabie stats; people of all
nations walk in the shadow of the porches,
finger on the bridges, crowd along the
broa0 pavement of terraces, and watch
from the balustrades the incessant move
ment of many -colored boats and electric
barges upon the water