The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-05-11
WONDERFUL MoDEsTY OF CHICAGO.
1t Is Something Which Strikes the Visitor
the Hardest.

The typical Chicago man can be met
on every corner. You could not avoid
him if you tried. l really do not be-
lieve you will find his counterpart on
the face of the globe. His isovermaster-
ing instinct is to pump information into
you at every point OF contact. 1t
doesn't matter that you are total
stranger to him and have mind
possibly bent on something else.
stopped man in thronged street in
a raw wind from the lake embellished
with fine cutting snow, and inquired
| where took the cars for the Worlds
Fair grounds. Instead of answering me
directly he tilted up his soft hat and
said: Have you got a pass?" told
him I had, though l was somewhat
taken aback by the abrupt inquiry. l
thought he was going to ask me to let
him see it, when his companion
smoothing out snuff-colored goatee,
Observed: "Greatest thing the world
ever saw-thirty acres of floor in one
building"
I stopped in a beer place for glass
and the barkeeper eyed me for a mo-
ment and asked me if l had been in
the "Rookery" 1 told him had-that
it was a great building.
"Chicago has the finest buildings IN
the world" said he turning to another
customer. The latter casually re-
marked for my hearing: Chicago is
eDfinest city in the world"
I got away. When got back I went
up to the Commerce Building to get a
paper executed before notary. He
handed me pamphlet on real estate
and pulled on me a prospectus of a new
building association.
Population increased here 108 per
cent in ten years-greatest growth in
the world" said he. To which | re-
piled that the only interest [ had in
Chicago real estate was to get it off my
hands and feet.
"More buildings put up in Chicago
in ten years than any other city in the
world. Increased in ten years 656 per
cent-real estate"
But I fled precipitately. I spoke
complimentary of big dry goods house
to lady on State street l happened to
have known a long time ago. I'M
mediately the answer came:
"Chicago has the finest retail dry
: goods houses in the world. New York
) isn't in it,"
: Another newspaper man asked me
, where I was stopping, and told him.
"Fair hotel-Chicago has the great
est hotels in the world" said he.
was on cable-car, going out to
see friend, and a total stranger next
to me addressed me proudly:
"Great things, these cable roads
Chicago has the finest street-car system
in the world"
"You bet she has," put in the man
| on the other side of me. And they
T were so pleased with each other thai
| they shook hands across my lap. Ther
they began to tell each other what g
' great city Chicago is.
t Coming down the elevator in the
, Rand & McNally Building couple o
: men we're talking French. When they
| got out one of the passengers turned tx
$ me and said, confidentially: "Great
isn't it?"
"What's great" said I, "the build
ing?" +.
the only cosmopolitan city in th'
p world"
And thus, on every hand, will
f. whomsoever you talk, it is all th
same-Chicago is the greatest, finest
= most superlatively magnificent, il
whole and in detail, and every inhabit
ant thereof is a special committee o
one, Chairman, Secretary, and execu
tive board, to impress these things OF
v the strangers mind.--Chtcago Con
v PittSburg Dispatch.