Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-05-06

out striking evidence of the sympathetic in
terest felt in the Exposition. 1t was but =
trifing blaze. A super heated steam pipe
in restaurant in the upper floor of music
hall chared projecting timber. The
smoke caused an alarm. In moment tht
entire fire department of the Exposition wa,
at the scene, but even before it arrived Il
single pail of water had quenched the
sparks.
| Nevertheless, the report that something
was on fire at the Exposition ground,
spread with the rapidity of lightning ans,
with the wings of the wind, as the win,,
blows in Chicago alone. For two hours
fire engines from all parts of Chicago con
tinued to dash up to the entrances to the
grounds and to be told that their services
were not needed. The incident, however
showed the promptness and good orgsniza-
| ton of the fire department of the Exposi-
| ton itself and the eagerness with which the
Chicago fire laddies would respond to any
possible summons for their aid.
There seemed to be an unusual rush of
visitors today to the Midway Plaisance.
This, it should be explained, is the happy
name given to wide boulevard, mile in
length, which stretches eastward from the
boundary of the Exposition grounds. The
Plaisance is part of the Fair, and no extra
fee for admission is charged. 1t is lined,
or will be lined, with reproductions of
foreign life, such as German, French and
Irish villages, castles and cathedrals. streets
of Oriental cities and other attractions too
numerous to catalogue. Swarthy Bedouins.
strangely dressed Turks, Cingalese
Chinese, Maylayans. Coreans, Kanakas and
representatives of other nations hustle to and
fro in oddly commingled confusion. When
their work is finished you may visit very
babel of foreign cities, and make in
imagination the tour of the world in day
For all the external sights and sounds of
these heather towns there is no extra
charge; but if you wish to drink tea served
by maidens from Yokohama, or to behold
the beauties of a drama from CONSTANT
nople, or to g-ze upon the unveiled hours
of the Sultan, or to view the inner circle of
domestic life in Cairo. OF to witness a ma
tive dance of Zulus, it is, of course, neces
sary to pay for it.
Unfortunately this part of the Exposition
is yet incomplete. The part of it most
nearly finished is the ''street in Cairo.
which will be inhabited by neaaly POO
Egyptians, who will have their own mosque
and theater and reproduction of an an
cient temple. Admittance to the unfinished
Cairo street was denied to the throngs of
visitors who knocked at the barrier which
screens it from public view. The Press
correspondent, however, encountered an
olive Egyptian at the gate and experiment
ed with the language Of diplomacy. When
New York French colided with the French
of Cairo there was a wreck of syntax and u
crash Of words. but the result was pri-
vate view of what will undoubtedly be one
of the most entertaining exhibits here.
Stimulated by a little backsheesh, the
turbaned guide led the way through the
street of ovcrhangipg windows aud latticeG
doorways, to the mosque, thence to the the
ater where the danse de ventrc and other
Oriental spectacles will be presented, and
finally to camel and donkey stable. The
obliging guide, as we passed one of the
buildings which was completed, shreked
some words in foreign tongue at a lat
ticed window in the second story. Fatima
most black, and old and ugly, cautiously
looked out and screamed back an answer.
at gives me a thousand regrets" ex-
planned thes Mussulman, mot to make
known to you our Corps de Thestef, but
Fatima say they take their midday sleep.
4 Ht lo tbt WVih VI tit tumDlt. wv
the work of the music. and the work of the
dance. They make very grand exhibition.
-Four days hence, you will see." And with
this glance at Mosque and theater and hid.
eous Fatima, the visitor was perforce con-
tent.
Equally unfinished are the Turkish vii
lage, although weird music there invites to
theatrical performance the Irish village
1 Al.
deem is to open, and the other examples of
foreign life.
One of the most complete exhibits on the
grounds is that of the United States gov
ernment. The building is both dignifed
and graceful. II contains elaborate repre-
sentations of the work of every department
of the government. Those most interest
ing perhaps. are of the war and navy de-
partmerts, although those of the interior
| and postofIice departments attracted and
beli the attention of many sigh.seers In
the exhibit of the engineer branch of the
army the relief maps of the work of rernov-
ing the obstructioBs in He'll Gate and of
connecting the waters of the Harlem and
the Hudson are most effective. But it is
evident that the entire government exhibit
will be one Of the most popular of the Fair.
and will give to visitors from all parts of
the country new and vivid impression Of
the vast organization which centers n.
Washington. and which in one way nr
| another touches every citizen of the land.
The clang and chorus of preparing exhib-
its in the '.main building," otherwise known
as the Manufacturers building and as the
Palace of Liberal Arts, rang throughout
that enormous structure today more reson-
antly than ever. Progress is being mshe
rapidly. The foreign exhibit most nearly
completed in this building is that Of Aus
tria. Priceless treasures are displayed oi
works of ceramic art, and the paintings or
porcelain are inhescribably beautiful, and
excel, it is claimed, any collection of tht
Kind ever brought together. Paintings OF
| canvas, etcbings, rare engravings and prod
ucts of the ueaver's art reinforce this, tht
most forward exhibit in the building.
| The displays of many New York manu-
! factures are announced in this building. bul
It must be said that the promises of these
announcements. for the most part, are full
| filed only in the presence of unepene'
packing cases. Germany and France boti
are racing toward the opening of thei
beautiful bazaars. and that of Jappn in
| few days will be thrown open to inspection
/ Bot, despite the rapidly multiplying ~
suits of the toll of thousands of hands. it i
| painfully evident that not at least before
fortnight will the exhibition be ready 70
detailed inspection in any but i few buihi
ings.
This Exposition is 80 vast, its exhibit
are 40 varied and cover such great distance .
that 20 one, despite ali this incompetence
need hesitate to visit il at once. There i