The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-09

Agricultural building, the triumphant fg-
ure OF the Republic" thrown out from
this snowy background In rich. shining
gold and finally the perfect climax OF the
peristyie. lifting it's graceful. classic COL
umns betw cen you and the illimitaole
stretch Of sky and water beyond, and
then say II there Is anywhere picture
that can surpass II. And when you turn
with a deep sigh of satisfaction from
the supreme beauty Of the buildings, your
eye Is greeted everywhere by the most
Impressive, animated creations in colossal
statues Delicate Venetian bridges cross
the canals, gondolas and gay gondoliers
fly up and down, ducks, swans and fla
mingoes swim about in the shadows OF
the pretty wooded islands, the inspiring
strains come from Sousa's band, and
every sense is gratifed, and II is simply
ideall And you find yourself constantly
wondering how they ever thought OF 1t.
II is all so original. and never common
place. To whom did It occur TO make the
big, handsome statue of the Republic In
gold, instead OF white like everything
else? Who thought of that clever name.
the Midway Plaisance?" and how much
prettier the French form than the English
'pleasance." What wonderful inspira-
ton It was to levy on the waters of Lake
Michigan to roll In and All those fasci-
mating lagoons Every smallest detail
strikes you with its appropriateness, and
the whole is q concentration Of the best
that the old as we'll as the new world
can afford.
Count Tolstoi is summering at Vas
naia Poliana, where he is constantly
visited by admirers. "Pilgrimages TO
the oracle are frequent, and the visitors,
who like to get something for their pains.
try hard TO attach some reconcile or
mystical sense TO the words 1T says. The
satisfactory part of the business is that
the Count seems 10 enter fully into the
fun OF The thing, and with an air of por-
tentous solemnity gives utterance to the
most commonplace observations as,
spade In hand. he digs his field or smokes
his pipe"
A Paris letter to "Quips" describes the
first vanishing day" in the Salon, which
is really 1.-The name without the game"
as the vanishing occurs the morning
previous in the presence Of the artists
and few privileged friends. The first
person we saw was the Hungarian paint
er. NJ. Munkacsy. standing with Mime.
Munkacsy, before his great picture,
fourteen yards long, destined FOR the
chamber OF the Hungarian House OF
Parliament. 1t is one OF those Immense
historical things. "Arpod. First Duke Of
Hungary" that never can be seen prop
erly, or judged Of. outside Of the place
for which they are intended, and | am
not going to give you description OF
It. 1t is much more interesting 10 tell
YOU how Madame Munkacsy was dressed,
for a vanishing day without the toll
cites would be like Hamlet without Ham
let. The charming little Hungarian wore
a dress of black silk striped with pink,
with three lit,ie founces OF pink velvet
falling over the shoulder. edged with
auipus lace. filled in front with chiffon"
In the "Musical Prodigy" by Munkacsy.
which was purchased by Mr.. William S.
Kinball. at the Knoedler sale. the wom
ans figure Is said TO be portrait OF
Madame Munkacsy, whom the artist
never tires of reproducing. It seems that
the success ut the Salon this year was
Rovbet's "Propos Galanta," soldier
making love TO a girl who Is plucking
the feathers from an enormous capon-
n simple subject. but treated with great
breadth and spirit, and so splendid in
color that It rivals even Franz HaIs
The decline in the credit and honor Of
soothsaying dates in considerable meas
IRE. perhaps. from a certain performance
Of John Galeozzo, Duke OF Milan. He
had a soothsayer. One day the reader
OF the stars came to him and said: MY
lord, make haste to arrange your earthly
affairs" "And why shall 7 do THAR
asked the Duke because the stars
tell me that you have not long TO live"
'Indeedp' and what do the stars tell
you about your own lease Of life7" asked
Duke John. "They promise me many
years more OF life" ''They do? 80
have read them. my lord" well
then" said the Duke. '1t Is clear that the
stars know very little about these things
for you will be hanged within half an
hour" He sent the soothsayer TO the
galiows with promptness and lived many
years afterward himself. star reading
fell into disuse in Milan from that time.