Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-05-01
woRLp,s FAIR oPRNINa.

WORLDS FAIR OPENING.
| There VIII be No Postponement and
the Exercises VIII Take Place To.
day, Rain or shine-workmen Are
Busily Engaged on the Grounds and
Buildings.
CHICAGO, April SOLE fervent wishes,
not to say prayers, count for anything, to.
morrow will be clear day. ALI the hopes
of the worlds fair officials, to say nothing
of the people of Chicago. are conferred on
fair weather. Not that the opening cere-
monies will be postponed, or even ma
terially interfered with If 1t should rain
all day. The ceremonies win simply be
transferred from the plaza of the admin
istration building to the terminal station.
But If the weather clerk should prove
amiable and send sunshine instead of rain,
there will be a more general celebration,
the crowds will be larger and the whole
affair will be much more satisfactory and
in keeping with the magnitude of the
occasion than would be the case If the
heavens frown>
It was raining in torrents and blowing q
gale from the northeast when Director
General Davis hurried down to the worlds
fair grounds this morning; but despite the
fury of the elements there was large
force of men at work putting the hulshlpg
touches to the grounds and arranging the
interior of the big buildings. Hundreds
of men and teams were busy cleaning up
the rubbish, removing the piles of gravel
and dirt, levelling mounds and putting the
place in holiday attire SO far as the weather
would permit. Everywhere workmen were
busy with hoes and shovels, brooms and
rakes, removing every article of dirt and
debris from the plazss and around the
buildings and along the lagoons. Super
fuous material lying in unsightly piles and
obstructipg the view was carted away to
remote corners. The landscape gardeners,
too, were hard at work, despite the rain,
and the work of sodding the bare spots
went on undated.
"We shall bs in pretty good shape to-
morrow, rain or shine" said Colonel
Davis. "The outside work will have to
stop tonight, of course, but the men on
the inside will work right through the
night and up to the time of opening the
gates to the public tomorrow. There will
be some evidences of incompleteness, of
course, but fancy that the average visitor
will find little to indicate the tremendous
stress we have been under for the last
month. We have been delayed by the un
precedented bad weather, by labor troubles.
by tsrdy exhibitors and by thousand and
one things unforeseen and could not be
guarded against, but after all we have
pulled through satisfactorily. If 1t does
not rain we shall be perfectly happy"
Almost while Colonel Davis was speak
ing the rain began to slscken, and by noon
it had ceased altogether. The sun did not
appear, but the cessation of the rain en-
abled the outdoor lsborers to pursue their
work with redoubled speed. Inside the
buildings the exhibitors were scrubbing
hoors, cleaning alleyways and decorating
their pavilions. In the manufacturer
building, Columbus avenue, was the scene
of great activity. With few exceptions
the exhibits along this highway stretching
from end to end of the building will be in
perfect shape when the doors are thrown
open tomorrow morning. Away up
against the roof hundreds of flags fat
tered and trembled this afternoon in the
thunder of the carpenters hammers, and
miles of bunting hung from rsfters and
swung Ia graceful folds over the ratings
and across the wide stretches from gallery
to gallery. The chime of bells for the big
central tower has been put in place. The
railroad tracks running down the center of
Columbian avenue have given way to a new
floor and the general work of installation
has progressed 30 far that 1t may almost be
said to be completed.
At the government building everything
is order, quiet and satisfaction. The
painting Of the exterior is finished, and to.
day workmen were taking down the last of
the scsffolding. The same is true of the
fisheries building, where everything is
practically in place and ready for inspec-
ton. Picture hanging went on all day in
the fine arts buildings and in the mines
and mining building. Hundreds of artisans
spend Sunday unpackipg exhibits and
putting them in place. The work will be
continued by electric light.
Horticultural hall was the scene of great
activity. The flowers and plants were
transferred to the main hall, and as the ex-
work Is that of arranging them.
. In the Transportation, Electricity, Ma
chinery and Agricultural buildings the
effect of the work done was not 30 sppsr-
ent as in other localities, but satisfactory
progress was being made. The Admins
tration building seems TO be in apple-pis
order and all is in readiness for to-mor
rows ceremonies there.
In the Midway plsisance the congress of
nations got up early this morning, The
animals in the big mensgerie were given a
rehearsal for their opening performance.
The Egyptian dancing girls unlimbered
themselves to the accompaniment of q
two-stringed fiddle played by fat Arab
from the Soudsn, and the reproduction of
the Volcano of Kilsuea spouted mimic
flame, smoke and lava, as 1t will do every
day during the continuance of the fair.
The South Sea Islanders had bad day of
it. The full dress costume of their native
land consists of bland smile and bunch
of feathers. This morning the thermome-
ter was down nearly to the freezing point
and the unfortunate islanders shivered in
their tents, hugging the stove and rot
venturing out all day.
The Japanese, who are not troubled by
any Sabbatarlan scruples, worked all day
and this evening had completed the big
bamboo arch at the entrance of their vii
| lage. The Chinese paraded around in the
| rain under umbrellas big enough to shelter
| a good sized family. The Dahomeysns, on
| the other hand, followed the example Of
the South Sea islanders and passed the
day hugging red-hot stove and dreaming
of the land beneath the equator.
| There was q meeting of the council OF
administration and of the committee or
ceremonies at 3 O'Clock this afternoon
The former body wound up some details
Of business, and the latter discussed SONS
more matters in connection with the open
| ing exercises to- morrow. ALI the heads ot
departments were at their desks from
morning till night, and some of them will
not leave the grounds until early morning
A double force of Columbian guards Il
on duty to night to take care of extrsori
nary number of people who will be on tn
grounds, and double gangs of workmer
will continue the task of getting things II
shape all night long.
SUNDAY BALL GAMES.