Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-23
WORLD'S-FAIR CHAT.
CAPTAIN MORTON TELLS OF SOME
or The THINGS HE SAW.
The Recent Reception ut the Virginia
Buiidiug-rhe states Mineral
and Tobacco Exhibits

Captain T. G. Morton. secretary OF tne
Board of Worlds. Fair Managers or
Virginia, has just returned from fonr-
weeks visit to the great show IN chicago.
Last night n DISPATCH reporter caiied
upon him, and he related some OF his ex-
periences. Said the Captain among o.nel
Things while there saw ooard 'ha'
was az wide az from the floor to the cell
ing Of the DISPATCH Office" 1t was sawed
from redwood tree.
Great Scott Captain. you woaio hot
rspeat that at a prayer-meeting service ~ ~
your church up at Stanton. wouldyou
remarked the reporter. ~.
Il certainly would" replied the zap
tain. but you did not give me chance
to finish. The plank was taken rom Just
one half Of the tree"
All" said the scribe, 81 fear you have
forgotten the lessons you learned when O
boy upon your mothers knee.
Not by any means" be replied. Here
~ the history of the plank" and the CAP
tain gave the newsgatherer the foiloWing
circular:
This mammoth redwood plank was cut
in June, 1880. in Humboldt county IN,
for exhibition at the Worlds Fair. The
great tree from which the plank was hewn
was IS feet in diameter, when standlng,
and was supposed 10 have reached the
ps:risrchal age Of 1900 years"
THE MT. VERNON.
Continuing the CAPTAIN said found
Cd arriving at Chicago that our building,
the Mt. Vernon, had not been completely
furnished. There was no place for the re-
ception OF visitors, OF which there were a
great many, including not few distin;;
euished personages from our own as well
as from foreign countries.
Mrs. Leigh, OF Norfolk, the alternate or
Mrs. Beale, the lady assistant. and Mrs.
Caskie Cabell. OF Richmond. had Just set
tied themselves for the Work speclaliy con-
signed TO them. -,
" Finding in Chicago some liberal ola
Virginia gentlemen, they succeeded IN Sc
curing trom these such pecunlary ASSIST
auce as enabled them to fit up handsomely
O parlor tor their visitors. 1t is furnished
very tsstefully with pretty cherry-woou
and satin sofas and chairs, Japanese rugs,
and portieres. The floor to the oanqaet-
hall and library was carpeted with similar
rugs. and everything was made to look
quite attractive and coy. The doors were
furnished with mats. Thus the building
has been greatly relieved from the DUST
and dirt brought in by the crowd whlcn
throngs the place all day long;
a number of new and attractive PIC
lures have just been received ana are III
position upon the walls and the building
would now be hardly recognized by those
who visited it few weeks ago."
THE RECEPTION.
what about Che reception that the
ladies gave last week ?" was asked.
That took place." said Captain Nor,
ton, tho Thursday night before LEFT and
was quite nice affair. The entire lower
"A Il
tine large Washington banquet-hal was
decorated with flowers. Japanese tea,
with Virginia beaten biscuits, was served
by natives of Japan in the costumes Oh
their country, and punch made from Mon,
tcello claret was ladled out by natives OF
Cevlon. also in native costume. Saraf
Washington, the old coIored servant IRON
Mt. Vernon, on the Potomac, served from
| the post-offce, adjoining the library. dell
| clOus ice-cream.
THE ladies receiving were Mrs. james
Y. Leigh. of Norfolk, and her sister, Mrs
NJ. r. Mayuire. of Nashville; Mrs. Gene
raj Groner, of Norfolk; Mrs. John Paul
| of Harrisonburg Mrs. John S. Wise, o.
New York: Mrs, Dr. Apperson. OF Marion
| Mira. Crump, OF Kentucky, and Mrs. Anne
| s. Greene, of Culpeper. There were som
| two hundred guests present. including th'
| commissioners from the different State'
with their friends, the titled foreign com
mlssioners from Russia, Sweden, FRANCE
and other countries. The guests were en-.
tertaned during the three hours from
| to II by music"
TACT AND ECONOMY.
well, who paid the expenses of this en-
tertainmeDt 7"
There is where the tact and economy
of the ladies came in. replied the Captain
"Ail the other States. with their large 9p
proprlations ranging from 100000 e
$500. 900. have an entertainment fund
Virginia, with a $4,000 Appropriation, car
provide nothing for entertainment, Du
our ladies found friends 10 set 'em up
on tins occasion. and Oid-VlrRlnia hospl
tally was we'll illustrated, the State wei
| advertised, our foreign visitors hlgnlY de
lighted, and the board not put 10 any ex
| pense.
VIRGINIA MINERAL EXHIBITS.
Virginia's exhibit IN minerals, mlnera
water. and tobacco is very credltable L
| the State" said Captain Morton, and re
celyes many favorable comments from Nlr
| pipiaus and others who have seen II.
! must say that exhibitors have been rattle
| slow 10 get their articles upon the grounds
| and il Is only Within the last week or tw
| that much has been received. Some valu
| able packages of coal and other minerals
although on the grounds. were not Opene
until others which had been delayed ha'
arrived.
Among the best exhibits IN the minera
department are the Goals from Chester
field. Henrlco, and Pocahontas, the I'm
from Pulaski, the stone from Albemarle
| the slate from Buckingham-the last tire
| of which counties exhibit beautiful manu-
| featured specimens as we'll as the crud
material. There is also large variety O
lronxore from Southwest Virginia. troI
| Allegheny county. from Shendup, and IN
| Augusta County Vulcan Mines. 1bere ar
other specimens too numerous 10 mentor
| The Virginia space is provided with
handsome curtain pavilion, armchair
and a book upon which visitors are re
uuested to register their queries. Upo
this book number OF callers conten
plating investment ana desiring informs
ion as to the location of ores and Nlrglnl
industries have left their inquiries.
THE TOBACCO.
There is a greater variety of tobacco
the Virginia exhibit than In that OF an
other State, and the specimens illustrai
every type OF that Virginia staple. IN
bright wrappers from Dsnville and Sout
Boston attract special attention, while th
rich dark weed from Richmond and II
tersburg. both Leaf and MANUFACTURED
| compare iaFOIaoIy Win any tHiAB VI III
kind ON exhibition. There Is also yer
pretty display of cigarettes and smokln
tobacco from the Richmond factories.
"Some OF the Wisconsin. Tor e,
ample-have larger tobacco exhibit. an
1t Is displayed IN more costly pavilion
but the tobacco is all OF one kind, Wlscot
sin had ten times as much money as VI
GINA had TO snow Its products advantage
ousy.
" The mineral-water collection is repr
sented by most of the prominent sprin.
IN the State. aud even tins Is not entlrel
completed there beng now on the wa
some dozen or more cases of water frol
different places. which will fill the stan
and we'll advertise this important VirginI
interest.
AGRICULTuRF.
II was sorry to find" resumed Captai
Morton. that in the Agricultural Depar
a. .la.. A.rF