Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-06-01
WORLDS FAIR LETTER.
From our Special Correspondent

CHICAGO, May 27.-The last three days
have been quite cool, and our southern
visitor shivers while he admires the tall
stately buildings at the fair. Tonight
the grounds will be illuminated and if it
is not too cold there will be more peo-
pie on the grounds than at any previous
evening. The electric fountains are all
in good working order now, and it is
expected they will be much finer than
they were last Tuesday night. The
greatest display will be about the grand
piazza and basin. The dull gravel roads
so uninviting at MONDAY about the Ad-
ministration building, will glisten and
sparkle like beads of crystal. The Col
umbian fountain will play red, blue and
golden streams Of liquid light. Three
bands, one on the grand stand and the
other two on floats on the basin, will
furnish merry music for the crowds
The German section in the Agri-
cultural building was opened yesterday.
1t consists Of a large statute called
"Germania," and is fine specimen of
a woman. It is made entirely Of choco-
late, and stands thirty feet high. Thirty
thousand pounds Of chocolate was used
in its construction. The statute cost
$4,000 Every one stops and gazes in
wonder at the mammoth brown lady.
There are some curious types of foot
wear at the exposition. First comes
the strong soled patent leather shoes
which the English think they could not
do without, then comes the dainty
Partisan high heeled shoes for the lady
visitor; but over in the Plaisance the
English shoe is the minority. The
Turks at the exposition wear red slippers
fitting the feet loosely and coming to a
point at the toe. The Turkish dancing
girls and the yelled maidens who sell
flowers at the entrance to the temple of
luxor wear dainty red and blue satin
slippers worked with flowers and fill
gree designs of gold and silver thread,
the heels are rather low. They are
fastened at the back with gay ribbons.
In the Joss house is where the padded
Chinese slipper is found in all colors
and in all shapes. The Javanese go
without any shoes at all when they are
at home; but the cold weather here
compels them to adopt our foot gear.
The South Sea Islanders wear what
they call goleshes. They are sort of
rubber in appearance. The Algerians
make quite show in their leather leg
gings which are stamped with various
designs and come down closely against
their black shoes. The noble red man
of our own country wears his gaily
decorated moccassins with bucksl>in
uppers. The japanese have the smallest
feet and wear tiny black slippers. The
Austrians wear heavy sabots as also do
the Vienese.
Lovers of fine linen will find treat
in the Manufa curing building. The ex-
hibit comes from Belfast Ireland. There
is a large picture Of Queen Victoria
spinning flax, in a case. There are
handkerchiefs that rival silk in fineness
some of them contain over 400 threads
to the square inch. All other forms of
linen are to be found in the great glass
case, There are pillow shams Of mar
velous embroidery, and many other
household articles that seem too fine
for use.
The Italian exhibit in the manu-
facturers building will be formally open
to public inspection to-day. The Mar
quisdo Ungaro, royal commissioner
General, will hold reception at four
O'Clock this afternoon and meet in
vited guests. The pavilion is filled
with interesting novelties, manufactured
products, and art works Of high order.
There is marble statuary, wood carving
and decorative work. There are some
fine statutes by Besarel, the king of
woodcarvers in Italy. He shows the
Lodge of st. Marco, copied by Sauroius.
Throughout the section visitors will
find things worth seeing.
Rome has display of hand engraved
coral shells and camecos that are among
the most beautiful things in the building.
The whole exhibit covers 5000 square
feet Of space and is enclosed within a
high pavilion, the front of which, Oh
Columbian avenue, is ornate and effec-
tive. \ bronze lion guards the main
entrance, while on either side are a
Roman soldier and marble statutes.
The last bolt was driven in the Ferris
wheel yesterday, and the scaffolding
was being tore down. This wheel is $50
feet high and has thirty-six cars which
contain fifty passengers each. The
round trip cost fifty cents. Many visi-
tors regret that it has not been III work
ing order while they are here; as many
of them would like to have the pleasure
of slowly gliding up through the air