The record-union., 1893-06-12
AT THE FAIR.
"Oi Vernon" Enters Upon a Sys-
tematlc Inspection.
Naturally She Takes in the California
Building and Exhibit FIrst-The
Exhibits Not All Opened.

Special Correspondence of the REcoRD-USIoN.
CHICAGO. June 3.-The Colum bian Ex-
position is simply colossal. We have
never had anything like it in California
f1ven the colossal conceit of a Californian
must admit that fact But, at the same
time, We point with pride to our Califor-
MIA State building and ask, "What other
State building has made or could make
such display"
Truly, when J try to remember where
] have been, or what have seen, do not
know at which point of the kaleidoscope
memory to take first. AS we ride along
the Illinois Central the buildings at jack
son Park loom up into view. Their
domes rise like exhalations, their spires
dart heavenward, airy structures of wire
and network raise themselves above the
rest. To me the scene is like an Arabian
Nights enchantment | feel as if | might
be in Bagdad and run into the Caliph
Haroun Al Raschid himself, in the Mid
way Piaisance.
To one not accustomed to a multi
piicity of tracks and sheds and turnstiles.
and This way LADY," or THAT way,
lady" the railroad systems are very con-
plunging below the street level, while the
trains go laundering by overhead, a Cali
1ornian who is, like myself, the first time
so far away from his native State, in
something Of a condition that borders on
despair, irritation and anger that may
break out any moment in what is best
described as lighting mad"
me trouble is, the people in charge of
stations do not all seem to know what or
where they are, as for where an inquirer
wishes to go. After having been sent
from pillar to post by first one and then
another brogue-tilled son of the Emerald
Isle. and sent wrong every time, 1 re-
Heved my indignation by exclaiming:
IF you would only wear a green flag
for danger signal we would escape ask
ing you questions"
The various entrances to the fair are
wei guarded, and as the people pass in a
click, like that of a telegrapher's ma
chine, registers each one on his entrance
SO as to keep count.
1t is futile to attempt to describe the
fair in any sort of systematic way. First,
on account of its size, and second be-
cause no one ever takes it systematically.
so III leave all regular description to the
catalogues and official guide books, and
simply record few impressions.
The Columbian guards are gorgeous
creatures; most of them are rather good
looking fellows, and they ought to have
their pictures taken in their uniform, for
never in private life can they look quite
so gorgeous.
But, as for what they know, or what
they can tell one, why, at first | thought
they ought to be put into normal train
ing school and drilled in their parts But
now l am convinced that q kindergarten
would be much better for them. Much
has been said about the robbery prac-
sliced by the Worlds Fair people. This,
l must say, that everything seems to be
arranged not for the edifcation of the
visitors but for their mystification and
their consequent employment of some of
the parties with privileges. AS tar as l
can see there is not sign up anywhere
along the paths except, keep off the
grass" and "Do not touch" They had
better come out to California and take a
look at our Golden Gate Park and read
the signs: ''To the Conservatory" ITO
the Children's Play Ground" that would
give them an idea how to guide people
through the eye But that would proba-
bly, be construed into an interference
with privilege, and so people plod along
aud get lost and get mad and go home
disguised, foot-sore, and Oh! so weary.
The distances from building to build
ing are something tremendous, and much
of the way is over sharp-pointed stones
that hurt the feet.
Fortunately, it has not been so warm
yet, and 1t Is comparatively easy to get
around.
What is the best way to see the fair?
Ihaps purely a master of experiment.
For my part | have found it best to de-
eide each day upon some one building |
wish to visit, and then to enter at the
gate nearest 1t. Having ridden around
the grounds i'll the intramural elevated
railroads, and so gained a very good idea
OF how the grounds and the buildings
look as whole, and one by one, do not
need to walk along the garden paths.
So, while on my way to any specified
building, l have made it a point To walk
through every building that comes in nv
way. So / am enabled to see good deal,
that were l to endeavor to take each
building in regular order, or, as part of
of a system, l should not have time to
visit.
True, such trip through building is
necessarily cursory, but it is better than
none, and to quick-seeing eye yields
excellent results.
Of course there are strong temptations
to wander off into side aisles and 50 de-
tain oneself, but even that has its COM
pensationS, although it is provoking to be
lost and astray and unable to keep an
engagement and go hungry in conse-
quence, but one is seeing the fair all the
time. and that is a consideration.
/ am impressed with the different ways
In which people see sights. The conclu-
sion forces Itself upon me that the more
Intelligent, the more informed and liber-
ally educated one is, the quicker and
more satisfactory will be his view OF the
exhibits. When one has to have every
little thing explained it takes lust SO
much longer to understand the object as
whole.
Being a loyal Californian my first OBJ
jectiYe point was, of course, our State
building. 1t is pity that it should have
been damned up against one side of big
fence, for some OF its architectural unity
is thereby impaired. 1t is attracting a
great deal of attention. People become
enthusiastic over the displays, and are
more and more impressed with the Won
derful resources of our Golden State
When was en- route a party OF Sa-
means entertained us one night singing
their national airs. To one of them the
refrain was Samoa" The word was
sung with loving emphasis, and now l,
myself a wanderer from my own sunny
CLINE, know how that name must have
stirred their hearts. For to me, when |
see the dear name of California" when
other lips, my heart leaps up and tears
come 70 my eyes-oh, California, Califor-
MIA, garden of the gods.
Her peoples fling a cloth OF gold
Ger CaIifOrnia's hills,
Fit emblem of the wealth untold
That hill and plain and vale enfold,
Her fame the whole world fills.
The California State building itself looks
like an old California mission. Within
the arrangement is like that of our Me-
cbanics' Fairs in San Francisco. All the
resources of the State have been repre-
resented, and L need not to dilate upon
the displays of ores, and fruit in Jars OF
olive oil. of dried fruit, the great prune
horse and the knight in the saddle and ali