Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-07-26
Worlds Fair Notes.

glorious Jlnl0 all Dy myself, ana
don't know of a more delightful place
to spend bot day than at the exposi-
ton; of course, out on the grounds in
the full glare of the sun it is uncom-
fortably warm, but in the buildings
themselves it is cool and pleasant with
little breeze from the lake always
stirring. Maybe | didn't put in day
of it. This time / went out to the fair
grounds by the Illinois Central, which
is really the quickest way of getting
there Of any of the modes Of transpor-
tation. In taking that route [ had
chance to see the ruins of Mondays
terrible fire. [ first went through the
Administration building, going up as
far as the elevator takes one, to see the
view of the grounds from the balcony.
1t IS beautiful sight, and the building
Of itself is both very handsome and
very interesting. Around the walls Of
the building (Which, if [ remember
rightly, is octagonal in shape) are gild-
ed tablets each supported by two white
female figures and inscribed with the
names of all the philosophical and
scientific men Of every age and cline
Below there are the names of all the
countries represented, taken alphabet
ically, but in a manner strange to me
for instead of going from left to right
they 60 from right to left, which i'm
pressed me as looking rather aw kward.
From the Administration building [
went through the Electricity building,
which Of course was all Greek to me
and consequently uninteresting. l had
determined to see one thing, not be-
cause 1t was particularly fine, but be-
cause of the novelty of the scheme, and
that was the Children's building, where
mothers can leave their little ones (up
to the age of years. for the day while
they "do" the exposition. | certainly
was rewarded for my pains for it is one
of the incest features of the fair. You
go into IA large room off of which are
two rooms separated by glass partitions
from the entrance hall, and in which is
exposed to the public view the way in
which the nurses take care Of the chill
dren left in their charge The first
room is for the little babies Zone only
five weeks old having been cared for
there) which contains twelve little
white enameled iron cradles. each fur
nlshed with an exquisitely clean white
canopy, and blanket, besides the ordi-
nary bed furnishings, six little beds of
the same style, six baby jumpers and
large hammock cradle in which were
sleeping the day [ was there twin
babies about ten months old There
was but one baby crying and that ones
mother had it. There was little fell
low playing on the floor, and he was
just as happy as lark. In the center
of the room is what is called the crib,
space about six feet square surrounded
by wooden railing just high enough
for baby arms to lean on, and in this
place they put the babies who want to
stand, a it is well provided with pill
lows and blankets in case of fall. In
the next room are the little folks from
two to six years old, and if toys are any
indication of good time they must en-
JOY themselves, for the hard ood floor
was completely sire wn with playthings,
blocks, animals, wagons, little tables
and chairs being some that I noticed.
| happened to be there Just as the chill
dren were being prepared for dinner
and 1t was amusing to watch the nurses
90 from one to another tying on clean
pink calico bib aprons which article
covered the front of the dresses. Then
they formed into line and marched
into the dining room which opens off
of that room. On the second floor are
several rooms devoted to kinderga
kitchen garden-whe the children
play at housework,-a school for the
deaf and dumb and a gymnasium. Up
still higher, on the roof, is play
ground at thought of which one is apt
to quake until he learns that there is
wooden wall about three and a half
feet high surrounding the entire place
and above that a strong wire netting
for about six feet. Awnings and seats
are provided so that it makes nice
play place on cool day, though even
on hot day it is not bad place as you
generally get good breeze from the
lake up there.
From the Children's building [ went
into the Woman's building directly
opposite, thinking I could investigate
that as thoroughly as [ had the other,
but [ soon learned my mistake. One
could spend days in that one building
alone Chat is, woman could for it
contains all sorts of treasures dear to
women's hearts. Talk about laces
Well, the laces IN the Italian and Mexi-
can sections are dream of beauty and
such quantities of them as l saw
enough to confuse one. | never had
any idea the Mexican women did such
exquisite needle work as they have on
exhibition there; the most beautiful
handkerchiefs and cushion covers and
all sorts of elaborate fancy work, from
the daintiest baby garments to heavily
embroidered velvets. [ had the pleas
ure of seeing the laces which the queen
of Italy has loaned the exposition,
which of course form very fine exhi-
bit in a case by themselves.
One thing that interested me greatly
in the French section was a case of
large dolls dressed to represent the
styles of dress and hair-dressing at diff
ferent periods during the past three
centuries. From the French section
to a room devoted to "Women in Saw
agery" is an abrupt change, but that
was the way [ rambled, and saw large
display of work done by different In
dian tribes, Navajo blankets, bead
work, and, most wonderful to relate,
some fine lace work which I suppose
was done at some Indian school. But,
at any rate, that was the last place |
would have looked for lace. In this
room are also exhibited a great many
interesting souvenirs Of Mrs. French
Sheldon's famous African exploring
tour, in fact, almost everything, except
her tent and palanquin, which are in
the Transportation building But, af-
ter making an attempt to go through