Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-30
SUNDAY............APRIL 80, 1893.
Opening Of the Exposition Tomorrow


Tho Columbian Worlds Fair at Chicago
will DO formally opened tomorrow with
august ceremonies. including an address
from President CLEVELAND.
There is no pretence now being made
thlt tho exhibition halls are in readiness
or that the work Of ornsmonting the
grounds has boen finished but May LIST IS
the Gay set for the opening, and opened
the exposition will be tomorrow accord
ing 10 programme.
This exposition was to have been held
last year III celebration Of the 400th ami
vergary OF the discovery Of America by
CoLUMsUs, but before necessary action by
Congress could be Obtained so much time
had elapsed that il was considered prudent
70 defer tho exposition for one year, so
that there would be ample time in which
10 make elaborate preparations.
So far "a we can learn the ChicagoaDs
ere not wholly to blame for tho delay I'M
iess indeed il Is true, "a Is often charged.
that they have attempted too much; that
they hayo sought 20 make everything
"bigo instead of excellent. Foreigners
consider this sort of thing q distinguish
inc American characteristic and are dis
posed 70 chat US a good deal about il.
Certain ii il that tho Chicago exposition
Is projected on q tremendous scale, but we
trust that IL will be excellent, too. lt oc-
capies grounds at Jackson Park covering
Geo acres. and some Of its buildings are the
largest buildings in the world. whether
they nrc the most artistic or not remains
70 be determined by impartial judges.
We GOnbt not. however, that they are
very r1cfIy and very grand. We IN this
county are bound down 10 no particular
schuoi ~ traditions of art, and we have
lad the art and experience o. all the rest
OF tho world from which 10 picx and
chousa and with our fertility Of inven-
ton W. should be able to improve upon
what aas gone before.
A C.cl' dosl OF plaster (" plaster OF
Pans" we call 40 haa been used in the
building, IN forming blocks IN imitation
Of ur5io auG stone. Mos; people who
enter the grounds for the first time are
a,toundc1 ut what seem 10 be immense
marble ana stone buildings which are TO
b. used Tor only SIX months and then torn
personal inquiry that they learn that the
"marolc" and stone which they see
is bar plaster. However, the buildings are
constructed upon heavy frames Of wood
aud roe, aud are very snowy, and If there
were 10 other attractions on the grounds
and tue buildings were LETT empty. they
and the sculptures upon them would be
worth trip 20 Chicago 70 see.
The delay IS not 90 much due to un6n-
isned buildings though that, too. enters
unto consideration to the diIatoriness
O. the exhibitors in getting the exhibits in
place. Those of Russia and Italy, for in
stance. have but Just arrived. Though
there ares 900 men at work upon the French
building, 1t Is still quite far from being
finished.
so, wo should not blame our modest and
sensitive friends, the Ohicegoans, for not
having the exposition ready "a promised.
Really, there IS no harm done and nobody
j. disappointed. EKposltions ARE never
ready at the appointed time. This expo
sltlon will Toe as nearly ready tomorrow as
was the last Paris Exposition on the OPEN
Ing dOy.
The grounds" upon which the expo
sltlon buildings have been located were
water Qagoons) and sand-hesps a year
ago They were q park only in name.
They were held for park purposes. but
little or nothing had been done TO I'M
prove them. Now they are "a white
city"; their lagoons have been shaped
into lakes and canals and upon the
surface of these waterways Venetian gon-
doliers will propel their craft after the
manner of their native city, while lovely
fower-b beds and smooth walks and drives
Will entice the spectator TO believe that
the place was ever beautiful.
Such has been the hberaity of foreign
governments in ascending specimens OF their
precious works of arts to America, there
will be at Chicago sculpture, paintings,
and curios which it would take years of
travel for one TO see in their home-places.
Thus will the antiquities OF the Old World
De shown along with tho startling inyen-
tlons and the many other evidences Of
progress Of the New World.
The New York papers. jealous of the
growing importance of Chicago ana not
unmindful of how that windy city" beat
It Ia the contest before Congress which
led to the selection of Chicago as the place
for the exposition. have told many stories
leading the public to believe that Chicago
would not come up TO expectations in this
exposition matter but we believe that she
will. That as a community she is going TO
squeeze all OF the money out of visitors
that she knows how we verify believe, but
she will be able 20 accommodate all corners
az only they como well supplied with
funds) and will give to the world the
greatest exposition that It has ever seen.
Chicago did not go into this enterprise 10
benefit her fellOw-men but TO benefit her
self We doubt If New York would have
been any more diSinterested or patriotic.
At the great conventions held from time
20 time IN Chicago the hotel-men and hack
men endeayor to get all the money that
visitors bring. That, we believe, is also the
New York custom on some occasions,
though we are forced 20 admit that the
New York way 10 the more suaye way.
Howbeit. we shall all want TO 60 to CHI
oago-not for the sake Of Chicago. but for
the sake Of ourselves.
Our informationss thatsws have offered
TO us the lowest railroad rates offered to
any people. What is moro, with eur Chi
cago railroad ticket in hand we can stop
ct the summer resorts in the virginias
going and coming. From time TO time
there will be also personally duoted
excursions at still lower rates. but for
more limited time.
The exposition will be in good shape"
BY the LIST of June, and until then there Is
not likely TO be any great rush of visitors
20 IL from distant parts of tho Union.
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