The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-05-18
LETTER FROM CHICAGO.
The Worlds Fair and the Cost of
Seeing 1t.

/ >
W BoYCE's CORREsrONDENCEl
BUREAU. ADMINISTRATIONS BtTLDISG,t
WoRLD'4 FAIR GROUNDS, May 13th.)
1t seems that the Presidents thumb
did not set the machinery in motion.
after ali. The shafting in machinery
hall was not ready and President
Cleycland's button only started one OF
the engines. 1t was not until four
days after the supposed opening that
the shafting was in place sufficiently to
enable the machinery to be started in
a moderate way and even yet the work
IS very far from being complete. As
exhibits were unfinished in every other
building there WAS no reason Why
machinery hall should have been sup
posed to be ready. But 1t will go
down into history that when the
President touched the button the ma
chjneIy started on its six months trip.
A hundred years from now, when the
centennial Of this exposition is held,
the facts in the case will make no
more difference than it does to US now
to know the actual facts concerning
the career Of Columbus. 1t is not at
all probable that we have his history
accurate, for history making was very
imperfect 400 years ago, but so long
as we do not know the difference, and
errors can never be corrected, the
story is Just as good one way as an
other.
Hence let it be recorded for the
next generation that Cleveland S thumb
did the business.
GETTING READY.
There are thousands Of men at work,
now that the opening excitement is
over, getting the exposition in order.
Two or three weeks more Of suck work
as has taken place since the opening
will see things fairly in shape-suftl-
GENTLY 50 to permit of an intelligent
description. 1t is evident that the
public does not intend to come at
present and the month Of May is
bound to be disappointing. The
turn5tilcs only show about fifteen
thousand daily visitors thus far. A
good many fear that the dSappoint-
ment in attendance Will continue after
the Exposition is in full readiness il
the business situation of the country
does not improve.
THE { rNCESSIONAIRE.
There are a sufficient number of visit
ors already to register loud protests
against some of the " Expenses. y The
toilet closet concession to Sanitation
company, where you are taxed five
cents for admission, give rise to much
grumb,ing. The company having the
concession was TO put as many free as
pay closets in each building, but they
have not done 50. In the Fine Arts
and Fisheries buildings they could not
find room for any free closets, but you
may be sure that there was room for
the ones where a niCkle makes the
turn-stiles so around. Signs are con-
spiCuOus directing the visitor to pay
toilet rooms, but you need search
warrent to find the free ones. The
Sanitation company was to take care
of both free and pay stations but as a
matter of fact they only care for the
latter, purposely making the free ones
repulsiye.
This concession was an idea Dor
rowed from the Paris exposition but in
doing SO the price was doubled. French
customs COT this description at least
are not destined to be popular in thi:
country, but as matter of personal
comfort you had better keep a stray
nickel in your pocket after you get ir
the grounds.
II COSTS TO EAT.
There is also loud outcry agains
restaurant charges at the Park and I'm
less there is all improvement, you will
want to get your breakfast and dinner
on the outside and bring your lunci
in your inside pocket. City restau
rants have not advanced prices but a
the Exposition the concessionaire:
have evidently been coached by read
ing the life of Robert Kidd-pirate
The imported English bar-maids a
White Horse Inn barely allow tht
visitor to escape with his life. Every
thing on his person will be required
to settle the bill if he orders drink
\ French reStauranter evidently
suppOses we are all Ward McAllister
and handle our food with our fingers
as he charges ten cents extra for ;
knife, fork and plate. The plate i
cold at that, but the people who pa,
the ten cents are hot enough t.
equallze things when they discover the
charge. But the price of pie-twenty
five cents a cuts the last hair. Tht
Columbian guard demands an advance
in wages or reduction in the price O
pie. Meantime the newspapers advis,
the people to bring their luncheon
and sit on the steps of the restaurant:
to scatter the crumbs when they eat.
But after all | do not blame tn,
concessionaire as much as the fai
managers. He had to pay high pric'
to come into the game and one fourtl
OF his receipts go to the fair besides
He must be robber SO that he cal
permit the fair to rob him.
CHAIRS FOR RENT.
y concessionaire will rent you
little folding chair for ten cents day
TO make the chair concession NOR