The Progress., 1893-05-13
A TOUR OF THE WORLD.
An International Show in Fact
as Well as Name.
FIFTY COUNTRIES REPRESENTED.

Countries Have Erected Their own
building Among the Foreign Villages
and Curiositics.
WORLDS FAIR, May 10 - Special -
A visit 10 the exposition is like a tour OF
the world. Not only are the nations of /
the earth here, but they are here with .
their best foot foremost. They show the .
best they have. and To the best advantage. /
Not content with the products of their soil .
aud forests, their workshops and fisheries /.
their mines and studios they show native /.
life and architecture i'm whole villages /
caught up on the other side Of the water /
and dropped down here at Jackson park. .
They display not only the houses, temples
and goods Of all nations, hut their men !
and women rs well Hence it is that a
week mt the fair is as good a~ six months
spent in voyage round the world. In
fact. the odds both in point of interest and
education are in favor of the fair.
1t is perhaps too early to say which of
the foreign countries has made the best
showing here. One eNCels here and an
other takes the lead elsewhere. In the
huge main building the Germans are clear
ly i'm the superiority in the beauty of their
display if not in its solid worth. Such an
imposing and artistic front as that pre-
sented by the German pavilion, with its
marble columns, its iron gates, its bronze
warriors, its magnificent tapestry and
hangings for the exterior, and the gor-
geous interior ablaze with paintings, stat
uary and mural decorations of all ages,
was perhaps never before seen in an expo
sition. Good Judges say that this German
pavilion beats all records and that even
the French, who are near by and who have
a beautiful structure now just finished,
admit that for once they have been out
done by their rivals from the other side of
the Rhine
In considering what the nations of the
earth have done at this exposition one
naturally turns first To the displays made
i'm the main building Here he finds the
foreigners occupying the principal posts of
honor, as becomes their station as guests
of America. The center of the huge build
ing, whose vastness grows upon the visitor
day by day. is clock tower as high AZ "A
tall building even in Chicago. The great
central aisle, called Columbus avenue,
runs under the spreading foundations of
this tower and along one side or other of
the avenue may be seen the structures and
the exhibits of the principal foreign coun-
tries. Germany, already spoken of as hav-
ing the most notable exhibit. occupies the
northwest corner, and its pair of monu-
mental towers, almost rs high as the clock
structure itself, and surmountcd by the
golden eagles, attract attention from
great distance. In the background but
still higher, stands the bronze German
warrior, like a sentinel on the mountain
top guarding the valley beneath, in which
industry and art are showing their perfcc-
tions and accomplishments.
just across the intersecting aisle, and
occupyiug the southwestern corner, is
Great Britain. The display at first sight
il not impressive because there isno great
towering structure, no characteristic save
that of quiet. conservative solidity and ele-
gance i'm the modest pavillOus erected pin
/ cipnlly by firms. There are many bcauti-
/ ful wares within the English section, and
/ the whole will well repay "a days inspec-
I tion. The most noteworthy structure here
Is the reproduction of the splendid ban
quoting room of famous Hatfield hall.
Beyond great Britain are the displays of
Canada, Denmark, Italy, Brazil and Spain.
Facinu Great Britain next to the central
clock tower, and on the opposite side of
Columbus avenue, stands the white, mar
ble-lilse structure of France. 1t Is n copy
of one of the famous facades at Versailles,
and has splendid arch 100 feet across.
Within are wares and fabrics for which
the French are famous, with profuSion
of tapestry, of decorative work, of paint
ings and statuary Beyond France is the
tasteful and light colOnnade erected by
Belgium, one of the prettiest structures in
the building. Here are about the finest
specimens of the potter's glorious art tt
he found in the whole exposition. Beyond
Beluium are Russia and Norway, who arr
late i'm getting their works on the ground
II one takes up position in the great
clock tower, where the building is divided
into quarters, he will see spread out before
him the nations of the Earth. In addition
to those already mentioned, the colors o
Austria, Japan, Jamaico, India, New
South Wales, Switzerland, Mexico, Persli
and others are within plain view. No
only the goods and wares of these coun
tries. but their officials, merchants, ono
artisans are at hand to lend color and hu
man interest to the fascinating scene. Th
foreign displays occupy bhc hohNdSc VI
Columbus avenue and the open space a
the clock tower throughout three quarter
of the building. The remaining quarter
the northeast. is occupied by the exhibit
of the United States. Here there is NO na
tional tower or pavilion, no characteristi
device, and by the side of the spectacula
German display, which it faces, our show
ing seems rather simple and plain. Blu
this is only the impression at first glance
Careful scrutiny demonstrates that thoug
two or three private firms were left to pr
sent the facade which should in n manne
compete with the more costly structure
of Germany on the west and France on tn
south, we are not so far behind. Prettie
displays than those made by the Ne
York firms who occupy the post of hone
for the United States, Tiffany and the Go
ham company, it is impossible to fin
among the efforts of firms or individual
As rule, however, the American exhibit
are not so well installed rs those of foreig