The record-union., 1893-06-27
'DI VERNON'O| LETTER.
Our Correspondent at the Worlds
Fair.
She Is Proud of California and
of the Golden State
Exhibits.


grows that it is an impossibility to see it
ali. l envy people with plenty Of time,
who can wander at will this way and
that, just as the fancy pleases them. 1t is
very hard to attempt to take the fair in
regular order.
l still adhere to my original plan of
always walking through a building in
stead of through the grounds when l
wish to 90 from one point to another.
Just to look at the buildings themselves
is liberal education and an unfailing
delight-they are so beautiful, so artistic,
30 grand, so imposing.
The illumination nights turn the
Worlds Fair grounds into fairy land.
The great plaza, or Court of Honor"
with its two music stands, is thronged
with people who burst into applause
after each number. The great dome OF
the Administration building towers sky
ward in the rear-on one side is Ma
chinery hall, on the other the electricity
and the mines building. From this point
we face the lake. It's waters may be
seen cleaning through the arches OF the
peristyle far in the distance. The great
gold statute of the "Republic the largest
statute ever made in America faces the
Administration building. In her right
hand she holds globe in which an eagle
rests with outspread wings, the LETT hand
grasping a pole on top of which is a
liberty cap, the globe and eagle symbolic
ing the invitation of liberty to the nations
of the earth. This glorious figure wears
dladem lighted by electricity and gazes
with calm eyes across the waters of the
great basin which is guarded by the
great Columbia Fountain, the central
idea OF which is the apotheosis OF liberty.
The formation is magnificent when
lllumlned by olactrlcitV Two great
search lights throw daylight in different
directions, bringing into clear relief the
figures on the buildings.
1t Is scene never to be forgotten. The
majestic buildings are clearly defined by
their rows of electric lights. The great
arc lamps range around this court of
honor, the bands play, the fountains
send up myriads Of graceful sprays, the
waters of the great basin sparkle in the
light, the bridges are lined with lights,
the electric launches and graceful gondo-
las sweep by IN circles. 1t Is beautiful
beyond all description. 1t is an etherial-
lied Venice. 1t is the art soul of America
unveiling itself TO the multitude.
The sunday opening question has in
terested me from the hrst. l determined
to see for myself how the privilege of
entering the lair was appreciated. |
could have wept tears Of pain and humili-
alton when | thought how the six-days'
fanatics, those who can 90 any day, and
therefore are particularly jealous over the
Sunday closing; they would shut the
gates in the faces OF the people who wan
dered through the art galleries and the
fisheries exhibits. That was where l saw
them most. There were men and women
and their little children. They had
brought their lunch, and their dinner,
too, and they sat down to eat each meal i'll
family style. They had come TO stay to
the illumination. was glad they were
there
Even the tiniest child who passed
through the art exhibit clinging TO its
mothers skirts must have carried home
with II, in some corner Of its little brain,
some germ of higher thought.
All countries OF the world where art
and artists dwell are represented by
many Of their choicest works. l do not
pretend to be an art critic; / only know
that some things please me and that
others do not. l am not pleased with our
American exhibit. | am ashamed of it.
After the pictures of tho exhibits of Ger
many, Austria, Belgium and England,
our canvases look flat, eXpressionIess
and uninteresting. some few stand out
in the dreary waste.
With true Yankee thrift, the American
exhibit lends its aid to the prevalent en-
ueaVor to rob people by the catalogue
nuisance. The pictures are simply num-
Dered. For all else see the catalogue. The
foreign exhibits not only are mum bered,
but bear the title of picture and the name
OF the artist. True, The catalogues cost
only % cents. but consider the educational
advantage of having every picture pro-
claim itself! So much time is lost in con-
sultlng catalOgueS-and time is more than
money at the Worlds Fair.
The eye tires too soon, and the brain re-
fuses to take notice of all tile canvases
that would claim attention. In a tour
through the art building one is conscious
OF a mourntul feeling that he is sighting
much that he cannot afford to lose.
[ soon found that | could not see every
thing, so | adopted thls plan: On enter
ing a room l stood still for a second al
lowed my gaze to fall upon each wall in
succession. Whatever caught my eye in
this rapid glance l looked at again, and
in moving around the room in pursuance
OF this plan. l examined many other
choice canvases. When my eye and brain
We're weary l walked TO one of the en-
frances and gazed at the green lawns, the
trees, the lake and filled my mind with a
relief set of pictures; or a tour OF the
great central halls OF statuary rested the
eye and brain surleited with color The
figures of bronze, OF marble or Of " statf'
the composition material used in the re-
production Of statues, and the plaster of
the buildings, form most restful con-
trasU to the colorS on the canvas.
one cannot fail to be impressed with
and dead people which the artists have
chosen fer thelt themes. Military scenes
are without number. Germany is loyal
to the Hohenzollerns, and the young En-
peror's familiar face and figure are seen
on all sides.
To attempt to describe the art exhibit
is simply impossible. In fact at every
step one is confronted with a sense of his
own smallness and staggered with the
oppression of immensity.
From the art exhibit l wandered into
the fisheries exhibit. That is a hail OF
learning; everything that pertains to
those who 90 down to the sea in shiuS
after the tinny tribe is there DISPLAYED.
Nets, boats, Oilskin SUITS fishing tackle.
lay figures in characteristic positions in
the boats. pictures and miniature build
inCs which illustrate the methods EN-
ployed in the different fishing industries
attract the eye on every side. lhe fish
matching exhibit attracts great througs
of curious and interested visitors. but
being a Californian, nothing surprises me
much and since l had seen all that wears
ego at poor old Woodward's Gardens. /
willingly pass on and give my place TO
SOME one who did not have the good
fortune to have been born in the Golden
State.
on. but l am proud of California! In
whatever building she has made an ex-
bibit she is the center of attraction. In
the fisheries building there are models OF
ali the fish found in our waters; these are
far more noticeable than those OF other
localities san Diego has made a fiue
c11,ntv exhibit of her own, in which sea
4isbas sea birds and sea treasures are dis
l., the horticultural hall California's
,,arras and preserved fruits attract more
sttention than any other one exhibit. In
the building devoted TO mines ana min