The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-29
THE MIDWAY PLAISANCE
THAT PART or THE F<TR WHERE
PEOPLE CONF To LxU0H.
kFlss Newton Tells Enchantingly ofthe Jol-
Lest Places, the Most Tantaiizinz. and
the Most Romantic spots.

hood, when all OF life seems a holiday
and the world combination Of jollity
romance and delightful mysteries.
Here sweet belief in myths and qtories
that grown folks usually laugh at comes
hack to us. and we would not be surprised
20 meet a fairy or hobgoblin at any
moment, Tor where everything is so
strange nothing seems 20 be improbable.
Here las in the rest OF the Columbian
city and, indeed, the rest Of the world,
OF which the Columbian city is the en-
chanting epitome) the most bewitching
time is at nght-especially upon those
nights when the moon comes out TO see,
and 20 graciously take part IN, the ilu-
mination.
If one should declare that we are on
the planet Saturn, i should never think
OF cOntradicting him, for the wise men
tell US OF circles Of Ere which on that
distant orb take the place Of a moon;
and are there not yondcr before us two
brilliant hoops OF flame standing up in
the sky more splendid than our widest
fancy had pictured the rings Of Saturn
10 be?
True, am at present under the impress
sion that what we see Is the great Ferris
wheel its giant tire bound at either edge
with q ribbon Of electric lights, but Il
IS as beautifully wonderful as anything
on any star could wish 10 be, and 1 am
quite willing 10 believe that i am mis-
taken In my supposiuon 80 regard 20 Sc,
and thot we are paying visit to another
planet Certainly the people about us are
queer enough 70 be inhabitants Of the
nre-belted world or any other.
Then. too, here 80 our right, Is this
dazzling mart where men stand in the
light Of glowing furnaces and. with long
PIPES at their lips blow dainty vases
and urns Of tinted crystal, and where
arc displayed deiicate-i ued parasols and
ball gowns OF spun and woven glass as
soft and shimmering as royal satin. Sure
~. we rever met anybody clad in robes
of glass on earth. though very likely
the bellies OF far-away, twinkiing Saturn
''uip the light fantastic toe" In such
attire
The Midway Plaisance is that part Of
the fair where people come to laugh.
one Of the most striking characteristics
of the Columbian city itself is the solem-
nesg Of the crowd Every brow Is knitted,
oS cry eye too intent upon what is going
on around it 70 give itself over to a
smile 1t is evident that this throng of
men and women is at school (thOugh the |
most delightful school since the world |
becanD and the lessons which the COM |
blned intellect Of the whole world has /
set mem cunning are ht tfti NhtiuIshb
10 each Individual little brain as to make
levity Impossible.
In the plaisance however, merTiment |
reigns supreme. Here all of the five
senses are amusingiy appealed 10 at once.
Sight. hearing, smell. taste and even
touch, for there is a conspicuous absence
OF the familiar placard with please do
not touch" IN five or six languages. You
are invited not only 10 touch, but to take
wal In
silver any or every article in the gay
booths and bazaars. and the persuasive
tone in which you are informed, in soft |
oriental accent, that the altar OF roses.
sandal and olive wood boxes, Turkish
pipes. fezes. scarfs and sandals, and
quaint and curious jewelry from every
where under the sun are very cheap.
very nice" is apt TO be the "open sesame"
TO your purse.
In their eagerness to dispose OF their
baubles they try 20 decorate the unwary
customer with them, supposing, doubt
less that having once seen himself so |
adorned he will be 10th TO part with
them.
I found II necessary 10 put my hands
behind me IN order 10 prevent an enter
prising Turk clasping a gaudy brace
let on my am, whose price he reduced by
rapid stages from $3.50 10 65 centsl Much
and shows Of the Plaisance, but II Is the
open street itself. and the motley tide Of
that surges through It, that is
It's chief interest. Those who agree with
Pope that "the proper study OF mankind
Is man." can desire no better school.
Every language Of the world spoken at
once, and mingled with monotonous, bar
barrie music and foreign laughter makes
D concord of the queerest sounds heard
since Babel, while every fashion Of dress
of every place and period. worn by people
Of every complexion and type OF feature,
Is as bewildering 10 the eye as the noises
are to the ear.
The street cries Of the Plaisance are
Irresistible. and the "We-a, Wel-a. Wel-a.
everybody welcomew chanted by the man
AZ the door OF the Turkish theatre the
Hot, hot. hot, hot, very hot zelabia" Il |
wonder If ] have the name OF It rightO |
And VERY nice bum-bum. very nice BUM
pun, very nice Egyptian candyr" Of Cairo 4
street are on the lips OF the children all
,ver Chicago. The inQuisitive may for a
lickel taste the hot zelabia or bum-bum
andy, but most OF Us are quite content
With having seen them and hefrd the cry.
This zelabia IS very like on ordinary
waffle, but thinner. 1 stood watching
husky citizen OF Cairo munching a piece
II IT when, seeing my interest In the per-
orn ance, he turned the side he had not
tten 20 me and said in good English,
lake a bitter" Upon my declining. with
hanks, he repeated the invitation, Seek
ng to remove any suspicious that might
est on my mind by adding very good
Merican sugar" 'Meucan flour. take lit
lie bite, lady but / again begged TO
e excused
The Jolllest Place.
The jollest place in the Plaisance is
his Cairo street. which is said by those
shO know 10 out-Cairo Cairol Here may
% seen the drtiest. most democratic but
yithai, the best-humored crowd OF hu-
nanity In all midway. The daring ones
o numbering along, perched on the backs
I the awkward. patient camels led by
ark Egyptians in their funny clothes.
While the more cowardly collect in knots |
y the wayside and make the air ring
With peals OF laughter az the expense Of
he riders. In marked contrast 10 the
mountainous camels, are the diminuuve |
onkeys led by gay-turbaned boys, which
nd plenty OF people anxious TO exchange
bit Of silver Tor the experience Of a
our through Cairo on their backs. There
almost always a wedding procession
ding by, and the interest which attaches I
, the eyer-new spectacle of the uniting
I two lives is increased tenfold when the
parties are the Egyptian don
ey-boy and black-eyed flower-giri.
A marriage is very elaborate affair In !
afro. and requires week for the per-
lrmarce OF an the rites connected with
The prospective bridegroom has to
grenade his bfide-elect every other night
unng the marriage week, while on the \
lterna,e nights she returns the compl-
ltg sin |