Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-08-28
WORLDS FAIR LETTER.
COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION,
CHICAGO, ILL.

EDITOR TRIBUNE.-Thinking that a
brief description of the many interesting
features of the so-called "White City"
might be interesting to your many read
ers, l will give you my experience for
the two days | have been here. The
journey from Freeland to Chicago, which
so many dread, was great pleasure to
me. and the constantly changing scenery
made the time pass pleasantly and
quickly.
My first day on the grounds was spent
/, Ding over the whole exposition and
learning where the different buildings
are located, and so large are>the grounds
that crowd of over one hundred thous-
and people did not seem to fill them ex-
cept in places. The Midway Plaisance
seems to be the centre of attraction, as
it is crowded from O'Clock in the morn
until IL at night.
Nearly all the nations of the world are
represented here, from the mountains
of Lapland to the jungles of Africa, and
the different costumes of the nations as
they pass to and fro in the crowd forms
picture strange to behold and at times
exceedingly amusing.
The dress, or rather the absence of
dress, in some of the natives of Daho-
mey is quite picturesque. Some of the
ladies of the Dahomey village think if
they wear hairpin they are overdress-
ed, while 9th ers are content with a
string of beads.
The Ferris wheel is one of the most
attractive features of Midway. 1t is
constantly crowded with people and the
view from the top is well worth the fee.
The whole city of Chicago seems to be
at ones feet, while the exposition build
ings. and grounds are shown with re-
markable clearness. The wheel is also
as attractive by night as by day. Its
rim is studded by 1,400 incandescent
lights, which revolve with it. The
grounds and buildings are also illumin-
ated and the display now rivals the
front of the administration building.
To carry ll,4Oo electric amps on re-
volving wheel was mechanical prob
lem that for long time baflled the
owners of the great structure, but was
finally solved.
From the city, lake and prairie, this
great and brilliant circle looms above
even the administration dome to mark
the location of the Worlds fair, where
the genius of the whole earth is on ex-
hibition. The wheel continues its silent
revolutions, but so closely set are the
lights that it appears as a rim of light
against the blackness of the night, and
its passengers from the cars look down
on fairyland that eclipses all imagina-
ton.
The exposition in general is on such a
large scale as to make an intelligent de-
scription almost impossible. | have
been told that if one minute was spent
on each aticle that is on exhibition, that
it would take thirty-two years to see it
all. Consequently | have seen only
small part of it. In taking a general
look through the buildings l would say
that the transportation we the most in
teresting, as it contains everything on
wheels or runners from ancient to mod
ern times.
The electric building is also very in
teresting, but as understand very little
about electricity, could only look and
admire the different lights and mechani-
cal contrivances.
The Fisheries building is constantly
crowded with visitors and the exhibit is
certainly magnificent. Not only are all
kinds of fish to be seen in tanks, but all
kinds of methods for catching them,
from the bone hook of the Indian to the
most approved appliances in modern
use.
The Columbus caravels also attract
large crowds and the queer topheavy
looking ships show very wicked look.
l would not care to cross the Honeyhole
dam in one of them, much less to cross
the ocean. The Viking boat is much
smaller than the caravels, but to my no.
tion much the safer-looking craft. l
have not yet explored the principal
parts of the exposition, but have simply
passed through the buildings without
examining anything closely. In passing
through the mining building l saw an
exhibit of Coke Bros. & Co., of Drifton,
which made me feel quite at home.
If time permits and if your readers
will stand it I will write again while
here. ]. G. MULLIGAN.