New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-29
BLEAKWEATHER IN CHICAGO
WORLDS FAIR OPENING EXERCISES MAY
HAVE TO BE HELD INDOORS.

co,xc on RAPIDLY AT JACKSON PARK
49,, vr11. ADVANCED - DI TINGUIshE"
CHESTS ARRIVING = ALDERMEN RE-
n,rrrp BY THE MAYoR-DEDICA-
r,oy OF THE TURKISH MOSQUE.
inv TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.]
1,...a .nrl 2s-With the longeXpectel open
,t ,h Worlds Fair only forty-eight hours dis
.ant Chicago begins, not unnaturally, to show
s;ns of severish activity and excitement tempered
I've an undertone of mistrust lest the success OF
Az. ceremonies of Monday be marred either by
.h. Zoo unfinished state of the Exhibition, or by
a.. Snseasonable seventies of this uncertain and
.roocberous April climate. With the fattering
rrooress made in the last two or three days with
The work of installing exhibits at Jackson Park,
there is now reasonable certainty that the Far
can be opened in as forward condition OF COM
nlcteness as can be hoped for on the first day OF
any great international eXhibiton-ln quite as pre-
sentable and finished condition. perhaps, as 'hat
Of the fair at Paris in the spring OF 1852 or OF
III. Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia In the
early part of May, 1876.
The confusion and backwardnees unavoidable
in some Of the departments at Jackson PARK
need not of course, detract too seriously from the
with which. next Monday, the Columbian EXhi-
btion will be formally declared open. Much VIII
be hardened in the way of disorder and delay II
the ceremonies of the opening pass of with the
dignity and circumstance becoming so notable an
occasion and so notable an anniversary: and the
nresence of the President his Cabinet and rep
resentatives of all the other branches of the Ma
tional Government to Join with the officials OF
the Fair in throwing open the gates OF Jackson
Park TO the public will undoubtedly insure to
the ceremonies of Inauguration the formaiity of
character and the political and official importance
which seem necessary to stamp any great public
function with impressivences and success.
Chicago weather must be reckoned with, how
ever ia all anticipRtions Of a brillia and i'm
posing opening day on the lake front. With the
lowering and dismal weather of the last two weeks
continuing over Sunday, the exercises at jackson
Park would have little hope of anything but a
halfway, indoor success. The storms Of the last
fortnight have reduced the Fair grounds, as they
have the whole Of South Chicago and the coun-
try for hundred miles down 10 and beyond the
Indiana State line, to a spongy, saturated morass,
with slippery top layer of sandy clay of infinite
tenacity and powers of deflement Under
driving rain, such has fallen all day to-day,
many parts of Jackson Park and number of
approaches are a hopeless expanse of mud. i'm
passable except on narrow stretches of asphalt
pavement, on which the wet clay has encroachcd
almost TO the point of engulfment
With the cold, pneumonia laden east winds
from Lake Michigan sweeping across the unshel
tered open spaces of the park, and q temperature
of about 40 degrees less, all the seventies Of
winter seem to have returned TO plague the
Worlds Fair city in the week set for the opening
of the great exhibition. Unless there is decided
change for the better, both in temperature and
sky as we'll as under foot, the ceremonies of
Monday will have to be conducted under shelter,
in one Of the Fair buildings and this abandonment
of the outdoor character of the celebration will
undoubtedly deprive it of many of its most in
teresting and suggestive features.
How, indeed, can the opening Of a great summer
outdoor fair he made impressive when the partic
pants in the ceremonies. wearing overshoes and
mackintoshes, and budding under roof for
shelter look shivering ont, not on trim lawns
and parking, but on wide eXpanse of mud and
rain-fsoded turf? The opening day of the Fair
is likely TO prove a spectacular failure for the
same reason that Inauguration Day is except on
rare occasions, miserable day of suffering at
the National capital, il being sheer folly TO
expect favoring conditions for an Inauguration
pageant in Washington early in March il is
to look for appropriate weather for outdoor DIS
PLAYS in New-York and Chicago at the end OF
April.
Owing to the Fcbruary.like weather now pre-
vailing, the city has yet been decorated only
sparsey and charity and the main streets lack the
air of fcstivity which they will he expected TO
take on by Monday. At the grounds all the
forces are plunged in work night and day, and
there is 50 much need of progress with the ma
terial Of the Exhibition that little time is taken
now for external decorations These VIII come'
however. by Sunday night or Monday morning
The Chicago Aldermen have made next Mon
day holiday and are engaged with the
Mayor in taking trains every few hours TO ''e
State line 10 meet distinguished guests who are
Coming to Mondays ceremony. Ihc Duke vi
veragua is due here at 10 o'clock tomorrow
morning. and Navor Harrison, after riding back
on the Dukes train will present him with the
freedom of the municipality. President CleV'laha
will be met al the State border few hours ia''r'
being due here about ! p. III. This afternoon 'ic
Municipality Committee went out 10 escort i"
the Phadclphians who are bringing mere LIN ,' ON on
bell which was rung from Independents "n,cr i,I,.
the signing Of the Declaration OF ihuclTnTi Toir
The bell will be taken tomorrow 10 INV ,iri~,i
ground, under an elaborate escort an"
addresses will he made after its arrival t"cir cb
The Aldermen, il Is sad, nay" p'rm onodit of
exercised about maintaining the socia' cre11 % VI VI
Chicago III their Intercourse WIN tie tHailej
Neraeua. They have all purchased iohS-'ail'.
frockcoats and new silk hats III which 10 hi'''
the Duke and committee OF five cailcd Nes'cil
day on Mayor Harrison TO induce nm 10 ui'v"i"
his slouch hat and get silk one for the occasion.
The MAYOR declined however u gly" mp ms
customary headgear. saving that his slouch ha!
had been bis mascot; and the committee W'"'
away heartbrokcn.
The most interesting incident of the day az
Jackson Park was the dedication OF the lifklsh
Mosque in the Midway Plaisancr, az which ccrr-
mony the local order Of the Mobiles of the Mystic
Shrine TO the number of 200 or 300 assisted.
About ii o'clock train from Chicago. bearing
the Mystic Shrine Mobiles. each with gilt tlacci
red fcz, on bis head, arrived At the Midway PAS
sncc, where Il large number Of Arabian horses
and camcls Were in waiting. mounted by tur-
banned MahOmctans. After short delay tli'
strange cavalcade moved forward. led by the
master Of ceremonies. behind whom cane ilag
bearers with the Stars and Stripes Of America