Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-03-02
WORLDS FAIR LETTER
Snow and Flowers at the Fair
Grounds.
The WOman's Exhibit to be on Grand
Scale.
From Our Special Correspondent.
CHICAGO, Feb. %. 1903

impeding the six thousand laborers in
their work of placing exhibits, and des.
perate efforts to complete the buildings
the scene in Horticultural Hall is one
OF rare beauty and fragrance. In this
great building the Chinese primroses,
which for weeks have blossomed in
dainty clusters under its great dome,
are well nigh passe, and will soon be a
thing of the past, mere reminiscence.
But in the conservatories west of Hor.
ticultural building another plant is
blossoming in truly regal splendor.
These are the dainty cyclamens, or,
some call them, the Persian violets.
Five thousand of them are now in
bloom, and before another week has
gone in the subdued sunlight fittering
through the skylights of the conserva-
toriesfully five thousand more will have
spread their glorious petals. In rich
ness of color the cyclamens far surpass
the Chinese primroses. They do not
grow in spikes like the primroses, but
each flower shoots up out of the bulb
as straight as an arrow, with stems FIVE
or six inches tall. The flower stalks
stand i'll circles, the corolla standD z
upward instead of in circular row
straight out from the heart. These pc.
tails point upward so pert that some one
has fancied in them resemblance to
the impudent rabbit, and some bota-
nists have given them the unpoetic
name of rabbits ears" Other rare
plants and flowers in the hall make
even now an inviting and enchanting
one, where hours may be passed with
pleasure and profit.
The finance committee is selling it's
last million OF the $4,000, 900 bonds au-
thorized. The treasurer bank ac-
count was getting too low, and the
bonds had to be sold to replenish the
cash box. About $500, 900 of the issue
remains to, be disposed of, and they
find ready takers among Eastern rail
roads and capitalists.
No doubts any longer exist that the
woman's exhibit will be notable one.
When first the subject of a womans
exhibit was mentioned it was hoped
that foreign women might also come
in and help their American sisters.
Shortly after the organization of the
board of lady managers, indeed, Mrs.
Potter Palmer, with that object in
view, went to England, France and
other European countries to arouse the
sympathy and cooperation of the
women of these coun tries in this direc-
ton. The results attained, as demon
strated, surpassed all expectations.
The women of almost every foreign
land are vieing with each other in their
efforts to bring to Chicago their rich
est fabrics, the choicest of their wares,
the best of their paintings, their finest
works of art, that their lady friends
on the western shores may see and ap-
preciate what has been done by those
who have long ago laid aside the brush
and easel.
The Italian commissioner is firmly |
of the opinion that in spite of the fact
that Italy entered the race far behind |
other nations, she will yetmake cred
liable display, which in beauty and va
riety will not suffer by comparison |
with others. For the Italian exhibits
10000 square feet of space was assigned |
but it was found that at least 667 ex-
hibitors desire to be represented and
the commissioner has asked for more
room that his countrymen may be &C.
The question of a spe-
cial building for Italy remains unset
tied.
The ubiquitous small boy may boast
npretentiouslv after next summer that
he has seen two score savage women,
the equal in fighting capacity of the
same number OF picked French soldiers.
These warlike females are now being
collected in Dahomey as part of the
French colony exhibit, and are to be
exhibited in the Dahomey village dur
ing the Fair.
These Amazons are described as be-
ng well proportioned, clean featured,
muscular creatures, unusually intelli-
gent Tor savages, and possessed of phe-
1emenal powers Of endurance They
.orm the mainstay of the bloodthirsty
King Behanzin's s army, and before the
French occupation.of his capital they
we're the only part of the soldiery that
we're thought equal to the responsible
ity of properly guarding the palace.
1t is said that the King reposed such
implicit confidence in the intelligence
Of his women fighters that he supplied
them with breech loading guns while
ne left the men to fight with the ordi-
nary native arms. With these facts in
view the visitor will find the rough
itockade inclosure now being erected a
point of peculiar interest.
l.. i L
the same kind of stockade that is used
for purposes of protection by the ma
tives. The structure will bristle from
all points with pixies, and at the gate
will appear pair of signal towers,
each occupied by astolid nativein gau
dy feathers and outlandish paint. With