Middletown transcript., 1893-09-02

NSI(/,HkR\SN swelling the total
hMi EENlGI paid attendance
A(HlNNR )T)I from May 1st to
SNSS(S 9,099, 100 All hail
IJSAo to the great Prairie
state of Illinois,
Her patriotic sons and daughters from
even the remotest corner, from the corn
fields, swamp lands, prairies, and valleys
poured into the grounds of the Worlds
Fair in countless thousands. They came
by rail. by steamboat, by electricity, and
by cable Never did turnstile turn SO fast
and so often. Never did gate keepers work
so hard.
The state was here A few persons re-
mained at home to water the stock and do
the milking, but all the rest came in on
time with red tickets in their hats, 1t was
their day and they claimed it. The World S
Fair ground became as crowded as Taze-
well county bee tree. No matter where
the man came from-Effingham, Galena,
Quincy, Bloomington, Chicago or Galva-
be had partnership interest in the build
ing with the big yellow dome. This build
ing was embroidered with flags and folds
of bunting as large as circus tents. From
IFS topmost staff foated pennant bearing
the word illinois +"
From any part of the grounds this
streamet could be seen, and toward it went
the men, women and children, humping
against their neighbors at every step. For
once the interest of big holiday centered
at state building. Around this building
were jostling acres of hats and bonnets.
Through its doorways went scrambiing
procession, which lasted for hours. Inside
the building the good people of this state
were rubbed up so close to each other that
they all wanted to get out again.
The strange foreigners who live in the
piaisance marched and shouted for Illinois
Thousands of boys in blue swept up
through the length of the exposition
grounds Every one was an Illinois soldier.
The governor of Illieois rode ahead on a
restless horse. The majors and colonies
and captains of Illinois were scattered
down this magnificent line. At night the
multitude saw the sky blaze up with designs
telling of Illinois. In the live stock pa
vilion an immense crowd saw an Illinois
horse wear the prize ribbon. Lest there
should be some doubt as to the meaning OF
/ the day, yellow ribbons marked Illinois
were pinned to coat lapels and dresses. In
cidentally the whistles blew and chimes
rang out
It was great day for the fair, great day
for the people who made it so, and was a
| grand success from start to finish.
In the odd Midway parade at a. M,
there came first the Bedouins riding camels
and high-spirited horses. They were al
lowed nearly thousand feet of space and
as the parade moved along those mounted
on horses rode back and forth at full gallop
with their snow-white robes futtering in
the breeze, whirling their long spears about
and displaying wonderful feats of horse,
manship. After the Bedouins came the
Laplanders, with their reindeer and then
came the cannibals of Dahomey. They
were the most vicious and ferocious look
| ing warriors in the parade. They were
attired as if going out to battle. The king
a huge black fellow in fantastic attire, was
| in the lead On his head was a sort of hel.
met, surrounded with pair OF rams
horns. He carried great warclub which
| he fourished as he pranced about shouting
\ in savage frenzy, while his followers SANG
a wild war song and beat tom-toms and
| acted like demons. Hanging down the
| front of the cannibal kings breast was 9
peculiar looking protector made of polished
human bones and around his neck was an
ornament of human teeth.
The Chinese, with an awful-lookins
dragon sixty feet long, came next. 1t wa:
made Of rice paper on bamboo frame anc
carried by twenty Mongolians. Nothing
but their feet could be seen and the horric
thing moved along in wonderfully lifelikt
manner. Strangely attired musicians
PLAYING on instruments no less strange
accompanied the dragon and the music, i
such it can be called, was ear-splitting il
the extreme. After the Celestials came tht
South Sea islanders. Then in turn cam
the Hawaiians, the Persians, the Egyptian
with their camels and donkeys, the Turks
the Moors, the Swiss horn-blowers, Lagen
fbeck's lions, the natives of lahore. tn
Algerians and the inhabitants of the Irisl
and German villages. In the main ground
they were Joined by the Italian marines
the British soldiers and the West Poin
cadets.
1t was strangely wonderful sight AID
is doubtful if its like has ever been wit
messed in the world before or if any on
who saw it will ever see its like again.
After the procession had passed the gov
ernor and his staff were received il
Illinois building by the members of tn
state board of commissioners. At o'clocl
luncheon was served in the dining room
on the third floor The members of tn
Illinois board, the national commissioners
lady managers, and invited guests wer
present In the afternoon the governor
received the citizens of the state in tn
main court on the first floor, under tn
dome. Director. General Davis and hos
of commissioners and Worlds Fair official
paid their respect to Gov. Altgeld. IN
hours of the reception we're from 3 until
o'clock. From four sides the crowds pour
ed in to shake hsnds with the governor
At 4 o'clock the tens of thousands OF loya
ai1iaaur., g ;ssi;Assasd still Atthe door