Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-16
Our Mt. Vernon Building and Its
Historic Furnishings.
A TRIP ON THE LAKE;
Reflections About the Balloon Exour-
sions-The Chesapeake and Ohio's
second Tour-Other Notes.

there is for the almighty dollar.
saw in one of the big dailies a fow days
ago that tho World's-Fsir balloon was
caught while up by o severe squall. 1t had
the usual number (elght) OF passengers
aboard. and was nearly the entire $4,000
feet above the ground when the cyclone
came along. The air-ship was like an
aspen-leaf IN the fury Of the gale,
and it was with greatest difficulty
that the balloon was gotten back 20
that Jolly little spot in Midway Plais-
ancs whence she started. Upon reading
of this miraculous adventure L was
forced. from my observation of those peo-
pie. to believe that had that balloon
broken the rope which tastens II TO the
stationary engine. and neither 1t nor its
occupants ever been heard from again,
another eronaut and another balloon
would have been in readiness on schedule
time for the next trip to the clouds.
PREFERRED JAMES RIVER.
I heard Chicagoan remark one day
"Suppose the balloon does break loose
and land you in the middle of Lake Michi-
gan some craft would soon come along
and take you out"
A well-known gentleman from Rich
mond replied that if the air-ship were de-
termined to break away from its moorings
while he was in 1t he would far prefer
having his carcass deposited amid the
rocks of James river than in the bosom OF
the great lake referred TO and run the risk
Of being taken out by one of those boats.
ARIDE DOWN THE LAKE.
Speaking of Lake Michigan calls to my
memory one OF the most delightful expe-
riences OF nv World STAR trip. Every
body, of course. knows that both the city
of Chicago and the big xposltion-grounds
front upon the lake. 1t Is therefore per-
fectly proper that there should be Worlds
Fair steamers, and there are-plenty OF
them. The boats leave their wharf in
front Of the Auditorium Hotel every fit-
teen minutes and the fare is 10 cents one
way or % cents for q round-trip ticket.
The distance to tho pier az the FAIR
Grounds is eight miles, and when the wea-
ther IL propitious, and IL almost always iS,
the ride is a beautiful and thrilling one. .
There is always delightful breeze. aud
this. coupled with the view OF the gor-
geous sheet of green water which stretches
thirty-six miles, from the shore of Illinois
to the sand-hills Of Michigan, the gllmpses
here and yonder of hundreds OF pleasure
craft, and OF handsome steamers carrying
thousands of visitors, the music OF
Splendid bands. and the glowing faces
of pretty women serve to make the trip
inspiring in its grandeur.
went to tue fair grounds twice by the
lake. The first time the boat was SO
crowded that | could not get seat and
stood up the entire way. On the second
trip was more or less successful. l had
reached the steamer in good time and
planted nv one hundred aud sixty pounds
avoirdupois. down upon one OF the ship
stools. | was not long, however. m
realizing that L had gotten into bad
place, as two great piles of deck chairs and
stools were lying by me. was kept hard
at work for the next three quarters OF an
, hour distributing seats TO every one .wht
came aboard. Every body seemed to thlnt
l was an dtdche of the steamer and dlC
not hesitate 20 call upon me.
| labored at this until had wilted dowl
a bran new collar, and then. when i wen
/ to the cafe to get q glass of mineral water
Sas charged Is cents for 1t.
/ A friend who was with me chucklec
over my misfortune. but later IN the dal
he was charged $l.60 In the garden or TN
German village for two little imported
/ Frankfort sausages.
Every person who goes to Chicago should
| take the lake-trip to the grounds at leas
once. 1t will be q memorable ride.
/ THE BLARSEY-sToNE.
The Irish Castle. IN which is kept th
| Blarney-stone, Is one of tho leading al
! fractions in Midway Plaisance. Tradition
/ promises to all the faithful who allow thel
! lips to touch this precious stone that the
shall have success accompany all thel
efforts. 1t IL therefore quite natura
/ that the place Is visited By man
! thousands Of persons each day. Que poo
fellow, who had been In hard lucz eve
since be left home. knelt down 70 kiss tn
| Blarney-stone, and Just as he was about L
| commit the osculatory act he tumble
over on the fortune-giving object.
! Columbus Guard wanted to take him away
but his friends insisted that be was al
right" and he was left unmolested; In
| individual to whom l refer has mad bette
luck ever since.
THE VIRGINIA BUILDING.
It has oft-times been said that "histor.
repeats ITSELF" and in great measure thl
il true. Virginla's Mt. Vernon building q
the Worlds Far is an exact reproduction
of the home OF George Washington. Tn
house is furnished with articles that wer'
used in the home of the illustrious states
man and warrior. In one room you ar
permitted TO sit in one of the chairs tha
| General Washington used TO occupy
In another you can write your nam
upon the desk that the first President use'
as a secretary. In still another q side
| hoard owned by Thomas jefferson greet'
vou and bids you to be proud of Virginia
In tact, everything of historic value tina
could be gotten from the old Common
wealth is there TO speak as nothing else cal
of her immortal dead.
Mt. Vernon holds its own with the mag
nifcent State buildings all around II
| Everything TO carry the Imagination bac
to the days Of Washington IS there eIcep
at.A ~ fffQa
| some one that either Captain Morton, u
secretary OF the board, or DIR. AppersT
the business commissioner, might be fxe'
up so az TO represent the General, bu
they were not of the right build, 50 tn
idea was abandoned.
saw Captain Morton while l wa
| attending the fair. IL was about moo
one Sunday. and the rotund secretary wa
sitting in front of the Mt. Verno
Building, while the gentle zephyrs toye
playfuly with his facial appendagei
| Although he was bitterly opposed t
allowing any one to 90 into our Stat
| House on the Sabbath, he permitted ou
! marty TO do so. We were shown the DI.
PATCH files there, and the Captain remark
| ed that visitors were so eager 70 ge
souvenirs of Virginia at the fair that the
had torn many copies or this paper
pieces in taxing away small scraps OF i
| IL was plainly apparent that hundreds
! visitors had resorted to these means OF 81
curing little relics from our State BUILD
ing.
SOLEMN FRELIsG.
A true American cannot prevent
solemn feeling from stealing over hil
when he is taken through the apartment
of Mt. Vernon and told what part the
have PLAYED in the history OF this countr,
With the small amount OF money yii
pinia could spare for her representatio
at the Worlds Fair. she has done exceed
inely we'll. / saw no single State exbie
that Virginia could not have eclipsed
she had had plenty of funds 70 have mad
such an elaborate display as her Worlds
Fair Commissioners would like 10 nav
made for her. Her mineral exhibit wa
far more varied than that OF California G
Montana, but, of course, 1t was not as o.
tensiye.
ANOTHER PEssoSALLY-coSDUcrED Toua.
Practically the Virginia people have ~
vet begun gong to the fair. Nearly all
them expect 10 go during the months I
August, September. and October. Vir2
| nia-Day august 9th) will attract mar
about that date. Many persons are Italian
of going TO Chicago IN September. and
, have been INTERCEPTED q number OF tim
as 10 the hotel accommodations. The
are enough hotels and boarding. houses
! Chicago to care for q million people. \
one need be apprehensiva on tnat score.