The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-01
Speaking of Chicago and Her Fair.

Speaking of Chicago and Her Fair.
The closing OF tho gates upon show
such rs tho world never before saw. and
probably will never see again In the rolling
ages. makes proper few remarks, retro
spective aud otherwise, concerning the
great Chicago Fair.
The Worlds Columbian Exposition it lie In
the documents. but the great Chicago Fair
It is for history and for the admiration Of
mankind. Chicago did II. She did 1t alone,
with some help from the Federal Govern
ment and the honor is all Chicago's.
On a scale never before contemplated by
the nudacity Of the human imagination,
this Western town conceived and carried
her enterprise through to splendid success !;
absolute success artistically and ceremoni-
ally. relative success financially. She went
in on check; she came out in glory.
The qualities displayed by Chicago and
her representatives in the earlier stages OF
the undertaking we're Of that sort which
the way Of the world admires or condemns
according to the outcome. She started in
for a local boom. There was a suspicion Of
the hotel counter. the boarding house. tho
street railway. and the real estate Office in
her professions and pledges. Her negotia-
tons with the Government were distin-
guished by unblushing assurance. She
boldly promised everything. She would
have given bonds to bring down tho moon
and Alpha Lyrp and set them up in jack
son Park il that had been necessary to en-
able her to get tho Fair. She got 1t, and
The Sun is now glad she did.
There is point where unblushing assur
ance becomes sublime confidence; where
irresponsible recklessness dignifies itself
into indomitable resolution. Just where
IN the chronology OF Fair promotion Chi
cago reached and passed that point it is
not profitable to inquire. Certain it Is that
her management Of the enterprise I'M
derwent the transition. 1t ceased to be
cheeky and became sublime. 1t ceased to
he irresponsible and became unconquera-
BILE. The petty schemes Of the mercenaries
dropped out of sight. The little tricks and
chicanerles Of the beginning were forgotten
In the gradual development and manifesto
ton of the true spirit Of Chicago. amazing
the world by it's power, its reach. its re-
sources. its devoted civic loyalty. its lntelli-
gence. It's masterfulness. and its success.
The cloth had been cut too large. accord
ing to all of the lessons Of experience; Chi
cago did not repattern. but proceeded to
grow to it. The chances were a thousand
to one against victory. With cheerful OPP
timism and magnificent nerve Chicago kept
right on and succeeded.
1t is likewise proper to record here the
fact that the prime factor in the illustrious
success of the Chicago enterprise was
quality rating higher in the scale Of civ
lization's forces than mere business en-
a.,
without limit. Somewhere among the
magEates Of the Exposition's management
and backing there was from the start
a profound appreciation OF the truth that
to be truly great the Fair must be
not merely big. but beautiful. Beautiful
beyond ali precedent they made it; not
merely according to the aesthetic standards
of Chicago. or Of the West. or OF the United
States but judged by the worlds measure
OF the grandest art. Such a creation as
that by the lakeside. soon now to be demol-
ished. Is not the result OF accident. good
luck. enthusiasm. or haphazar6 design; and.
while all of the credit goes to Chicago. the
chief credit should go to the individual OF in
dividuals in Chicago who had the wit to per-
ceive from the first the architectural ideal
that was finally realized. the intelligence to
select the makers best qualified to realize
1t. and the enlightened liberality to insist
that the genius enlisted in the creation of
the White City should be supported by dol
lars without stint.
Chicago has fifty celebrated the Column
bian achievement by paralleing it, She
has done what CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS did
four hundred years ago. In spirit like to
his in the magnificence OF it's courage,
6teadfastness. and unwavering faith and
self-reliance she embarked Oh borrowed
capital and sailed right out into the I'M
known. Wisdom doubted and sound judg-
ment called her back. and the winds howled
around her; but she sailed on unterrifed.
through good weather and bad. steering
straight for her mark: and she kept on.
like COLUMBUS. till she got there.
Hats off and up in the air for Chicago,
our little sister. the Columbian city!
The Critics OF the Senate.
I an