Huntsville gazette., 1893-05-13
DAZZLING SPLENDOR.

City-The Worlds Fair Buildings Ablaze
with More than Million Brilliant
Electric Lights, Forming the Grandest
illumination Ever Beheld by Mortal
Eyes.
WORLDS FAIR GROUNDS, CHICAGO,
May 9.-The climax in electricitys up
ward march through the nineteenth
century was reached last night when
the Worlds fair buildings and grounds
were Illuminated in honor of the
first ''open evening" of the exposi-
tion. The whiteness of the build
ings gave added luster to the rays from
the million or more lights in the grand
plaza, while the golden statues of The
Republic and DIANA" upon which
the light from the west end of Admin
istration plaza poured in binding
showers, sent back happy response,
which blended tremendously with the
whole. The different buildings were
illuminated to certain extent, but
the Administration building, being on
the west, and the peristyle on the east,
inclosing the grand court of honor,
held the multitude spellbound and
easily carried off the honors for the
night.
The crowds began to arrive early, all
the rail and steamer routes bringing
immense numbers. By the time dark
ness bad settled over the White City,
fully 10000 people were on the scene,
the crowd being augmented later by
probably 5000. Administration build
ing was the first to be electrified and
its beautiful exterior from base to tip
of dome was filled with rows of incan-
descent lights. At the base of its dome
three blazing torches, on bronze stands
were ranged equidistant around its cir
cumference, adding much to its splen-
did appearance. The peristyle soon
added its row of lights and this was
the signal for the triple row of are
lamps along either side of the lagoon
to lend their aid, and in an instant
they were sending bright rays
the band encircling the grand
plaza. The main lagoon lay under
the sheen of the thousands OF lights
like great mirror. The arc and peri
style lights formed it's gilded frame,
and around the sides about foot from
the waters edge row of electric bulbs
lent the added beauty of a golden bevel
to the splendid plate. It's surface was
dotted here and there with electric
launches and bright gondolas. Gaily-
bedecked gondoliers stood on the stem
and stern of their craft, and as their
oars slipped silently in and out of the
water, and their bodies swayed to and
fro, the romantic-lool1ing boats and
their oarsmen formed novel sight out
in the sparkling basin, disappearing a
moment later as they passed under the
shadow of bridge.
Powerful search lights on top of the
Manufactures and Agricultural build
ings and Music hall brought out new
beauties on the scene for the benefit OF
the specta tors. The three search
lights were then, by preconcerted
signals, concentrated upon the mag
nifcent MacMonnies fountain situ-
ated in front of the Administration
building. The marble figures were
rendered immaculate in an instant and
the glare falling full and power full
upon the handsome women at the oars
and in the seat of honor, sent new daz-
zling rays of crystal purity down and
across the silvery lagoon.
When, shortly after 10 o'clock, the
currents were turned off, a sigh went
up from thousands of hearts, and dark
ness put an end to scene of splendor
such as was probably never before pre-
sented to human eyes. Thousands OF
visitors swarmed into Administration
building soon as they reached the IL
Illuminated portion of the park to view
the beautiful dome studded with hun
dreds of incandescent lights which
cleaned like diamonds. The few seats
which lined the walls of the rotunda
were eagerly taken possession of, while
many of the women came on roller
chairs or occupied camp-stools. No
body cared to remain in the heart of
the Illuminated grounds for any length
of time for fear of losing some feature
of the opening night.
The magnificent terraces and prom
enades which lead to the ground basin
in front of Administration building
were the favorite places for the crowds,
chiefly because Of the general expec-
tation that the electrical fountains
would be in operation, and this was
the only real disappointment OF the
evening, but in the splendors was hardly
missed.
When Michael Brind's orchestra
from Cincinnati began to pour forth
melody upon the scene OF splendor
there was rush of people to the south
side of Music hall, where the mu-
sicians were stationed under cluster
of arc lights. The south side of Ma
chinery hall was an attractive place
for those people who knew where the
steam and electric power was generated
to provide the illumination.
Theodore Thomas Summoned to Ap-
pear.
WORLDS FAIR GROUNDS. CHICAGO,
May 9.-The committee appointed by
the national commission to Investigate
the charges against Theodore Thomas
and the music bureau, which were made
public at Fridays session of the COM