Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-02-09
WORLDS FAIR LETTER.
Flowers at the Fair-War Department
Display--Rolling Chairs sOther
Matters of Interest.
From our Special Correspondent.)

When the season for primroses arrive
the primroses will bloom even though
| it may be over three months before the
exposition will be formally opened. For
several weeks there has been a mag
| nifcent display of these beautiful fore
runners of spring in the greenhouses at
the exposition grounds, and the season
g now on the wane. In order that the
public might have better opportunity
to see them they have been transported
| under the dome of the building, where
they are arranged on stands on either
side of the broad circular walk. The
plants are all in pots and the exhibit of
each grower is marked with placard.
The next exhibition of flowers will be
| of Persian voilets, which are just begin
| ming to bloom. The blossoms are large
and handsome, showing great variety of
colors, and the arrangement of the pet
ais something of the eccentricities of the
orchid. The stalk which holds the bios
som stands up tall and straight, and the
long rows of plants present the apear-
ance of "a resplendent cloud of butter
| flies lowering over some moist, green
bank. A superb collection of orchids
has just been received. These are not
for competitive exhibit, but have been
purchased by the exposition and will be
used in adorning the grounds. The col
lection, which probably represents $5,-
600, contains some fine specimens, one
| of which is about four feet in diameter.
The orchid admits of original treatment,
and one of the designs which will inter
est visitors is the Presidential Chair"
made of different varieties, arranged
upon wooden framework, which when
complete will resemble an imposing
chair of state.
The United States War Department is
now arranging for an exhibit which will
not only be full and complete, but of
much general attraction as well. By the
time the fair is ready to open portion
of the interior of the great government
building will have been converted into
an arsenal and gun foundry of such
magnitude as to astonish the beholder.
Ample floor space, consisting of one
fifth of the entire area, has been allot-
ted for the purpose of making the ex-
hibit. Here will be seen specimens of
all munitions of war necessary for be-
seiging city, with rif1ed cannon capable
of throwing twelve inch iron shells of
more than thousand pounds weight
and the Gattling gun used for moving
down marching columns of soldiery. A
big gun of fifty tons weight will be
shown and also many of the small pieces
used in field service. Gun carriages of
various descriptions and some Of rather
novel design will show the improve
ments made in the last few years and
will also serve to attract attention.
Small arms of all sorts and designs will
form attractive groups.
The Columbian Rolling Chair Co. has
determined to employ college students
as motive power in propelling the roll
ing chairs about the grounds. The roll
will be completed March 1st, and 1000
men will be employed to report for duty
May 1st. The attendants will be fur
nished with comfortable lodgings near
the grounds. The chairs will be mount
ed on bicycle wheels with one and one
half inch rubber tires and full ball
bearings, and will be the only vehicles
allowed in the exhibition buildings.
Behring sea troubles will be recalled
by an exhibit which the national mus
cum contributes to the government
fishery department.. Models will be
introduced into the exhibit which will
show the methods of driving and killing
seals and the process of preparing and
dressing their skins for the market.
While Carl Hagenbeck, the noted an
imal trainer of Germany, was in Chicago
he obtained a concession to erect a
building, and he is now busily engaged
in training his collection of wild and
tame animals for exhibition therein
According to latest information his
efforts will surpass anything ever before
attempted, and the exhibit will be
something the world has never before
witnessed. Mr.. Hagenbeck's reputa-
ton is pledge enough that his entertain
| ments will be of the highest order.
Imagine the large lion driven into the
arena drawing gilded ehariot, and note
how bashful the king of beasts appears
when he is greeted with applause
Panthers sit sedateiy in cart drawn by
white goats, while the young lions play
see-saw and the black bear rolls down
an encline on ball. 4 little toy poodle
holds hoop through which black
panther jumps gracefully, while the
house sits spellbound when dozen or
more lions and tigers come in, gravely
walk to their seats, and are put through
their several performances. All these
exhibitions take place inside a large and
we'll secured iron cage situated in the
center of the amphitheatre which will
seat 1000 people. In addition there will
be collection of 100 different kinds OF
parrots, monkeys from the smallest
maxi to the biggest orang-outang, shells,
sea plants, and hunting trophies from
out-of-theway places the world over.
The entire collection of wines sent
from New South Wales was frozen dur
ing the late severe weather and render
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