Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-05-01
A GLORIOUS SPOT.
Scene Of the Opening Of the
Worlds Fair.
THE COLOSSAL STATUE OF GOLD,

Beautiful Works of Art Surrounding the
Grand Basin in Front of the Administra-
ton NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Fireworks or
the Electrical Fountains - Chicago's
Triumph Over Difficulties.
WORLDS FAIR, April 27.-When Presi-
dent Cleveland steps out upon the plat
form built for the purpose in front Of the
Administration building next Monday to
make a short speech and declare the
Worlds fair open, then, while touching a
button which will start the great engine
! revolving and 1OO, 900 machines in motion,
he will face the most beautiful Spectacle
in architecture and art and lapdscape ever
created in this world. 1t is the Judgment
| of foreigners and Americans alike that no
such scene as that here presented can be
found elsewhere. 1t is not worth while to
attempt a description of it, There are
things which cannot be described, and this
is one of them. To the left the magnificent
| entrance of the Mining building, farther
along the mammoth roof and wall of the
Manufactures building, on the right the
corner of that Cathedral of Milan, the
Hall of Machinery, and the classical Agri-
cultural palace. Directly in front the
great basin, covered with gondolas and
other picturesque craft, and seen through
the noble peristyle, with its thirteen col
umns and as many beautiful statues, the
blue waters of Lake Michigan.
At the ends of this basin stand two of
the most noteworthy objects of art in all
the world. In front of the peristyle, fac
ing the Administration building and the
president, who is to push the button, is
the colossal figure of The Republic. Just
now 1t is the most interesting object in the
exposition. Though completed last fall
the great figure has been housed all winter
from the storms and the frost. So great
was the care taken of the precious
form of Columbia that a furnace was fired
within the enclosure during the extreme
cold weather to maintain the compactness
of the material of which it is composed.
Two weeks ago q number of men were set
at work gliding the huge statue with gold
leaf-literally encaSing it in the precious
metal. Something like thousand dollars
was the cost of the gold leaf alone. Now
the winter house Is coming down and as
the workmen tear away the boards, which
have so long screened the beauty of Col
umbia from curious eyes, large throng
of people line the banks of the basin to
witness the unfolding.
1t is the largest statue ever made in this
country. 1t is well named ''the colossal"
for the draped figure of the woman who
typifes the republic is no less than sixty
five feet in height, and the pedestal upon
which she stands rises thirty-five feet from
| the surface of the water. The arms are
appraised toward the head, and in the right
hand is held aloft golden globe, on which
poises an eagle with outstretched wings.
The left hand lifts lis feet above the basin
AS high as a tail building in any city
save Chicago liberty pole surmounted
by cap. One does not need to be told
that the artist worked with this as his con-
trolling idea-that the figure was to typify
not only the strength and grace but the
self-confidence and yet the gentleness of
America, and her pose was toindicate that
| in this land liberty is held dearer than any
| thing else.
| The drapery of the figure hangs in heavy
and yet graceful folds; upon the bust are
many shields, and from a corsage depends
Il broad sword which we all know Column
bia, though peacefully inclined, is able to
WELD with force when she will. Alto