Brookings register. (Brookings, S.D.) 1890-1894, 1893-03-17
Notes on the Columbian Exposition.

Already the worlds fair build
ings are one glow of glittering,
stupendous splendor. The white
ness Of the exterior of the build
ings and the deep snow vie with
each other in brilliancy. There is
no quiet even now to be found on
the grounds. As l wandered in
and out of the vast structures, or
stood silently gazing at the statues
which meet you at every turn, the
sound of the human voice and the
workman's tool never left me for a
moment. 1t would seem as if an
ante-fair were going on from the
number of visitors continually
upon the grounds. Groups Of
ladies stroll everywhere admiring
the architecture and statuary. and
adornments of fresco, carving and
culpture which are so profuse,
and familiarizing themselves with
the positions of the buildings.
Here are japanese carpenters and
diggers working in the oriental
fashion and clad in their native
costumes. In another place the
tall Russians are seen, whose
pants, baglike to the knees and
very close fitting from there to the
ankles, seem to combine two
fashions in one. A band of Es-
quimaux have shown their nation
ality as well as their shrewdness
by placing their huts under the
open canopy and charging twenty
five cents admission to their vii
lage.
Although this village is at
present within the grounds, either
it will be placed outside, or, as is
more probable, the admission fee
will be removed before May |.
For it has been given out on good
authority that the fifty cent gate
fee will admit to every building
and exhibit inside the exposition
grounds. There is wide spread
misrepresentation in regard to this
which should be corrected at once.
Side shows with individual
entrance fees will be here in
abundance, but they will be To-
Gated outside the exposition
grounds bordering on the Midway
Plaisance. This is a broad eX-
panse of green turf and boulevard
six hundred feet wide, extending
westward from the grounds and
forming a beautiful grassy con-
Meeting link between Washington
and jackson parks. Along this
will be found spectacles and shows
that will satisfy the most fantastic
and adventure loving. BY drop
ping a piece of money in the slot
you will be taken far away to a
narrow street in ancient Cairo in
classic Egypt. While one of a
more daring disposition may by
similar payment take his seat upon
the already famous Ferris wheel
and as it revolves be raised to the
sheer height of two hundred and
fifty feet, obtaining at the same
time a fine view of the exposition
grounds and surrounding parks
Or, better still, he may take the
electric car, and in nine winding
circles reach the summit of vast
iron tower five hundred and sixty
feet from the ground, getting both
in the ascent and descent superb
view of the city, the country and
ship covered lake for many miles
in any direction. Then, if not
already exhausted in both mind
and purse, he may try the scenic
railway, the wild west show, or any
one of dozens of similar amuse-
nents.
But, someone asks, how is one
who has never been to Chicago
going to find the particular ex-
hibits and amusements he desires
to see, even after reaching the fair
grounds themselves. The direc-
tors of the fair have provided adj
mirably for this by employing
fifteen hundred guards who will
be stationed about the grounds
and Plaisance, and will answer all
inquiries as we'll as preserve order.
Also five hundred guides, many
of them able to speak several Ian
guages will be at the service of the