Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-28
WORLDS FAIR IMPRESSIONS.
OF Hrs. L. w. Quimby, who is there
this week.

Leaving Grand Rapids at 7:2o
a. m. via the Green Bay R. R. we
rode to Amherst Junction and
changed to the Wisconsin Central
and had a delightful trip by day
light through a beautiful diversified
section of Wisconsin reaching
Chicago at about 8 p. m. We
passed lakes and villages in short
intervals all day, had birds-eye
views of Waupaca, Weyauwega,
Neenah, Oshkosh, Fond du Lac,
but cut off Milwaukee by a few
miles. We arrived in a pouring
rain, were met at the depot by our
hostess and escorted to our abiding
place during our stay, have pleas
ant rooms in nice location with
breakfast and luncheon for SI.oo
per day. Friday a. m. at nine
o'clock we found ourselves at the
fair grounds. Our first day we
visited the Archaeological build
ing which we will send notes
about later, then the Convent of
La Ribida where we saw, with
simulated awe, the tiny glass tube
that is framed to hold the ashes of
Columbus. There are room after
room hung with portraits. Some
pictures loaned from the Vatican
are of interest, viz: Landing of
Columbus, Isabella offering her
Jewels, Columbus in Chains, Isa-
bella, and Ferdinand Pope Alexan-
der and many as interesting.
There are over 1000 relics to be
seen. The building is unique,
with tile roof, deep small windows,
stone floors in some rooms, all
like rooms, &C., &C., &c. Some
maps show how clearly Columbus
saw the vision of the future. It
all seemed like the glimpse of a
time long dead. From here we
visited the Krupp Gun, saw the
"Baby" 4S feet long with y inch
bore and will shoot 20 miles.
Four monster Man of War guns,
three others with all manner OF
projectiles, some mammoth steel
plates show holes where they were
shot through at five miles. Next
to this is the Leather exhibit
building. The display of Russian
leather attracted us, also a collec-
ton of foreign made shoes in a
glass case. Alligator and snake
skins are shown in fancy leather.
A couple of hours were pleasantly
spent. From here a visit through
the dairy exhibits with its immense
quantities of dairy products and
ornamental butter work, machinery
&c, &C., paid us we'll for the time
spent
We next visited the Forestry
building. Do not fail to give
some time here. A colonnade
surrounds the whole structure, the
roof is supported by the trunks Of
trees in their natural state repre-
senting trees of all climes and
countries. The sides are of slabs
with the bark removed. Some of
the most interesting to me, even
though [ had seen them in their
native state, were the California
redwood There is one plank the
largest in the world from tree S
feet in diameter. Its history is
given and to see it is to mark an
epoch in ones history of forestry.
There are graceful bamboos,
blocks of mahogany, yellow fir
from Oregon, white pine from
Wisconsin and yellow pine from
Florida fit for a Kings palace.
The Japan portion, with marvel
ously pretty basket work and brio
a brac, is one Of the prettiest in
the building. A miniature pavilion
of bamboo is a beauty. In Slams
exhibit is table made of teak
(which laid in Bangkok 100
years" New York shows a
photograph of each tree and a
thin section of the wood mounted,
together. They are Of especial
interest. Paraguay has an exhibit
of marvellous beauty where the
woods are of onyx-like appearance.