The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-06-07
Many Sylvan Retreats at the Worlds
Columbian Exposition.
POPULAR PASSION FOR MUSIC
Nam 9th Buildings at Jackson Park and
wonders OF Midway Piaisance do Not
Attract Attention of Lovers as DO Mu-
sic and Something TO Ride Upon.


paradiso for them, as 1t is for so many
other people. Here they may find every
thing In the world to ride upon-and you
know how fond lovers are of riding upon
all sorts OF conveyances and vchicles-and
everything that is tempting to spend their
money for. This is not all. Here they
may find sylvan retreats, safe from the
ewes of the curious and enyious. Or, they
gain confidence in observing that all other
people are SO much interested in the great
buildings and the exhibits that their eyes
have no vision for a pair Of silly dreamers.
It does seem almost incredible that a
young man and a young woman can be SO
much wrapped up in one anotherthet they
are unable to see the glories OF the Worlds
fair, but every day / notice just such
couples wandering about the grounds,
seated in the shady places along the
wooded island walks, or holding each
others hands while enjoying n sail through
the lagoons with the gay and romantic
gondoliers. To people such as these the
mammoth building, the Art palace, the
exquisite statuary, porcelains, tapestries
and Jewels are as nothing The wonders
of Machinery hall and the Electricity build
ing are sealed books. The curious races
of men and animals to be found along the
Midway plaisance are as If they had never
existed. Only tie things to ride upon, the
flowers and shade trees, the music, the
fountains, the electric lights and the deli
cacies to eat and drink which may be
4 - kSx, 10 fhQca
cooers.
am not sure that should want to be
in love at the Columbian exposition.
am 400 much in love with 1t. There Is n
time for human love, and for heavenly
love, and for alteration of the handiwork
of man in all the arts and sciences. This
Is the time and the place for the last
named. There is enough here to call out
the highest and tenderest Of thoughts
without resort to the means which all peo-
pies practice and all time endorses. Be
sides, that we have always with us, while
the Worlds fair is the event of a lifetime.
Still there are lots Of lovers here. They
are fond of sitting out in front Of the great
Administration building, where from two
band stands music is poured forth every
afternoon. The Thomas orchestra occu.
pies one stand and the Sousa band the
other, and of course they play alternately.
It is curious to note the popular passion
for music as exemplifed in the manner in
which the people run from one side OF the
plaza to the other, according as the music
Is In the south or the north stand. There
could not be finer spot Ia which to listen
to splendid music. 1t is simply ideal. The
palatial Administration building affords
good back kground and sounding board. In
one direction Is Machinery hall, and far.
ther along the perfect structure devoted
to agriculture. On the other side the
Electrical building and the mammoth pal
ace Between these most beautiful en-
closures is the grand basin, with its foun'
tain playing, the craft moving to and frc
over the wassrs. Add music to scene
like this and one could not be blamed foi
imagining himself in a sort OF earthly
paradise. That is the way the lovers look
at it, surely, for they find seats in some
shadowy spot, or lift q large umbrella over
their heads more to ward off curious
glances than to protect against the rays of
the sun, and sib by the hour.
This is not an energetic way in which tc
see the great Worlds fair, but it is
happy way. You may not. learn much,
but you will feel good deal. This is par
ticularly true IL you come at night when
the basin anl all the buildings around il
are lighted with electricity, and when the
managers of the fair send large boats out
.upon the waters bearing musicians and
choruses there to ill the air with sweet
strains as thev are silently moved to and
fro. No such scene as this was ever before
witnessed, ana one does not have to be
lover In order to sit entranced by 1t. A
line OF lamps runs al about the walls en-
closing the basin Another follows the
cornices Of the great buildings and the top
Of the noble peristyle. The columns of the
peristyle are lighted from inches set on
the inner side, thus flooding the interior
of the colonnade with rich lustre. In
the Columbian arch at the center of the
colonnade red fire is burned each electrical
evening, and thus the gateway to the lake
Is made TO take on the hue OF warmth
and welcome.
On the entrances and corners of the big
buildings there are more lights. AT the
oset Of Diana, who stands at the top Of the
Agricultural palace, Is corona OF electric
lights which illuminate every line OF her
beautiful figure. The golden statue Of the
Republic which stands in the center of the
basin IL flooded with soft rays On each
of the four corners of the greatest build
ing that ever was Is a powerful search
light, the largest of the four being mon
ster with lens as big as the end of a
street car. 1t Is said 10 have power OF
500, coo candles, aud the print Of an or
binary newspaper may be read ten miles
away by the aid Of its rays. The vivid
streaks thrown Of By the search-lights
range through the air like some celcstial
beings, falling first upon the huge glass
dome Of the horticultural building, now
making tho winged victory on the Art
palace stand forth against the sky like n
silhouette, and finally causing the alumni
rum roof Of the Administration dome TO
shine precisely like vast cameo set high
I'm the air.
OF course you cannot blame pair OF
1overs IL Ia tho presence Of a spectacle such
rs this they sit closer and closer together,
and linger long after their elders have
gone away 10 hotel or boarding house
You would do Just as they do were you in
their pieces. Nor can you censure them
II they como another night and find "a
nook In the Electrical building itself,
there 20 sit for two or three hours watch
Il A.. - ~.