New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-18
PART II.
PAGES II TO IL.
WOMEN AT THE FAIR
GOOD EXPECTED FROM THEIR AcrvrTY:
DECORATIONS OF THE woMAN's BUILpING-ENo-
LAND BEFORE ALL NvALS-ARRAN0-
ING THE EXHIBITS.


LAND BEFORE ALL RIvALs-ARRANo-
ING TIE EXHIBITS
ryloN STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF rHs fRsuxkI
Chicago, April 15.-The conspicuous part
which women are to take In the -
preaching Worlds Fair must prove no
ductive of much good to the sex in general =
was happy conception that woman's relation -
the advancement Of all that is beautiful and use
full and good in the world should have an op
portunty TO manifest itself through the medium
ship Of a separate department The building 'de-
voted to their uses is one Of magnificent pro-
portions. Its dimensions are 100 by 3ss feet.
The floor area is 3.3 acres, and the estimated
cost is $13s, 900. 1t is two stories high. and
has an elevation of so feet. The rotuuda,
which Is covered by roof Of glass; is 20 by 50
feet. The Womans Building is at the foot OF
the Midway Plaisancc. and overlooks one Of the
Iaeoons which contribute so much to the beauty
of the Exposition grounds
The construction work Of this building y
nearly complete. A beautiful bed Of sod sur.
rounds it, reaching the esplanadc, which Is already
in permanent condition. The exhibits have nearly
all been received, though there il some back
wardness in the erection OF the pavilions While
il is hoped that reasonably good showing will
be made by opening day it is conceded that it
exhibits and complete the pavilions and the diff.
ferent rooms to be used by the several States
and countries taking part in the development Of
this feature To the credit Of old England IL
| must he said that she Is leading Of In the way
| OF preparation In fact, she stands Alone 80
| far as the arrangement Of her exhibits In tho
pavilion is concerned. Great Britain applied Tor
| and received liberal allowance OF space, and
with hearty good will began promptly TO pre-
| pare that which she had 10 Offer in the way OF
| evidences Of handiwork of women. The cases IN
the pavilion are erected and already some maTnh.
| cent specimens of embroidery and painting. both
| on wood and china, and needlcwork OF various
| kinds. exposed 10 view. Few OF inc Sta'S
| pavilions in the wonens department, have peen
begun. while far-of Cey lon has a fore, OF natives
| hard at work erecting booth which will ne one
of the most attractive in the entire building Tho
columns are Of ebony. and as the dark. native
workmen are twisting and curving Themselves
| around and about the scafroding, 1t is with
| difficulty that, in the shadows Of the ROOM they
| can he distinguished from the black material
| which they are engaged in fashionng into at
tractive and unique forms.
The decorations OF this building are almost
| completed. The Gallery Of Honor, which Is really
| the gallery around the rotunda, will present
| pretty picture when competed. There are col
nmns finished in gold the color Of the gallery
| proper being ivory and gold. mural painting,
semi-circuar in form, will he placed in either
end Of the gallery. These pictures are almost In
condition to be put in their places. An In
teresting feature of this gallery is sort OF scroll
done in gold. which, in the design. seems TO run
along the top, being obscured ny columns and
shadows at intervals, while on the spaces exposed
| to view are inscribed in each instance the names
Of famous women. At one end Of the gallery APP
pears the name Of the president Of the board Of
| lady Managers Mrs. Potter Palmer. and at tho
| other end the name of the architect Miss Sophia
| b. Hayden, Of Boston.
| That the women propose to have something
to say during the progress Of the Fair is evident
by the existence OF a large assembly-room at one
| end of the building. Here is a platform. and
there will be a seating capacity for about $500.
The purpose is to give lectures in this arena, to
read essays, to hold discussions involving the
consideration Of topics Of interest to the sex and
| relating TO the welfare of women in general. The
hbrary-room is also Of large dimensions, and it
| will lie supplied with a choice collection Of books
| Many of these volumes il is understood, will, at
the close of the Fair, he deposited in the Memorial
Building and will be retained for women's uses
| in the future
Much interest centres about the different par
lors TO be used by the visitors from the different
States. Some of these rooms will he handsomely
decorated and furnished. Tine Cincinnati par
lor. as it is called, is in the centre of the east
| side of the building and will be used during the
Exposition by Mrs. Palmer as a recrptiOn-room.
| Miss Aqnes Pitman, Of Cincinnati, is now en-
| gagged in the work Of decorating. She Is the
! furnished by articles of historic value from the
| residence of her father. Mr. Pitmans activity
in the development Of wood carving is well
| known.
The Gothic dininC-room is also expected to bs
an attractive apartment. 1t is two stories high,
with cross-beams deliberately carved, and con-
auisitely fashioned. This loft is at the end OF
/ the room. Miss Pitman has the work of decora-
ton of this room also in charge, The design Is
simple consisting OF apple branches. from which
blossoms in the perfection Of their delicate beauty,
while birds on the wing are seen fitting here and
| there against the background OF SKY ana
softly tinted clouds
In almost every detail-in fact il may he said
in every particuar-the designs of the Woman's
Building are the results OF the inspiration Of
women, though the labor of construction and
elaboration has naturally been accomplished
| by the hands OF men. Yet, one in passing
fist with her palette and brush in hand and
| clothed in her working garments; Ii j. needless
say that the @ sSr in what .
play which will be not only highly meritorious,
hut win he surprising to those who shall enter
the building to inspect ~ od, tine articles with which
Mrs. John Sherwood, through her lecture
delivered last Thursday afternoon in New
York, has touched the heart of Chicago
| in a way that it has not been touched
since the great fire Of 1871. II is astonishing
| 10 note the different versions that ere put upon
| her words Of craise Mrs Sherwood was perhaps
ittl: unfortunate in the time of the delivery OF
| her address. She has said many kindly things
| Of Chicago just rs Mr.; McAllister had said some
| that many are disposed 10 think that Mrs. Sher-
| wood does not mean all she says. and IL guyng
the community by the use of superlatives. The
local press have published, in some instances; her
been liberal and decidedly varying in their char
acter 1t touches the pride Of some Of the citi-
| zens Of Chicago when they themselves 40
highly praised, after having been long con-
| scious Of their individual merits and Of their
equality with the best that American society can
furnish.
ONE FRY TO SPRINKLE THE STREETS. :
j A Lar. has .heep enacted which pcrmts tba