The record-union., 1893-06-28
RAMBLING NOTES.
" Old Crank" at the Worlds Fair and
Elsewhere.
sacramento's Philosopher Travelling
About the Country With
His Eyes Open.

Especial Correspondence RECoRD-UNIoN.
MoRRIsvILLE (Vt.), June 18.- Early in
May l said to Tryphena and Seviah:
Girls, put on your poke bonnets and
we will go over to Chicago and see the big
circus"
Iryphena jumped up and exclaimed:
That is just where | have been wanting
to 60 for the last two years." and before 1
was enveloped in an overcoat they were
rugged out in their horticultural head
gear; and we left the reliable, genial at
mosphere of Sacramento and plunged
into the uncertain intermediate climate,
which lies between the Occident and the
Orient.
Twenty-four hours took us to where it
rained, and twenty-four hours more to
where 1t showed. May 9Th we stayed all
day in Denver, and it showed all day;
but such to me unusual weather did not
induce me to waste an opportunity to
note few salient points of a growing city.
l had for cicerone a sprightly young
lady, who assured me over and over that
the mud was not deep, and proved it by
tripping across street after street. OF
course l waded after her, and would if
the mud had been feet instead of inches
IN depth. Her face seemed to be a pass
port through public and private build
ings and up and down elevator shafts,
and If l was doorkeeper to Paradise all
similar sweet bright faces would need no
other passport to entrance there. My
guide took me to the top of the Court
house for bird s-eye view of the city
and its surroundings, and pointed out
buildings of note and various manu-
factories apparently more or less ex-
tensive. Then she took me through sew
eraI large stores some specialist and 9TH
ers antl-speclallst, and through a hotel of
magnitude, one of its modern peculiari-
ties being the location of kitchen and
dlnlng-room as near to the clouds as pos
lble instead of the old style situation ad-
jacent 10 earth. Then she took me
through the free library which is at
tached to the high school, and which
would be a credit TO a much larger citV
and she informed me that there was n
much larger public library located in the
Equitable building, which is mag
nlhcent modern structure Just completed
with stairs and walls and ceilings and
floors made of or lined with polished
marble and onyx of various beautiful
colors, and tiles and other non-com-
bustible materials. In this building are
located many ublic offices, and we went
through law library sufficiently ex-
tensive, l should judge, to furnish all the
legal lore required in State ten times
the size of Colorado.
We left Denver at night, via Lincoln
and Omaha, Tor Chicago: with the i'm
preston that if Denver only had a climate
like that OF Sacramento it might in time
become city OF note among noted Cities
and fully convinced that the best guide
IN any large city is a beautiful young
lady, who possesses Intelligence enough
to know what the city she lives in con-
tains.
May Sth we arrived at Chicago, and
found everything in and around the
Worlds Fair grounds very Incomplete
Buildings partially constructed, ana some
barely commenced; large proportion OF
the exhibits still in boxes, or not arrived;
the sound of hammers and busy work.
1ngmen everywhere. What human power
can accomplish was being essayed, but
old Crank will risk his reputation as a
judge of the possible by asserting that
three months from that date will not
show the Columbia Exposition in proper
condition for general display.
Outside the grounds was similar hustle
and activity, hotels and other buildings
being constructed, and around some OF
the entrances to the grounds the streets
and sidewalks were in worse condition
than ever saw elsewhere. l saw a wagon
left stuck in the mud near the middle of
the street, with storage marked on it,
about d block from SiXty-third street
S0LiduCC, anu uOln sues OF Llat street
We're being torn up and cement sidewalks
were being put down, utterly regardless
of passers.
found Tryphena bridging a passage
for herself and Seviah with old barrel
heads and slaves and similar trash,
which l must admit could be found read
lily in profusion; and 1 noticed that the
same bridge remainel when we were
leaving. Teams were hauling in crushed
rock, and engines were rolling it down
both inside and outside of the grounds.
Notwithstanding this lack of prepara-
ton ami confusion there is much to be
seen now which is very interesting. One
could travel many days within the spa
cious buildings and grounds and find
something new and worthy of attention
every day.
Our criticism of exhibits in sight, was:
Austria exceis in decorated glassware;
Italy in sculptured marble; Switzerland
in wood carvings; Holland in earthen-
ware; Japan's exhibit is unique and
beautiful. When l saw England's dis
play of models of steamships, of COM
merce and war, l said surely she is what
she claimed 10 be, Mistress of the Seas"
but when l saw Uncle Sans models.
though less in numbers, l was not
ashamed of my own country. Canada
makes a fine display IN many depart