The record-union., 1893-08-04
DOWN TIE MIDWAY.
'Di Vernon" Sees the Sights Of
the PlaiSance.
A stranger in n Strange Land-Dancing
Girls and Gypsy Gymnasts-oriental
Delsartism With Vengeance.

DelsartiSm With Vengeance.
Especial Correspondence REcoRD-UNIoN.l
CHICAGO. July D. Every one is fasci-
mated with the Midway Plaisance. Of
course it is not quite such anovelty to
Califoruians as it is to Eastern people, be-
cause we are familiar with the denizens
Of all shores and climes. China and
Japan can make no exhibit that will be
now to a Sacramentan. South Sea
islanders and Dahomeyans are not so
stunting after all. But do not fail to go
down the Midway. To many it is the
most interesting part OF the Worlds
Fair. II certainly Is if one wishes to be
amused
''What is that Midway Plaisance any
ygay?r asked some one Of me in the far
East. "I can't seem to understand. l
thought everything in the Worlds Fair
was free alter the price Of admission had
been paid"
"The Midway my dear" was my re-
ply, is a great broad street that runs
from Jackson Park to Washington Park.
AT the time that Chicago captured the
Worlds Fair what is now the Midway
was nothing but a swamp. 1t has been
drained, solidifed, and is a grand but
alas shadeless boulevard with quaint
structures on either side"
1t costs nothing to go into the Midway.
Indeed, there are several Worlds Fair
gates at different places on the Midway,
through which streams of people are
constantly pouring in to visit the fair.
The sides Of the Midway Plaisance are
picturesque with the characteristic build
lngs, villages and structures Of foreign
ennaasginn4igpG those " Dn @ Y hi hitting
sights ana sounds in return for solid
coin. That is where the pay, the side
show idea comes in.
No one should visit the fair and not
spend day, or better yet, two days in
this strange conglomeration from foreign
lands. 1t is perfect folly to attempt to
see everything. In the first place it takes
100 much time, in the second it costs too
much money, and in the third some OF
The shows are fakes. pure and simple.
/ cannot attempt to describe the shows
in order. 1t is all one can do if he
carries away definite impressions. One
reason why like the plaisance so much
IS that it gives one the pleasurable sensa-
tion OF having been abroad. 1t is easy to
acquire a travelled air after a day in the
plalsance. The sounds are absolutely
ear-splitting. The noise OF pipes, and
drums, ana tomtOms, and cymDals, and
in fact Of every device known to civilized
anu Ddl fJsti Jus ptOJlG d. dDdDi6 Ol max
ing noise is TO be heard on the
Plaisance, and all at one and the same
time.
1t struck me as not inappropriate CO.
incidence that the State building OF Cali
tornla. the most picturesque and cosmo-
pCiitdn of all the States OF this great COM
monwealth, should have been placed at
one side OF the entrance to that most cos
mopolitan OF all exhibits, the Midway
Plaisance.
Those intending to visit the Plaisance
leave the Illinois Central at the SiXtieth-
street station and plunge down the stairs
ana walk underground tor a while till
they emerge INTO the street that leads di-
recIly to the SiXtieth-street gate.
Turning to the left one is at the entrance
to the Midway Plaisance. The broad
avenue is always througed by visitors,
young and old. Comparatively few
gospel chalrs' are to be seen here, be-
cause at the rate Of seventy-tive cents an
hour it would take a small fortune to see
the sights of the place.
The management of the fair have
yielded 10 the popular clamor for seats
and have placed settees all along the
blaisance. But what is needed in that
place is line OF busses that would trans
port people from one end OF the Plaisance
10 the other for five or ten cents. ! still
see the worn, tired, discourage looking
lot OF women and putting, perspiring, fat
men who would give anything for a seat
in the shade and a ride from point to
point.
For it is very hot in the Plaisance and
Il IS not possible to avoid the sun that
that burns through thin waists and blis-
ters the skin. l saw a young girl walk
ing around i'll a thin waist. At night she
showed me her back, shoulders and
arms. She was branded a ia gridiron.
" here her waist was pleated, she still re-
manned white. but where but one thick
ness OF the FABRIC had covered her she was
burned as red as a boiled lobster, and was
painfully Dhstered. This was not be-
cause she had no Sunshade, but IN sudden
crowds even paraSols must be lowered,
and old Sol did not lose his opportunity
The best time to visit the PIaisance is
TO begin early in the morning, if one can
endure the heat, because then il is posi-
ble to be IN time for the various perform
ances in the different theaterS. Thea
ters?" Why, yes they are the principal
feature of the Plaisance, but OF them later
The first show that attracted the new
conner in the Plaisance is the exhibit of
Irish industries on the left. ON the right,
little further on, is an Irish village,
where similar exhibit is held, but. aside
from the fact that the ancient castle of
Donegal. the home of the O'DonnelIs OF
Iyronnell is reproduced, it is TAR less in
teresting than the Irish industries, which
is under the patronage of the Duke and
Duchess of Aberdeen.
The thatcbed roofs, the low ceilings, the
big tirepiaces. the turf fires the blocks OF
peat, the tacsimllies of druidical stones,
holy crosses, sacred wells, are all there.
The lace-makers, embrOiderers, jewellers,
weavers at their hand looms, carders ana
Spiuners OF wOol~ are all there. Sucu
ugly red men, such pretty Irish girls
with clear skins and big freckleS, and
lovely blue eyes with black brows and
hair. and such elegant melliferous
nrogue! 1t Is a sight not TO be forgotten.
IN both the Irish exhibits, which. 10y the
way, are not on very good terms with
each other thus keeping alive the good
old Douny brook Far traditions. are OBJ
Jegts Tor sale.
Like the lrishman who refused to pick
up pit of silver soon after he had landed,
on the ground that IL was gold be had
come 10 America for, the good people OF
the Irish exhibits have nxed fabulous
rrceS upon all OF their souvenirs. For a
lit OF bpgwood one must pay fifty cents,
or dollar. If they would lower their
prices they would sell more. The hand
made lace and embroidery is surprising
ly beautiful. But those who make these
triumphs OF needlework are either too
Ignorant or too grumpy TO talk, for they
viii not answer the most courteous ques-
ton except by monosyllabic grunts. Per-
haps they are not pleased because they
do not sell more souvenirs. 1t is a peace
ful place 10 stay awhile-in the reproduc-
ton of the cloisters OF Muckross Abbey
IN the Irish industrial exhibit.
The lIbbey Glass Company of Toledo,
Ohio have transported their cut-glasS
works TO the Plaisance. Their building
Will hold 5000 visitors at time. 1t costs
10 cents to go in, and there are innumer-
able articles of glassware ranging from
how Of