The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1893-05-11
DAZZLING SPLeNpoR

with More than n Miilion brilliant
Electric Lights. Forming the GraBdss,
| illumination Ever Behcid by Mortal
Eyes
| W6Riit's Fam GRorNps, CHICAGO,
May o.-1hc cfimax IN c1cctricitys up
ward march through the nineteenth
'"ntttry was reached last night when
The Nofid's fair buildings and grounds
were illuminated ~ honor pf the
FIRST open evening" OF t,e exposi.
ton. The whiteness of the lrild'
ings gave added lGs'er 10 thc rays from
the million or more lights in 'hc grand
plaza, while the golden statues 81 The
Republic" and DIANA" upon which
the light from the west end of Admin
istration plaza poured in binding
showers, sent back happy response,
which blended harmoniously witt ihe
whole. The different buildings were
Illuminated to certain extent but
The administration building, being on
The west, and the peristylc on the east,
inclosing the grand court OF honor,
held the multitude spcllb bound and
easily carried off the honors for the
night.
The crowds began tu dtrive early. all
the rail and steamer routes brlrging
',unlcnSe numbers. BY the time dark
utcS bad settled oter the White City,
fully 10000 ijehrre were on the scene,
the crowd being aug .''Artcd later by
probably 5000. Administrator fn7ild-
inq was the first Ia be electrified and
its beautiful exterior from base to tip
'f dome vas 0llcd with rows Of incan-
descent, lights. AZ the base Of its dome
three r'aziiig torches, on bronze stands
were ranged Cqtidistant arotnd lis cir
cumfcrcncc, adding nluch 30 its splcn.
did appearance. The pcristy'e soon
added its row " lights and this wa,
the signal for the triple row of are
iaiiii'" nlung either side of the lagoon
to lend thei abl and in an instant
they were sending bright rays
across the waterway conflicting
the band encircling the grand
pnSr. The main lagoon lay under
il'r sheen OF the thousands of lights
lil'r Il great mirror. The arc and peri
style lights frt'r'cd its gitdcd frame.
and around the Sides II bout foot from
th" waters edge row OF electric bulbs
lent the added beauty of golden betcl
to the splendid plate. us surface was
dotted here and there with electric
launches "nd bright gondolaS Gaily
he kcd gondoi,Gs- stood on the stem
and stern of their craft. ard AS their
oars Slipped silently in and out Gi tl,e
'vatcr. and their bodies swaycd to and
f,.. IL.
thrit oar,nGu Termed a novel sight ont
in the sparkling basin. disappearing a
moment iatcr as they passed under the
shadow of bridge.
Powerful search lights OH t"p Of the
Manufactures and Agricultural bGild.
inrs and Music hall brought out new
beauties on the scene for the benefit Of
the spectators. The three search
lights were then. by prcconcerted
signals. concentrated upon the mag
niGc2nt MacNOnnies fountain situ
at"d hi front of the Administration
building Tie marble figures were
rendered immaculate in All instant and
81 = s"uirn, full and UtoScrfu,
across -. silvery lagoon.
When. shortly after 10 o'clock, the
currrnts were turned OF sigh went
no frnn thousa ds of hearts. ana dark
n,... put All crd to scene of Splendor
such as was probab blv aever before pre-
scntrl to human eyes. Thousands ol
visitors swarmcd into Administration
buflding soon as they reached the IL
Eliminated portion Of the park to view
III" beautiful dome studded with hun
drr;s of ihcaridcsrcnt lights whleh
rlr4,ucl like diamonds. The few seats
which lined tlIe walls of the rotundn
v,r2 eagerly taken p,i~sSSslon o. wIiiIe
many of tho women cani" on r"liet
chlir, Cr occupied camp-StooIs. n"
body carcl to rcuidiu in tn" heart OF
the Illuminated grounds 1of any ienEtt
Of time for fear of losing some feature
If the opening night.
The magnificcn, terraces and prom
anaIcS which lead to the ground basin
in front of Administration building
we're the favoritc places for the crowds
chiefly because of the general cNpcc
lntinn that the electrical fountains
would he in operation, and this was
the only real disappointment of tho
evening, hut in the splendors was hardly
ru,Sscd.
When Michael Brind's orchcstri
from Cincinnati began to pour fortl
melody upon the scene OF splendo
there was a rush of people to the Sout'
side of Music hall, where the mu
sicians were stationed under Il cluste
of are lights. The south side of Ma
chincry hall was an attractive piac
for those people who knew where th
steam and electric power was generate
to provide the illumination.