The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-06-01
fAVORS SUNDAY OPENING.
Il M. Hitchcock Writes an Inter-
esting Letter. on the Worlds.
Fair City.
In Which He Makes Queries on-Sun-
day Opening Hard to
Answer.

answer.
In response to your request for let
ters about the Worlds Fair, Chicago,
etc, will report that I have made
bat two short visits to the Fair, and
even if I had spent my whole time
there your readers doubtless, through
ilustration and description so profuse-
lygiven in nearly all papers and mag
azines, would not learn anything new
from me. will venture however, to
speak of some things that I have no.
tlced since have been here, that may
be of interest.
All Of the wonders of the world are
not in jackson Park, and not the least
are many of the great enterprises of
the city. One of the marvels that may
well awake wonder, is that in this city
where every person from the bootblack
to the millionaire seems absorbed in
the rush and push and competition
business, there has been any one who
has had the time and care to develop
the magnificent park system of the
city.
There are large numbers of them, in
size from bleck square to those that
are mile across, and nearly all are
connected with each other with fine
boulevards. Lincoln Park, on the north
side along Lake Michigan, is the most
important one. Besides the beauty
and diversity Of its landscape, which
extends away from the sights and
sounds of the surrounding streets, ,and
where one could easily forget that he
is near the centre of one of the great
cities of the world, there are other in
teresting attractions. The Grant and
Lincoln monuments and others are
here. The Geological display is the
chief center Of attraction. Large
buildings are devoted to the culture
of plants and flowers.
Especially on Sundays, the people
throng from the city to the parks,
many spending most of the day in the
shade or in the sunshine as the wealth
er happens to be, and viewing the ex-
hibits, being refreshed in mind and
body. On Sunday afternoon, as I was
out in the vicinity of jackson Park, I
improved the opportunity to get some
view of that part of the city.
Stony Island Avenue is the street
that runs along the west side of the
park, and here is presented a series of
striking contrasts. The west side, for
miles, is lined with structures of al
most every variety from the low shed
that shelters peanut stand to the
magnificent hotel with all modern i'm
provements. nearly all new and in all
stages of completion. The workmen
are busy on the unfinished structures.
Every little way is dime museum or
some exhibition of freak or contor-
zionist. Although it is Sunday every
doorway and every counter is open
for business. Jostling crowds tramp
to and fro Seemingly in restless search
for some unusual sight. On the other
side of the street the park is hid from
view by a high, tight board fence, e,with
a barbed wire nailed to the top, ex-
cepting at the gateway where the peo-
pie press eagerly for q glimpse of the
green swards, the lagoons and bridg-
es, the clean and quiet streets and the
beautiful buildings Of the White City.
It is like a change from view of bed
lam to a glimpse of fairy land. On
one side is motley mass of structures,
on the other is the most magnificent
grouping Of stately and beautiful
architecture that the world has seen.
On one side is the expenditure Of cap
ital and enterprise entirely for private
gain; on the other is the expenditure
of millions of money and the COM
bined efforts Of many people from all
parts of the globe for the purpose Of
education of the people and the ad-
vance of civilization. On one side is
exhibited the deformities and revolt
ing monstrosities of nature and the in
Igenuity of man turned to useless and
worse than useless purposes. On the
other is shown the perfect develop
ment in nature, the beautiful and IN
spring in art, the ingenuity of man
made to serve the needs and to devel.
|op the higher faculties of the race