The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1893-06-10

Chicago and the Exposition.

Chicago and the Exposition.
After an absence of little more
than five weeks in Chicago, twenty-five
days OF which were spent at the Worlds
Fair, We arrived home last Friday
evening June I'd, with the satisfaction
OF knowing that although we had not
enjoyed much rest, we certainly had
experienced a prodigous amount of
recreation, and witnessed the gYandest
and most wonderful achievement of
man that has ever been attempted
the Worlds Fair.
While this great show is vet incom
plete, and may not be entirely finished
until the close of this month, our
experience justities us in asserting that
no man can do justice to this wonder
full exhibition in less than six weeks,
and could much more profitably employ
two months time in examining the
Exposition proper, not including the
innumerable sights of the Midway
Plaisance, and still find that some
interesting portion of the great show
had been overlooked. We do not pro-
pose to undertake to give even Il
synopsis of the sights we have seen in
Chicago during our five weeks sojourn,
a simple enumeration even would con-
sumo weeks of time and labor. No
idea can be formed of the grandeur
and magnifcence of the Fair by
description however vividly or elab-
orately written. Even the famous
editor Marat Halstead realized that
with all his brilliant genius and large
experience his descriptions would fall
far short of conveying an adequate
idea of this wonderful achievement of
American ingenuity and money,-and
audacity. and he frankly admits that
it must be seen to be appreciated, and
must be examined to be understood
On the Gath of May Mr.. Halstead
wrote:
/ shall not pose as an expert in
Worlds fairs, but say to justify some
what peremptory style that | was a
close student of the Centennial at Phil
adelphia, deeply interested observer
of the exposition at Paris in 1878, and
one whose admiration became astonish-
ment in the few days it was my privil-
ege to spend in the great Paris exposi
tion of 1889, which was immensely su-
perior to any ything of the sort that had
happened The Pari1 exposition is
best known to the world by the Eiffel
tower, which was its most conspicuous
advertisement and popular distinction,
The outlines, one may say the draw
ings, of the Chicago Fair are to that of
the Paris Fair Of 1889 in magnitude, as
an elephant to an OK, and in external
beauty, leaving out the Eiffel tower,
which was very beautiful, Chicago has
trinmphautly excelled all precedents.
| have heard two competent witness
es, one representative of France,
who says "Chicago has accomplished
that which might have been anticipated
of Paris" This from Partisan is as
far as language goes. The distin guish-
ed English artist and correspondent,
Fredrick Villiers, who has seen nearly
all the big things in the world, puts his
impression in one hearty sentence
i" This is the biggest thing ever saw: "
These things are not f1attery; not ef-
forts to be complacent to America, not
attempts to beat the Chicagonese in
celebrating Chicago, but plain, simple.
common place statements of things
seen.
Speak of the Fair as of a painting, and
it isn't finished. Every one ought tc
know that no great exposition ever
was complete for more than month
after it was opened, and there have
been special delays in the case of the
Fair, growing out of differences OF
opinion as to the relations of labor and
capital. There is doubt on the subject
but we may hope that labor has gained
what capital has lost, which is con
siderable. That would not, however
be according to the usual experience.
Now, this word should go out tt
the country: There Is far more now il
the Fair than the most trained and en-
ergetic observer could see in six weeks
and all who can do so should come a
once as the finishing touches are pu
on and enjoy it all before the enormous
crowds of the last months of the Expo
sition are to be encountered.
do not hesitate to say, roughly as
can, that it is the duty of the American
citizen to see this Exposition. 1t is al
Fobjeet lesson that has large and liber
al education in it, concerning the peo
} pies of the whole world and their af
fairs, their arts, customs and achieve
ments. There is surprising and splen
!; did Americanism in it with 40 atmos
J, phere of cosmopolitanism The grea
, journals have given the public detail
! so crowded with particulars, SO con
spicuous in minute information, tina
J millions are bewidered rather than en-
lightened. Simply put down that thi
} is the biggest thing that there is, an
come and see it as soon as you can.
would be grievous miscalculation o
, the part of those who can come now q
i: we'll as at any time to wait even fort
night. Come and take the cream as
{ rises.
Leaving out particulars, the gres
show is the White City. The sho
i itself-even Barnum's greatest show o
. earth isn't in it with this. This is th
: greatest show that is or ever was o
earth.
j The first thing that strikes til
| thoughtful observer is the profoun
J and consecutive evidence of thoughtful
ness in this mammoth business-tl
broad demonstration Of thoronghnes
with which it was thought out from til
| beginning. The location, immediatel
) ON the shore, and the introduction I
, the waters of the lake in the canals an
| basins within the Fair grounds is