The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-02
PEN PICTURE OF THE DAY.

Scenes In the White Columbian City from
Early Morning Until Nightfail.
CHICAGO. May 1.-Hslf in oloudland was
the white Columbian oity by the LAKE
when, diffused and sourceless, the slow
daylight crept up on the earth this morn
ing. The eastern horizon had no more of
color than had the western horizon. East
ward, where the dawn was breaking. drift
ing scarfs of mist brooded close down mon
the waters of Lake Michigan. so that cloud
and waters mingled into grey field that
baifled vision and perspective. Northward,
southwsrd-everyw whore, o palpable leaden
veil trailed from sloft to the lowest reaches
of the horizon. To one who early stood in
the midst of the great plaza where the
crowds should later be, the surroundings.
stupendous in plan, ponderous in their ex.
tent and soft white in the morning light,
gave more than ever the impression that
this was q ghostly city that had been
raised up in the night; or that it may have
been q deserted city, whence Titans or some
strange race had moved away to other
shores.
The bases and columns of the surround
ing buildings were softly distinct but
their domes ninarets. towers and flag
staffs were yet in the clOudland. You have
seen the rock-ribbed bases of mountains
whose topmost trees tore locks of wool
frow the low-down clouds; SO in some meas
ure was tue spectacle in early dawn in
the aisles and avenues of the great White
City which should at the noontide hour be
formally turned over to the uses of man.
kind. Even Columbia. riding her ship
the plaza, though relatively not
high in air. was in cloudland,
as veritable goddesses are, and should
be. The figures Of her handmsidens,
ping with the mists of the morning, which
chiefly constituted their ralment Under
the prov of Columbia's bark, and stretch
ing out toward the lake. the waters OF the
grand basin were steelly blue IN their half
hight CIrcliDg them about was their set
ting of green turf between the great build
ings of agriculture and manufactures.
Human pigments OF green and blue are
never used as foil, one against the other.
for no shades of these col0rs that man has
ever made harmonic or blend. Bat here
was natures own artistry defyinR the
tastes of man. but reaching combination
and results beautiful in the early hours
when the city was scarcely astir, and when
none, save guards and watchmen, were
about to see.
Across the vista, lakeward arose in deli
cate grill work the pillars of the colonnade
under which the waters of the lake creep
into the lagoons and basins. Like o dim
picture of the imaginative school. these
outlines. while positive. were so softly
lined against the gray background of
waters and clouds as TO suggest rather than
affirm their own existence. Within her
gives of wooden scaffoldipg the goddess of
the republic at the lakeward end of the
grand basin rose MP ponderous IN her
golden might. Yelled she was by the cur
tain which was so arranged that IL should
fall away at the moment the Nations Pres
ident should give the electric sigma to open
TO the world this great enterprise.
DARK AND sENTINEL-LIKE.
Towering above all. the Administration
Building. whose gold dome was half wrap
ped in vapors, stood dark and sentinel-like
in the midst of this great white camp of
buildings. At its front and sloping ND
ward to the second story stretched from
side to side the grand stand. where the
dignities of the earth should later sit in
their representative dignity. hundreds of
chaira waiting for their occupants seemed
yawning in wet discomfort after uight