The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-09
MIDWAY PLAISANCE.
Just What the "slde-show" Annex
Of the Worlds Fair Looks Like,
TWO MILES OF THEM ARRANGED
In Systematic Order to Catch che Dol
IaEs-They Are Not Cheap showsa aud
Are Extremely Inrercsting-What
Can be Seen in u Trip from One End
ofthe P~laisance to the Other,

time been fully described Tor the Q
fit OF eastern readers, This is the "Bow-
cry" OF the expOsition-the peoples
boulevard. 1t has been given the
rather more exalted name Of midway
PlaisRpce," but it beara precisely the
same relation to the gorgeous palaces OF
art and industry which constitute the
fair proper that West Brighton bears to
Manhattan Beach on Coney Island.
The following description OF 1t is bor-
rowed from the Chicago Tribune;
Soon after the great exposition be-
gan to take shape and to grow beyond
the original estimates 1t was found me-
cessary TO establish a sort of side show
for the accommod alton of certain classes
OF exhibits which would conflict with
the artistic construction OF the work in
jackson Park, The desired space waH
found on the Midway Plaisance, u strip
OF land one block wide and connecting
Jackson Park with Washington Park,
one mile distant.
"In many respects the Midway Plat
aance resembles the old circus side
show. One OF these Ia that al extra
charge 10 made to get inside the build
ings. Another Is that the show given
is q money making scheme, while still
another Ia that the exhibit is Of the Gu
rious and unusual order, and 10 consid-
cred worth the price or it would not BIO
allowed on the grounds when space is
premium. To many the sights there
seen produce as great II not greater i'm
preston than the works Of artists in
the greater show, The price OF admis'
sion to the many concessions is twenty
five cents. except in a few instances
where double that amount 10 asked.
The p~laisanoe itself is part Of the fair,
and there is no extra charge for passing
through it.
"There are about forty different con-
cessions or shows on the plaisance. A
trip through from the Fair proper to
the grand arch at Cottage Grove avenue,
going on the north side and returning
on the south, q continuous walk OF two
and q half miles, will give one an idea
OF the great show in itself that this side
show 10.
"Here until November people from
all the corners aud euds OF the earth
will meet, exhibiting the characteristic
manufactures and products OF their
distant homes, and their social, relig-
ious, domestic and business customs in
friendly rivalry. AS the more advanced
nations are represented in the main
exposition buildings, It has remained
for exhibitors in the plaisance to show
in miniature the life OF many parts OF
the world about which little is practi-
cally known in America and the most
civilized parts Of Europe. This plais-
ance will be wei q mile OF wonders to
the simply curious, an inexhaustible
field for the study OF sociology and the
most fascinating resort for thousands OF
visitors every day during the great fair.
On either side the plaisance q passage
way twenty feet wide ia reserved for
the use OF emergency wagons, fire and
police patrol, etc.
Leaving the fair grounds the first
concession on the right Ia that OF the
Diamond Match Company. In this
building will he shown the methods Of
manufacturing matches in all Its stages.
''The next concession iS that OF the
International Dress and Costume Com
pany. One Of the booths ia divided into
rooms. In these rooms the inter
national beauties from the different
countries Of the globe will represent
home life and costumes as seen by the
traveller in foreign lands. The costumes
are said to have been designed by a
prominent Paris milllner.
1.-THE Workingman's Home in Phila-
delphia comes next II represents the
red brick house used so much by the
laboring man Of the Quaker City. 1t
covers q lot 10 by 40 feet Tho cost in
Philadelphia Is $500, but the one here
cost $4,000, and no charge for ground.
The parlor is 1871 by 8 feet and the din
ing room ia 10 by - feet, The two
story and basement house Is fitted up
by Philadelphia manufacturers.
"The Libby glass company is q free
show. Any n can walk inside and
see how the different kinds OF American
glass are made. Everything will be
manufactured, from common every day
glass goods to glass %draperies, laCes,
dresses, neckties and ornaments.
'The Irish village, west Of the glass
exhibit IL intended principally for the
uhlG VI lllbll luC0d III AlAASAAot AAS9O
will be made by l%rishwomen aud OK.
hibited in the building, SO the visitor
may see all for himself or herself just
how the famous Irish goods are made.
The intention is to represent o perfect
model OF the ancient castle OF Donegal,
famous in song and story, reittiDg some
Of tho rooms in appropriate style TO
contain the exhibit.
Next comes tho Japanese bazaar,
where the manufactures OF that far off
empire will be shown before American
eyes. Here is where the peculiar fire
department OF tho Japs is located,
1.-THE largo space next tho Japanese is
occupied by the J~avanese. This con-
'cession and the one across the road to
the south is called tho Dutch Settle
ment. This Is rather q misnomer, since
tho people and their exhibits come
from the Fiji, Philippine and Solomon
Islands, somoR, Java, Borneo, New
Zealand and the %Polynesian Archipe-
lago. Among other features OF this OK.
hibit will be q building sixty feet long,
in which the people from the Philip.
pine Islands will DO employed in max.
Ing cigars and peculiar kinds OF cloth.
a theater with dancing girls will DO
n OF the shows. The Jayaneso inclos.
ure and buildings are made OF bamboo,
While their natno sounds like that OF
tho Japanese, they arc q very different
people. All tho houses were built In
Java, and had boon loft standing until
tho ship for Chicago was ready to sail.
This village was gotten up bya Syndi.
cato Of Dutch merchants. Tho great
event In It's history will DO tho visit OF
the Sultan Of Johoro, who will come TO