The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-09-25

| m6mD6r Wna6 On6 S6ess
| Especial Corresp ondence of thePress.l
Hotel Mecca, Chicago, Sept. 20.-The
members of the Maine Press Association
had an exceedingly pleasant journey. Mr..
! Dunbar and Mr.. Robbins were untiring
in their efforts to make everything pleas
ant for us I'VE were to have taken break
fast at Buffalo Sunday morning. but the
tram was four or five hours late, and so
we breakfasted at Syracuse, N. VI dined
at Buffalo, and reached Niagara about
| four We all mourned our lateness, but
I, for one, was exceedinly glad that we
were behind time, as we had chance to
see Niagara in three different lights-by
sunlight, twilight and moonlight. 1t is
too glorious tostry to describe. l would
have been glad to stay day, but
five hours was a grand treat. The next
morning we had an opportunity to see
something of Michigan, as the train was
six hours late. Farming country, towns
and cities moved by us in procession
and I was prejudiced enough to think
that none of it was so pretty as the
|
| At Niles, where we took breakfast, the
! Michigan Central railroad had quantity
| of buttonhole bouquets for US, and so
| with the combination of good break
brisk five minutes promenade on the
platform and the fragrant flowers we
felt refreshed and rested.
Chicago was reached at one in the
afternoon We decided as it was late,
not to attempt to visit the fair that after
noon. So a portion Of the party. started
up town to see something of the business
section. The Masonic Temple was the
first building to attract our attention,
and I neary dislocated my neck looking
up; and turned my eyes SO far back into
my head trying to count the stories that
I was bit worried lest the fate OF the
mine viz: they might be sick up there.
One of the first shows" was the descent
of man from the top of that same
Masonic Temple to the ground by means
of patent fire escape. We were just IN
time to take it in and, SO thoroughly had
we become permeated with the rush ana
daring, and spirit of adventure OF this
immense city, even in the short space of
two hours stay, that as he came down,
mere speck at first, coming down on the
slender rope, sometimes rapidly, then
slowly, we watched him without sensa.
| ton of fear or wonder. After he had
reached the bottom I felt that that
wasn't much to do, and that would like
to have him go back to the roof on the
rome and try it over again. | will not 60
into detailed account of our days ex-
plorations. All that have to say is that
buildings 81 stories high have no
stories would either. MY eyes are be-
coming adjusted to this big scale Of
things.
/ But you want perhaps to hear about
our first day at the fair. Shall confess
the truth that, when / first opened my
eyes and ears on the ground, the only
mum and Bailey circus thrice multiplied.
1t took the whole Of yesterday to shake
off that first impression simply because
one hears the various sellers of guide
books, lemonade, fruit, ETC., calling out
their waves in very circus-llke tones;
Our objective point was the Maine
building as Col. Mattocks had requested us
to meet him there.
From that point, escorted by Mr.. Mat
tocks and Mr.. Callahan, we took the
intra-mural railway, circling around
the grounds until we reached the
the train, and entered the Forestry build
ing. Through the courtesy of Mr.. Mat
tocks, we passed a very enjoyable fore
noon as an entire party, visiting me
Authropological and Agricultural build
ings-the convent.of La. Rabida and the
cave Of the cliff jewellers. Then we sep
arated and followed our own special in
clinations. In the middle of the after
noon, tired out, I sat down near the CEN
tral aisle in the Manufacturers building
and watched the throngs of people. 1t
was very interesting to see the different
expressions. So many men passed me
. who looked as if life had lost all attrac-
ton for them-so jaded and tired. and
bored were they. One of our party told
us that night that he met a young man,
stranger, and asked him a few questions
about what he had seen. With most
bewildered expression, but with much
decision of voice he said: I've seer
such id lot that don't know what
, have SEEN" The member of our party
said that that struck responsive chord
in his breast.
One of the most praise-worthy deeds
that have witnessed was that of one
hundred and fifty pound man, who was
in the Manufacturers building with such
patient devoted look on his tired face
, that he won my respect at once.
There is an air of good comradeshiI
here which is very refreshing. Every
one talks to everyone else and enjoys it.
} And while there are rare and beautiful
products of mems skill and industry, and
inventive genius everywhere, from the
beautiful buildings with their wonderful
architecture and their harmonious sur
roundings of water and landscape to the
costly and elegant. wares contained in
| them all, yet, l think that above them
all in interest in way, stand the men
and women who are striving to see these
wonders and who belong to the same
great family as those who have wrought
the wonderful objects. 20
, am writing in the midst of a great
hubbub. The Hoke family whoever
} they may be, are using the parlor for a
reunion, and are dancing and singing IN
| fine STYLE ID.