Middletown transcript., 1893-07-22
BOILED And
SlHLED
THAT IS WHAT THE VISITORS TO
THE FAIR DID.
BUT WENT JUST THE SAME
To See what jackson Park Had to
ofrer In the shape of Amusement.
Grand display of Fruits in the Cali
fornia Building Looking for the
s.Home,' Paper.

fornia Building Looking for the
ssHome'' Paper.
w. ID. BoYeE's CoRREsPoNpENcE BUREAU, I
COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. July 20, 1898
Sunday opening has practically proved q
failure. as indicated by the action of the
Local Directory, which has voted by "a to 4
to close the gates hereafter on the first day
of the week.
When the mercury pokes its nose above
95 in the shade and, like a grasshopper
leaps out of sight in the sunlight, the White
City is good place to keep away from.
Probably no hotter place can be found this
side of Orient than Jackson park has been
during the past few days. The great army
of concessionaires, employees and others
who form the business part of the great ex-
position found it almost impossible to
remain at their various posts for the usua
length of time during the recent '.hot SPELL :,
Nor did the hundred thousand visitors in
daily attendance seem to find much to abb
sorb their attentian as they listlessly drag
ged themselves through the endless chan
nels of the dazzling six hundred acres ioi
natural, architectural and mechanical won-
ders.
No, the people just boiled and sizzled
and flung themselves PROSTATE across the
few shaded patches of green sward or pave
ment that were temporarily shielded from
the suns fierce and dangerous rays by tree,
shrub or building. The plaisance was q
yeritable furnace, and few visitors were
coaxed to enter the hundred shows whose
loud-mouthed shouters resemble boiled
Holsters as they mounted their soap boxes
and for the thousandth time pro claimed the
vast amount of amusement and instruction
to be encountered behind the gaudy walls
encircling the cosmopolitan villagers here
assembled from every corner of the world.
The beer saloons, however. were we'll
patronized, and it was very noticeable that
thirsty patrons ordered this beverage in
glasses of increased size and price, the
walters invariably being instructed to ''stay
close by" for further orders. Men were
seen in their shirt sleeves, the perspiration
flowing down their faces and from their
hands, who never relaxed their desperate
grip on one glass of the red and white bey-
erage until another was paid for and
gathered in" The musicians, singers and
other entertainers lost their dignity and
gold braid and lofty pllmes were cast aside
for linen busters and palm leaf fans.
Hawk nosed Turks wallowed on the turf
and jabbered at the passing throng, and
even the sons of Sahara's sandy plain mop
ped their olive brows and gave vent to
awful imprecations in their native tongue.
The captive balloon people have already
replaced the great silken gas-bag recently
destroyed by cyclonic visitation, but the
manager claims it is impossible to do any
business while Midway Plaisance remains
without awning or other covering and this
gentleman also bewails the fact-as do
nearly all the remaining showmen and
restauranteurs of this popular and wonder
full avenue-that the Worlds Fair directors
have not lived up to their promise in this
respect as we'll as in dozen others. The
plaisance is one mile long without tree or
shrub At all hours of the day the sun
beats down upon it with all its generating
intensity and it is dangerous to brave the
awful heat when the thermometer registers
above 80. An awning can be erected for
$40, 900, and the concessionaires threaten to
put it up and deduct the cost from the 25
per cent. now surrendered to the fair direc-
tors from the gross receipts.
The state buildings become very popular
during warm days, and really are the most
attractive part of the fair. In these build
ings are elegantly furnished parlors and
every thing calculated to supply the wants
of man, woman or child. Newspaper cor
respondents, visitors who desire to write to
friends, old acquaintances who feel like
drawing together ON pleasant verandas to
discuss old times, gentlemen who enjoy a
quiet smoke or ladies who havera taste for
fine piano music, people looking for copy
of their 'home" paper, former or presentstate
residents interested in the thousands Of
names inscribed upon the big registers to
be found in each state building, all flock to
these handsome and hospitable structures
and linger around their inviting portals for
hours at time.
The Illinois. New York and California
buildings are the largest and most costly.
Indeed, they would answer very well for
main exhibition buildings at some less
pretentious worlds exposition. In the
Illinois building are several very interest
ing exhibits. The three large cases of old
battle flags are among these, EACH flag
being plainly inscribed with the name of
the regiment or battalion over which it
once fiuttered for freedom and union. The
picture of an Illinois farm, thirty feet long
and fifteen wide, made and framed entirely
from grains and grasses, is one of the
wonders of the entire fair. It always
evokes expressions of amazement and de-
light from the passing sight-seers. The
spacious galleries, immense rockery and
fountain. great display of native woods and
grains in jars are other features sure to
interest the visitor. There is separate
department. in this building for soldiers and
sailors of the rebellion, with plenty of ap-
pointments especially for their entertain
rnent.
The New York building can be especially
on its magnificent finishings
in fine woods and gold, as well as its an
tique panels. cabinets and furniture. There
are several pianos, as is the case. in nearly
all the state buildings, with one Of most
gorgeous design, frequently performed upon
by players who command the attention of
hundreds of delighted listeners.
The Pennsylvania building contains
beautiful porcelain work, fine paintings,
remarkable stained glass window-the de-
sign Of woman, rich decorations of da.
mask and plush, and is invariable crowded