The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1893-09-20
Architectural That Is
Grand and Imposing.
The Great White City as Seen by a
New Yorker.
lFr,m the Scientific A nerican.l

The court or first general view OF the
Worlds Exposition is acknowledged TO
be from the lake. 1t is really the front
view Of the aggregation Of buildings, and
is very impressive. Starting from the
foot Of Van Buren, street in the large
whaleback steamer, Christopher Column
bus, delightful sail out on the lake and
parallel with the shore for about eight or
nine-miles supplies continual panorama
Of interest.
One observes the swift and frequent So
called "cattle trains traversing the ILL
nois Central tracks close to the lake shore;
then the large substantial hotels sur.
rounding the north end of the grounds
are seen, and beyond, close to the domes
and turrets of the foreign buildings, is a
big, tall, unsightly blotch of building
inclosed in black scaffolding, called the
Spectacular" located close to the wat
er's edge. But when this is passed the
long facade OF the Palace of Liberal Arts
facing the lake, the pier, the Peristyle,
and through it the gilded dome of the
Administration Palace, the Agricultural
Palace, and glimpses of the Court of Hon
or are observed, with an ensemble and
symmetry of architecture that is grand
and imposing.
At the pier the first novelty to be seen
latter passing the admission gates) is the
endless sidewalk railroad operated by
electricity, which extends over the en-
tire length OF the pier. For five cents a
person may ride upon it all day if desir-
ed. In approaching the buildings from
the pier, the splendid group of statuary
surmounting the Peristyle appears in
strong relief against blue sky, while the
other single statutes on either side and
underneath form an appropriate setting
or surrounding Once the Peristyle is
reached. the massiveness of its three rows
of columns becomes apparent and the SOL
i'd pavement underneath brings one to a
realizing sense of Venice. A paved
arched bridge is provided in the center
Of the Peristyle over narrow waterway
which connects the basin of the Court of
Honor with the lake Steam launches
pass through this and under the bridge
in going from the Court of Honor 10 the
lake. The Peristyle fronts directly on
the lake, making pleasant place to sit
on hot afternoon, as the cool breezes
from the lake draw through between the
columns.
After crossing the floor of the Peristyle
inward, the first unobstructed view OF
the various buildings in their majestic
proportions is had. Close TO the specta-
tor at the lake end Of the Court of Honor
isolated on a pedestal rising out OF the
water, is the mammoth gilded statute OF
the Republic, facing westward toward
the Administration building, which
causes the statue TO be seen first from the
back. The statue is 60 feet high and cost
$4,000. The two arms are raised upward
parallel with each other, one hand hold
ing flag and the other a staff with lib
erty cap on it. 1t is very imposing and
can be seen from nearly every point of
view. To the right of the Peristyle as
one enters from the lake is the Palace OF
Music, decorated with statues of heroic
size to correspond with those OH the Per-
istyle. This palace is l30x250 feet in size
and its interior construction is so perfect
that il is said TO possess the finest acous-
TIC properties for orchestral purposes OF
any hall in the United States; $500 per-
sons can be seated in it. 1t is here that
Theodore Thomas held his daily concerts
which were SO little appreciated by the
general public. At the other end OF the
Peristyle, opposite and symmetrical with
the Palace OF Music, is the Casino, in
which restaurant is located equal in
every respect TO those OF New York. On
the south side Of the Casino, secured TO
the wharf, is the famous Santa Maria,
complete copy Of the Columbus ship, and
is usually crowded with visitors.
There isanother direct connection here
with the lake. The huge Palace Of Ag-
riculture stands west of the Casino, and
the waterway between the two is bridged
over. Right near the Santa Maria, secur-
ed to the dock adjoining the Agricultural
Palace, are the other caravels OF Colum-
bus, the Nina and Pinta, admittance to
which Is refused. On the other side Of
the water, opposite these vessels, stand
ing apparently on an island, is the repro
duction Of the La Rabida monastery, con-
tanning many interesting relics Of Colum-