Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-03-09
WORLDS FAIR LETTER.
The Grounds at the Park Now and
What They Will Be.
Society People From All Parts Are Com.
ing to the Fair.
From Our Special Correspondent.
CHICAGO, March 1, 1893.

, ing found them covered with mud,
slush, water, snow and general mix.
ture of all with plenty of lime and
plaster of Paris for seasoning. We
, lodged hundred teams, was side.
tracked by several patent white wash
machines, was halloOed at by soldier
looking guards, received several appli-
cations of lime water in the face, and
yet we did not feel annoyed. AS the
buildings near completion their impo.
sing appearance, their attractive fin
ishing and their immense proportions,
cause the beholder to stand notion
less with wonder and amazement.
But if we look on the white City"
as so beautiful, SO inspiring now in its
unfinished condition, surrounded by
mud and dirt, with all the debris of
construction lying about, with timber
and lath showing in thousand places
where granite or marble is supposed to
stand, what will it be three months
hence, when green grass plots and
pavements succeed dirty mud and
snow; when every structure is finished,
when every hole is covered, every bit
of debris removed; when fountains are
playing and gondolas are moving
about on the lakes; when thousands of
flags are flying, and hundreds of thous-
ands of people are vending their way
through the labyrinth of marvels; when
flOtilla of steamboats, is discharging
passengers at the great pier, and a
swarm of railroad trains are delivering
their human freight; when the vast in
teriors of all these palaces, now ten
anted only by workmen, wagons and
teams, piles of lumber, railway cars,
are filed with all the pi oducts of man 8
ingenuity and skill?
During the late spring and early
summer, and more especially in May
and June, Chicago will be the rendez-
vous of the beau monde of all quarters
of the globe. 1t is established that
New York's "40O'' will be present in
force, q state of affairs which is to be
attributed to the mandates of the fash
ionable doctors. The latter are advis-
ing their patients to abstain from their
annual foreign trips, and are pulling
out of their pockets, when consulted,
charts of the course of cholera abroad.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Jacob Astor have
secured large suite Of apartments at
the Auditorium hotel, and such for
eign or American friends as they desire
to entertain during the Fair, will be
their guests.
The Fair will be made beautiful by
electricity during the night, and by
rainbows-or, to speak literally-by
rainbow effects during the day. When
the Fair is opened the rainbows, or
rather, the great sheets of bunting that
are to modify and color the rays of the
sun falling through the skylights of
the buildings, will all be in place. A
small army of employees is at work sew
ing the draperies together and getting
them ready for use. The sewing is
done on machines driven by compress
ed air.
The aquarium in the Illinois build
ing will be pretty thing to look at.
The structure will be forty feet high,
with a waterfall nearly that high bro
ken into cascades. The water will drop
over small falls some six or eight inches
high, over which fishways will be con-
structed. A rustic bridge crosses the
mimic creek. As the visitor stands up
on it he can see the fish jump the ways
against the swift current. The hatch
cries and the models of the tanks for
the transportation of spawn will also
be shown. The aquarium, however,
will be the big thing. All the species
of both native and cultivated fish with
in the confines Of Illinois will be in the
rapidly flowing waters. All that will
be needed to complete the realism of
the scene will be- q barefoot boy with q
hickory pole batting his hook with an
gleworms
Col. Den, of Santa Barbara County,
California, has just completed arrange
ments with the Fair officials to ship to
the exposition two twenty two year old
date palms, male and female, each
forty five feet tall and two and one
half feet in diameter. One of the trees
is loaded with fine fruit, The trees are
to be boxed in earth and will be plant.
ed In the centre of the California State
building. With the earth attached to
their roots they weigh fourteen tons,
and it will cost $1,000 to ship them
here.
Miss Minnie Wetzler, formerly of
this city, now of New York, is desirous
of playing In the concerts to be given
by Theodore Thomas during the Fair.
He did not feel like closing contract
with her, however, until he had first
heard her play. AS Miss Wetzler had
not time to come to Chicago, and Mr..
Thomas had not time to 60 to New
York, it was decided that a test recital
should be given by telephone. A group
of music lovers, including Mr.. and
Mrs. Thomas, assembled in the office
OF the American Telephone Company
to watch the experiment. Mr.. Thomas
went into one of the satin lined :ele-