The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1894-05-25
mlD-wINrER FAIR LETTER.
CALIFORNIA MIDwINTER fNrERNA- \
: TIoNAL EXPOSITION ~ DEPARTMENT !
OF PuBrJcrTY AND PROMOTION.

AAt otaNSA Ahi picooAOh ncVtiih w lfNNu
gone ab cad that the California Mid
winter Exposition has reduced its charge
for ADJ iission and It's attractions as we'll,
TINS Impression is erroneous in both par
NticulAss. The charge for admission to
the grounds is still'50 cents, except on
Sunday, when 1t has been decided to
make it a popular price show. An ex-
pertinent Ia also being made with 25-
cent rate on FIVE evenings in the weel;
after . p. m. The reason for this change
| Is that no one in the state of California,
and particularly in the city Of San Fran.
cisco, shall lack an opportunity to visit
The exposition before its close. The fair
management recognizing that the fnan-
cial success of the enterprise has always
exceeded their most sanguine expectar
tions, is now willing to make concessions
to the public which had heretofore been
deemed unnecessary. The exposition
has not only paid expenses to date, but
1t has wiped out debt of nearly $780,
900 which hung over it at the start, and,
whatever the attendance may be during
the few remaining weeks, there is sure
to be a satisfactory fund on hand fcr the
winding up of its affairs.
/, The attractions at the exposition have
been constantly on the increase, and
none Of those who were with the enter
prise at the beginning have withdrawn
from the arena. Among the most re-
Gently added attractions is the company
Of South Sea islanders, who came hero
only about fortnight ago and are still
all the rage. These dusky, half-clad
warriors from the Southern Seas parade
around the grounds several times during
the day and a wondering crowd each
time follows them to the big Franz Jo-
seph hall in the Vienna Prater, where
they sing their weird songs and dance
their unique dances. The Mexican band
has also made great hit. 1t has q tam
BOURNE player who acts as q soloist and
who 10 q musical entertainment in him
self. Their characteristic music seems
to have found wide appreciation in this
cosmopolitan community, and the seats
In front of the music stand during the
concert hours are full of people of all
nationalities, but with perhaps strain
Of the Spanish element in the majority.
Jean Weitzman, the Wizard Of tho
Air, has been walking on high wire
from the electric tower to the top Of the
Liberal Arts building for a number Of
days now, and so far has failed to break
his neck or any other portion Of his an
atomy. The risk that he runs in this
direction, however, is proving a great
drawing card at the exposition, and
Weitzman may justly be said to be one
Of the lions of the fair.
Sunshine is always one Of the standard
California attractions. Fruit has had
its day at the exposition in the wonder
full citrus displays about which 50 much
has already been said, and within the
last few weeks the flowers have been
speaking for themselves in no uncertain
tones. There have been no days in the
history Of the exposition more beautiful
or more attractive in every sense Of the
word than these where California's rare
profusion Of flowers have been exempli-
fed. Everyone remembers the beauti-
full Niles Almond Blossom day, the
Berkeley Rose day, the Wild Flower
show, and all the rest Of the floral festas
or the exposition calendar, but during
the past week there has been arose show
in the Agriculture Building that sar-
passed anything Of the kind ever under
taken even under the favorable climatic
advantages Of California. This display
of roses was accompanied also by dis
play Of other flowers, though roses
largely predominated. There were 800
different varieties Of roses on view. The
arrangement of these beautiful flowers
was as artistic. and effective as anyone
could wish. It was all done under the
auspices of the State Floral Society Of
California, working in company with
the department Of horticulture, and ex-
perts say that the world has never seen
such an exhibition. There were large
displays Of rhododendrons, Of callas,
azelias, ixias, orchids, glorias, poppies
and hundreds Of other varieties Of flow
ers that are far too beautiful to be salts
factorily described. Sweet peas were
piled upon tables and upon racks against
the wall until the air was actually la
den with their perfume There were
great tables Of carnations that looked
like great lakes Of beautiful colors, and
there were beds Of pansies where the
faces Of thousands of people seemed to
be peeping up at you, These flowers
came from every part Of the state by tho
trainload, and each locality WED with
the other to have the finest display.
But now the management Of the expo
sition has decided to outdo even this
rose show, and to do 1t out-of-doors. /
Saturday, May 10, has been set apart for
. grand floral festival in tho central
court Of the exposition. Thirty floats
have already been entered for competi-
tion by different counties and different
individuals throughout tho state, and
there will probably be half hundred
private carriages covered with roses and