The herald., 1894-07-02
AT THE MIDWINTER.
A LOS ANGELENO'S IMPRESSIONS
ABOUT THE FAIR.
The Various Glasses OF People Who
Visit the Show-Importunitios Of
the Exhibitors to Possible
Purchasers.

San Francisco, June 2S.--Still another
letter about the midwinter lair. Each
traveller views the collection of attrao-
tions in different aspect, and no two
can express their thoughts alike. l ar
rived in San Franc iscoTueedRy morn
ing, June Goth. by the steamer Mexico
from Port Los Angeles. A French man.
of-war, the Dcguay Trouin, fred salute
as we entered the harb0r. Most Of the
passengers thought it was in our honor,
but wo learned of the assassination OF
President Carnot as soon as we had
landed. 1t eeemed long voyage to be
two days behind the times.
On the whole think the fair an
average success, at least 1t will repay
one for the time and trouble to see it..
The daily attendance for the last week
has been over 10000. 1t is fully as in
teresting to watch some of the sight
ssers as to, view the exhibits. After /
became weary with tramping around /
took seat at the entrance of the liberal
arts building and watched the crowds
como and 60. saw one group of three
country cousins" come out laden with
books, pamphlets and every kind OF
free advertising they could get hold of.
One book, the report OF the horticul-
tural commissioners, would be more
than they would read in lifetime.
Then there came the woman and the
kids and bundles. The poor baby got
out the heavy doors az best it could, and
fell down the steps, but the bundles
must be safely piloted through at ell
hazards.
Occasionally young lady stops at the
nickel-in- the-slot machine. She tries to
assume careless, Indifferent air, but is
none the less disappointed if che does
not win the pot.
The exhibits of France, Germany and
Russia are especially fine, but every
thing, even to the buildings themselves,
have ''For Sale" sign glaring you in
the face, until you begin to think the
attendants would sell their souls at half
price. At some of the Japanese and
Turkish booths you are hardly safe to
stop and look at the exhibits, or even
pass at grabbing distance. The keepers
will not desiet in their begging until
they are sure they can sell you no more.
But this disagreeable evil has been
written about 80 much that the visitor
should be ironclad to all their avarcious
schemes. The visitors will purchase just
| 40 AuuCus huu ptoUHDiy AoIos IL ludJ
feel that they can examine articles at
their leisure.
The Mexican band has been furnish
ing music for the past three months.
Their evening concerts in the Vienna
prater hall are really fine, and draw big
crowds. 1t 10 rather hard lines, though,
on the prohibitionist people to be com
| PEELED to go into q beer hall. amid all
its usual carousing, to see some OF the
best of the fair. But as far as that is
concerned the whole show reminds one
of beer Fundamentally every other
building 10 French cafe or German re-
sort. The most prominent signs. ex-
cept, of course, "For 6ale," are Beer,
&C."
The illumination of Bonnet tower, and
the playing Of the electric fountain in
the evening ia, perhaps, the most pleas
ing and beautiful sight of all, and ena-
bles one to leave the grounds with 3
feeling that he has had his moneys
worth. Besides the changing of the col
ors and directions OF the streams in the
fountain, the search lights on top OF two
OF the buildings are turned ON the high
er jets of the fountains and their colors
changed in harmony with the others.
To the primitive visitor to San Fran
cisco, the fair is by no means the only
attraction. The city itself presents a
varied hue OF sllurements and interest
ing places to inspect. l visited the Ba-
ker Iron works even before ''took in"
the fair. The immease rolling mills
and furnaces we're nearly all idle. Not
only that, but l noticed that the harbor
WAS full OF idle chips. Upon inquiry
found that there were over 40 vessels.
from all over the world, tied up in the
harbor. quite a number having been
taken clear over to Sausalito bay and
canvas slowed away, as there was no
prospect Of future cargoes for some time
to come. The docks are lined with idle
men; and new that the great railroad
strike has been inaugursted, another
host will be added to the already dan
gerously large list.
Everyone says something is wrong"
So it is. But the most interesting thing
to be discovered now is, something that
| is right" r. GARNER CURRAN.