The herald., 1894-03-29
A CREDIT TO CALIFORNIA.

The San Francisco midwinter fair was
a grand conception and has been carried
out in q manner that has astonisbed all
who have seen it. To those who had
not the opportunity to witness the great
Columbian exposition, the California
fair is as marvellous for its extent and
elAborsteness as it is for the beauty OF
it's entire design and the architectural
chRsteness OF its buildings. Without
national or state aid, or public subsidies
of any kind. the projectors of this fine
exhibition have produced an attraction
that has only bsen surpassed in vastness
by great international expeditions, and
by none in the pleasure conveyed by the
coup-d 'oeil. We now speak OF the ex-
terror view. When we come to critically
examine the manifold displays within
the buildings no sense OF disappointment
is experienced. Indeed, no state in the
union, certainly no country in the old
world, could from it's own resources ex.
hibit so wonderful and interesting dis
play of the products of its own mines as
is to be witnessed in the great building
devoted to the mining and machinery
department. The mineral wealth of
California is there ep itomized by coun-
ties, and symbolized in a way that its
wonderful results are ineradically craven
on the mind.
The industrial arts are msgnifcently
set forth in another noble building
where the finest fabrics of the workshop,
the loom and the hand are represented
by the best products of all countries.
But we are drifting from a generaliza-
tion of the fair to details, and this we
did not intend.
The county buildings are all credita-
BILE, and that of Southern California is
amongst the most extensive and at
tractive in the grounds. 1t is no pride
OF place that makes us say that its dis
play OF products is the finest and most
interesting in the fair. There is fas-
cination in the fruits of the semi-tropics
which is not realized in the display of
cereals or other agricultural exhibits.
however much they may appeal to our
sense OF the indispensable in the pro-
ducts OF the soil. The esthetic beauty
OF our exhibition is demonstrated by
the crowds it attracts to our building,
and to the length of time the visitors
spend in admiring the grand citrus and
nut display. Had we not had special
building of our own at the mid winter
exhibition, we would have made a great
mistake, and the fair itself would have
lost one OF its most attractive charms.
Outside OF San Francisco we have,
during a weeks visit to the fair, from
which we returned Yesterday, heard
nothing but words of commsndation and
praise. Curiously enough the only
words of dispraise we heard Of it was
from San Frsncscans themselves. There
is cold indifference amongst them
about it that is altogether inexplicsble
and chilling. 1t is either damned with
faint praise, or the shrug of the should
ers and the alternative ''ifs' show
plainly that whilst the midwinter fair is
tolerated as something they could not
avoid having, yet it is in no sense q
matter OF pride with them. Strangers,
however, are not warped in their opin-
ions OF the merits of the fair by preju-
dices against the men who created it,
and therefore give it the candid praise it
deserves, 1t is great thing in spite Of
the locality in which it is situated.