The herald., 1894-02-15
A ChicagOan's View of Sunset
City Attractions.
Some Observations Which Are Per-
tinent and of Interest.
A EulOgy of the Great Exposition.
The Features of the Afrair-NOt
Initiative but Inde-
pendent.

10 6thto Wnab know OF bn6 Ieollng IN
reference to it now prevailing in some
Of the eastern states.
First impressions Of the midwinter
fair are not at all likely to fade out, but
will surely become more distinct and
deep as the months roll by and visits to
the Sunset city are repeated. have
spent but two whole days there, and
hence such impressions as have are
my first. They are of increasing sur
prise that 40 much has been done, and
with such splendid results, by private
enterprise and liberality in San Fran
cisco and in the different counties of
this great state; great, but as yet as-
tonishingly deficient in population. In
proportion to what Chicago and Illinois
people (numbers taken into sccount)
did for the worlds fair, that which has
been done in California for the midwin-
ter fair stands out in distinguished re-
lief. To make this fact salient it is
necessary to use again a commonplace,
and remind the reader that the popula-
ton of Chicago is as large as that of all
near 100000 inhabitants. The $l0,-
000, 900 which was voted and subscribed
in that vast city was not o greater sum
in comparison than the 81 900, 600 or 80
which WAS given by citizens of San Fran
cisco. And when it is remembered that
California gave promptly a sum nearly
az large as that appropriated by Illinois
for the worlds fair, and when the fact
remains that the federal government
and every individual state, and the
whole civilized world. contributed, any
comparison that may be inati-
tuted OF the two similar enter
prises, to be fair, must be had after
sufficient allowance has been made to
the midwinter fair for it's local origin
and maintenance. 1t is called inter
state, and international, and it may
truthfully be described as either or
both, with reference to the exhibits !;
but the financial burden OF the mar
velous achievement is upon the shout
ders of q few men OF Hagacity and public
spirit, who are leaders among those who
are attempting to make here state that
shall have no equal in the American
union. This ia what. inevitably, an
easterner observes of the spirit ami
mating true Californians. And the mid
winter fair will do more than all else to
illustrate this spirit, and spread the re-
port of it throughout the country and in
other lands. For after sufficient allow
ance has been made on account OF the
less ambitious purposes and the cores
ponding small cost of this fair, there
still Is enough left of magnfcence and
extent to justify comparison with even
the worlds Columbian exposition. That
this is go, the people of the United
States are, or soon will be, informed,
through the press and by returning early
visitors. Great fairs are not hackneyed ;
there are more people interested in them
today than ever before. Every body has
read descriptions OF the worlds fair, but
few individuals in the total OF popula-
ton ever saw it.
Last summer times were hard and the
vast majority peTforce remained ct
home. Times now are better and men
and women are again travelling for oh
servation or pleasure. The tide OF travel
is towards the Pacific coast. San Fran
cisco 10 rapidly filling up with tourists
and Los Angeles and Pasadena are al
ready full. Every hotel in this city and
all the principal boarding houses are
troubled to make room for their gueste.
apprehended that this year it would not
be SO. Largely it ia the result of Cal
ifornis's splendid representation at the
worlds fair. Her wonderful exhibits
there and the literature distributed from
thence over the country have proved OF
immense advantage. In the same way,
if not to an equal extent, will the mid
winter fair benefit the state as whole,
and every part of the state.
There is not space for many particu-
lars, but let me say that at the Sunset
city there is less of architectural grand
eur than was seen at Chicago, but even
in architecture there is much of which
the builders OF the midwinter fair do
well to be proud. Such structures as
were needed have been handsomely pro-
vided, and few In comparison as these
are, they together form a beautiful and
imposing spectacle, the like or equal OF
which it is safe to declare will not again
be seen in this our time. These build
ingB are not copies, but of independent
design, by local architects, to whom
they are decided credit. This is eaid
with the grand structures which distin-
guished the worlds fair in distinct men,
DRY. Those ON this coast that did not
see the latter cannot afford to forego
seeing the former, new offered to their
view at San Francisco.
The exhibits at the midwinter fair.
while comparatively email in extent and
limited in variety, yet so far as they do
extend, and that is far enough, they
are of the same kinds and OF equal artis-
tic and educational value. They may
be seen to great advantage, for it is not
questionable that what may be seen
we'll in weeks time, ID OF more practi-
cal use than that which may not be
taken thoroughly into view in a whole
six months. 1t does not cost big sum
nor Use up too much time to acquire a
knowledge of the midwinter fair. To be
sure one may be beguiled into staying
indefinitely upon the beautiful grounds
in which the fair is built, but nuch be-
guilement lie only for those of excep-
tional leisure. Tourists and people of
BUSINESS can compass this fair in a
weeks time and at cost per head that
would have seemed in Chicago quite
ridiculous.
My impression then is that the mid
winter fair. even when retrospectiyely
compared with tho worlds fair, is ex-
tremely beautifFl--even grand and inn
posing-and worth a dozen times over
the expense Of visit to it from any part
of the country. That people in great
numbers will be drawn thither bv it's
splendid attractions, is regarded as GER
tain. The press OF the country ia sd-