The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1894-02-15
MlDwrNTER FAIR.

Nearly zoo, 900 people have passed the
turnstiles of the California Midwinter
Exposition during the first two weeks
of its existence This fact establishes
the sure success of the Exposition from
the standpoint of attendance, and the
verdict of the thousands who make up
thisg total has been unanimous in
favor of the success of the Exposition
from every point of view.
Since the opening day, Jan. 81, no
special effort has been made to draw the
crowds. It has been the aim of the Ex-
position management to let the many
features of the Exposition speak for
themselves, and ordinations of sur
prise and satisfaction have been heard
on every hand. The exhibits are now
practically all in position. There are no
holes In the floor, so to speak, and it is
noticeable by those who visited the
great Columbian Exposition that even
the exhibits which were seen there ap-
pear to have taken on new form here in
San Francisco, and the exhibitors have
undoubtedly profted by the experience
gained On the shore of Lake Michigan.
The largest spaces in the center of the
great floor of the Manufactures and
Liberal Arts building are occupied by
France, Germany, Russia and Italy.
Each of these countries is represented
by display of artistic and useful man.
ufactures which has never before been
seen outside of the great Columbian Ex-
position, and in most instances the dis
plays brought from there have been
augmented by new supplies brought
across the Atlantic and across the conti-
nent especially for this display.
But in the midst of all this that is
not new TO everybody, there is so much
in the Midwinter Exposition that is uni
versally unique and novel that there is
nothing of the "old story" about it.
The American section is particularly
prolific in novelty, and it occupies the
largest space assigned to any one coun-
try, SO that the international character
of the Exposition by no means shuts out
the glorifcation of home industries in
this beautiful industrial fair.
The Palace of Fine Arts has already
proved to be revelation. Such a dis
play of pictures has never before been
seen in this part of the world. This de-
partment did not depend on Chicago for
its pictures, though it gotta great many
of the best that were shown there. On
the walls of this building are hung later
pictures by well-known American,
French and German artists, and promi-
nent among them are something like
hundred of the works of the best artists
of the Pacific Coast. Connoisseurs say
that the Midwinter Art Palace is the
best arranged picture gallery that the
world has ever seen, and it certainly is
well adapted for the purpose to which it
is put.
In the eyes of Eastern visitors the cit
rus display naturally attracts the most
attention. 1t seems to be good for East
ern eyes to encounter pear as bigtts
baby's head and peaches almost as large,
to say nothing of SO many oranges in
heaps and piles and buildings that there
is great gleam of yellow before them
all the while. The rivalry between the
Northern and the Southern Citrus Fairs,
both of which are held in the Exposi-
tion grounds, has been happily produc-
tive of the best displays in this line that
have ever been made, even in Califor-
MIA. The Northern Citrus Fair awarded
its premiums during the past week.
The Southern Citrus Fair does not open
until Feb. 20. The buildings devoted to
this class of displays are proving quite
as popular as some of the main Exposi-
tion buildings, and California citrus
fruits are getting the best advertise
ment they have ever had.
One feature of the Exposition which
has emphasized itself since the opening
day is the excellence of the electric illu-
limitations he'system of arc lighting
is as complete as anyone could wish, and
the incandescent system is well calcu-
lated to arouse the enthusiasm of the
most latent soul. In these beautiful
midwinter evenings, whether the moon
shines or not, the entire Exposition
grounds are as light as day. Long lines
of incandescent lights stretch the entire
length of each of the main buildings and
outline all their architectural points.
The dome of the Administration build
ing is outlined against the deep
blue sky, the straight lines of the
Mechanic Arts building are clear
cut against the background of
the night, the classic outlines of the
Fine Arts palace enhance the effect that
structure always has, and the peculiarly
effective architecture of the great palace
of Manufacturers and Liberal Arts
seems never to be seen at better advant-
age than when its thousands of incan-
descent electric lights are lighted.
The Horticulture and Agriculture
building, however, is the one that seems
to attract most attention in this partic-
ular This is perhaps due to the fact
that its lines contain more curves and
more architectural eccentricities than
any other, but it is undoubtedly due in
larger degree to the great food of light
which pours through the big glass
dome that surmounts the building. Wis
itors seem at loss to decide whether
the prettier picture is presented by day,
when the deep green of California's mid