Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-04-14
1T SILL lINGERs.
memory Of Midway PIaisance a Feature In
the RecaIIections Of Visitors 10 The Worlds
Fair.

NO matter what may be said to the coz
trary, nature is the thing that people mos.
admire. The artist whose pictures are tru-
est to nature is the one who wins the high
es. honors and makes the most lasting re D.
utation.
This is the secret of the tremendous popu-
larity of the ever-famous Midway Plaisance
of the Worlds Fair. We allude of course
to its genuine features, and not to the frau ls
and kris that infested that popular Sec
ii n.
The writer strayed one day into the tent
of the Hindoo Jugglers, and there be be-
held man tied and put into sack, the
sack also tied, rolled up into small COM
pass and thrown into basket. The bas-
ket was then flattened out on the floor of
the little stage, tramped upon by large
man, and held up to the view of the audi
ence to show that there was no man in it.
The sack was there, but the man had disap-
peared. Meanwhile his voice was heard out
side of the tent calling to his companion on
the stage Then the latter united the sack
shook it, ard out came the man bound with
cords just as he was at the beginning. Now
here was an exhibition of genuine Hindoo
jugglery, performed by two IIindoos of the
purost blood, and while we knew it was a
mere trick of hand, yet it was wonderful
ly interesting, and all the more so because
the Performers were what they clai = ed
to be. There was no pretence or sh III
about the m.
When we strolled into the cannibal vii
lage we could not help thinking we were
surrounded by lot of old-time Southern
plantation darkles until we heard their bar
barous gbberish and saw the sharpened
teeth that were accustomed to sink into
flesh not good for meat. Then we realized
that we had found the genuine article, aud
that we were in the midst of men and
women who would cheerfully dine upon cur
ribs if they had the chance. 1t was start
ling experience, and some of the things we
saw there were also shocking; but it was an
exhibition of nature, a scene transplanted d
from the wilds of Africa, and that was the
secret of the fascination for the educated
men and the beautiful, timil women who
came in crowds to see the Dahomy village.
Then there were the South Sea Island
ers, the people of Java, China and Japan
A
cient Egypt, Old Vienna, Germany, Ireland
and our own aboriginal American Indians,
all dwelling together in peace, but each race
| living after the manner of its own people.
Here was nature, truth, reality from one
end to the other of this great throughfare
of nations, and no wonder it attracted and
fascinated all who came to see the great
Fair. 1t was the world in miniature. With
few steps you could pass from America,
the home of the free and the land of the
brave, to the heart of heather China and
then few more. steps would take you into
the midst of as cruel and barbarous race
of cannibals as Livingstone or Stanley ever
encountered.
1t is gratifying to know that the Midway
and all its genuine characters have been
preserved and are on permanent exhibition
in the bright and beautiful pages of our
great serial, The Magic City Here they
are photographed and described, just as
they were, and You can visit the Midway
aud study its peculiar inhabitants any hour
in the day, almost without expense, for we
are presenting these grand portfolios to our
readers for LEES than the cost of production
and distribution. This fine work, complete
/ in l6 parts, can now be secured at the jour
/ NAL counting room.