The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-02-21
TnE vAsTNEss OLE IT.
"Advance" Considers Some OF the
Great Things of the Recent Fair.

GrcaT Things OF the recent Enirs
Esteemed II. L. G. Friends-I wish to
enter the parlor and have a chat with
you. I have so nuch to converse
about that I am at a loss TO know what
to say first.
L would like to say something about
the worlds fair and the beauties con-
nected with it, but ah, mel I feel my
inability to do the subject justice and
then some of the members have already
given a description OF it that surpasses
anything I could relate. So much has
been said OF that great event it seems
almost an idle waste of words to try TO
say more, but in reality too much cannot
be said. TITS true the fair is now thing
of the past and its unparalleled greatness
has astonished the whole world.
One is apt TO think he can form an ac-
ourate idea of the grounds and the won
drous buildings from illustrated descrip-
tons, but that is a mistake, for no one
can conceive the magnitude of the work
even after glancing over the buildings
themselves as they stood during the fair.
for the mind is not competent to grasp
1t without many days of study.
Take for instance the building that was
constructed for manufactures and liberal
arts, which was the largest building ever
erected under one roof in the whole
world. 1t was three times larger than
the cathedral Of St Peters at Rome and
four times as large as the old Roman
coliseum, which seated $4,000 persons.
The central hail. which was single
room without a supporting pillar under
its roof, had in its floor fraction less
than eleven acres. and the entire building
could comfortably seat 100000 people
4I,.,
floor and it required something near five
carloads Of nails to fasten the els car
loads of flooring to the joistS. The eX-
terror outlines covered an area of thirty
two acres and including galleries the
whole interior floor space aggregated
forty-four acres. This vast structure
was covered with an arched roof of steel
and glass, affording ample light and VEN
tilatiOn. 1t measured j .6S7 by 7S7 feet,
hight OF wall Go feet. hight of the four
center paviliOns 122 feet, hight Of four
corner pavilions 81 feet, hight Of roof
over central hall 2129 feet. span of truss
3S2 feet, span in the clear 354 feet, width
Of truss at base il feet, at hip 20 feet.
a apex 10 feet, weight Of truss 300,0 600
pounds, with puTlines 100000 pounds.
Cost. 81. 700 600 Amount material used
IL. 900 feet Of lumber. J., 900 pounds
steel in truss Of central hail, 1900, 900
pounds of iron in roof Of nave. There
NtlE tlFNtll diItS u SkNilRll III TIE
roof and it took forty carloads of glass
to cover it. The building was rectangu-
lar in form and the interior was divided
into a great central hall $50 feet wide
by 1850 feet long. which is surrounded
by nave 107 feet wide. The exterior
of the building was covered with staff,
which represented marble There was
four entrances in the center Of each
facade. These. We're designed in the
manner Of triumphal arches. the central
archway of each being forty feet wide
and eighty feet high. Surrounding
these portals is the great attic story. or
namented with sculptOred eagles eigh-
teen feet high, and on each side above
the side arches were great panels with
inscriptions. The spandrils were filled
with sculptured figures in bas-Telief This
building occupied the most conspicuous
place in the fair grounds, facing the
lake, with only lawns and promenadcs
between. 1t was provided with 10000
electric lights, with ornamental lamp
posts bearing shielded arc lights.
Now this is 2. short synopsis of the
building referred TO above.
/ wish that J could describe its Won
deroua contents during the fair but.
alas. my wish is in vain. for no human
mind can comprehend them. There were
ten other Of these large buildings in the
main grounds all filed to overlooking
with the finest display the world ever
witnessed. Inere was hundreds Of other
buildings. separated by miniature lakes.
bridges and islands. dotted here and
there with fountains: Oblisk statues and
everything the mind Of man and woman
could conceive of to make the white.
City beautiful. Will now bid this sub
iect adieu, for May Mascot" has just
returned from a sleigh-ride with his best
girl, and in order to be recognized he
commenced to Snore. and that interrupts
me. l move the Nurse" takes him in
hand. "Sappho," don't YOU second the
motion? I know that Marguerite and
Dora" are ready for the question.
What has become of our Farmer
Girl" wonder if she has got showed
under I'm hunting the COWS? There are
many other members 1 would inquire
after, but I presumed would do no good.
alta Baker" I invite you to become
a member of the II. J.. c. again. VIII
you accept the invitation? Ray Z. l."
write again. your letter was interesting
I once had the pleasure of residing in the
land of flowers myself. Dora Dickens"
do you want to play another game?
Regards to all, / remain.
NOE