The morning call., 1894-07-09
SO FAR AS ATTRACTIONS Go.
The Music and Illuminations Are
No More.
COLUMBUS NOW A HEAPOF RUINS
Crowds of People Took Advantage OF
Fine Weather Yesterday-The
Exposition Band.

Inc end OF the M1dwinter Exposition
came yesterday, and the big plaster
statue of Columbus in the central court
knew it. AT an early hour In the morning
he glanced sadly round at the faded build
ings. which had lost so much of their
pristine gilt and paint. and then with a
weary air he toppled sideways and tell a
heap of shattered ruins at the foot of his
pedestal.
A great many comments were made by
visitors over the fragments that remained
of the once majestic cast. All day long,
in fact, the curious could be found de-
scendIng into the court to view the broken
plaster, and the general opinion appeared
to be that Columbus had been too proud
to remain in his heroic form and be carted
away with the rest of the rubbish after
everything had been demolished. few
people, however, thought that some wag
with a taste for dramatic effect was re-
spOnsible for tie singularly timely ruin OF
the plaster image.
Columbus, however, only anticipated
the END of day. The scene yesterday
resembled the last day Of carnival, when
everybody knows that few short hours
will end the fete. Gambling was carried
Oh as never before. The Turks scattered
smaller possessions in return for dimes
staked on wheels of fortune, money rat
tied into the fake gambling machines so
freely dispersed about the grounds, and
grab-bags did rushing business.
1t was the finest day that has shone
upon the fair for months. The air was still
enough to allow people to sit out of doors
set, and crowds of people had availed
themselves of the prOpitiOus weather TO
take a last look at the exposition. The
Midway was packed with visitors. Most
of the shows were open. even those that
have been hermetcally sealed to the pub
lie for some days. Prices OF admission
had been lowered, and in many Instances,
20 quote the words of the persuasive
spieler, ''the smallest coin you could pos
sibly have in your pocket is all you have
10 pay to get in." Many people availed
themselves of these generous terms, and
even the more expensive sldeshows were
freely patTOnlZed.
actively as on Friday and Saturday.
Selling out" Your last chance" cried
the dealers 10 every passeT-by, and people
seemed to find al irresistible attraction in
the lowered prices. and bought accord
tugly.
The leader Of the Mexican band, Cap
tain PayeD, determined yesterday 10 thank
lJy
badge that they had presented 10 him on
Saturday. He, therefore, drew up his
musicians III semi-circle outside the Ad-
miDistration building during the after
noon, and conducted three numbers by
way of a 'serenade." The bandmaster
was then presented by Colonel L. p.
Robinson, director of entertainments,
with "A document IN which the exposition
management expressed its appreciation of
The music made by the Mexican band.
The polite bandmaster received the Off
cial Endorsement with as much gratitude
as if it had been issued by committee OF
musicians.
The Cassasa band. which was ready to
begin its afternoon concert, then played
the Mexican national hymn, while Cap
tain Payen's Den stood bareheaded. At
the conclusion of the hymn they re-
sponded with Hale Columbia" The two
bandmasters then shook hands and parted,
to the strains of "Auld Lang Syne.'
1t is strange that during the whole of
the exposition. the Cassasa band has pur-
sued the even tenor of It's way. and has
only once reaped the warm applause due
to its artistic merits. That was when the
placard, "SOusa's Band" happened to
have been overlooked when that popular
conductor and his men had left the band
stand, all hour or so before. Cassasa and
his men received frantic applause on that
rectifed. Then the crowd, mindful of the
truism, "a prophet is not without honor,
save in his own country" suddenly won-
dered what they had been applauding so
hotly about.
The fact is that the Exposition band has
done excellent work, in spite of the fact
that it was hampered by lack of numbers.
1t has not tried TO produce tricky, sensa-
tional effects, but has Interpreted its music
honestly. If it had come with a foreign
or Eastern reputation IT would probably
have been received with acclamations.
The Cassasa bald played for the last
time at the exposition last night. The
electric tower and the fountain were il
Illuminated for the last time. The Cali
forDia Midwinter Fair is now thing of
the past.
Beginning to-day and until further notice
the exposition gates will be open at 8 A. NJ
and closed at P. NJ The price of admis-
sion will be % cents. children of II years
of age. accompanied by parents or guard
ians, will be admitted free. Until the rail
way war is over it will be impossible to
remove any of the exhibits that go out of
town, and there may be much to see for
soma time tn come.