Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1896-01-23
THRo' NORTHERN EYES.
How the Atlanta Exposition
Appeared to North Da-
kOta People.
Almost a Typical Northern City
Some Touches of the
South Left.

The RecoIlect1ons of the War
Still Alive With
Interest,"
The man who takes kodak to At
lanta expecting to catch typical south
ern scenes, or who visits the Exposition
with an idea of comparing it to the
Worlds Far, is doomed to dissppoint-
ment. There are several things one
must remember in estimating Atlanta
and its exposition: For, while making
allowances is not conducive to snthusi-
asm, it 10 certainly much the fsirest
thing to do.
These are the things he must remem-
ber: In Judging the fair, that it is not q
Worlds FAIR, not even an United States
exposition, but an exposition Of the 'cot
ton States" In doing Atlanta, in relic
hunting and reminiscent frame Of mind,
that this city was destroyed from the
face of the earth 80 years ago so that
even the negro quarters, where the Wis.,
itor expects to find the most satisfactory
signs of decay and slavery daye, are
comparatively new. But especially
must one remember, If be goes in De-
cember, to take his overcoat. Even the
midway is fake without that.
Now, the truth is that the whole expo
sition was very creditable affair,
though it is much easier to insist upon
thus contemplating it from distance OF
time and space than when one is tenth
man IN line making for small alcohol
lamp, the only provision against cold IN
building over an acre in area.
In view of this scant preparation for
heating, we were almost convinced that
such weather as We experienced was
really unusual, almost but not quite, for
in throwing all his energy and thought
into so stupendous an undertaking as
this exposition, the southerner is very
likely to have forgotten that December's
conditions differ from June's. Practice
makes perfect, and the southerner is
not used to great public enterprises.
Like the ''new woman" he shows ability
but he lacks training. I dwell on thls
because it is quality that we noticed
all through the south. Its people must
concentrate all their energy upoo what
has become second nature to the north
ern people. The result 10 that they
overlook the corners. These dirty cor
ners, our keen northern eyes spied out,
but, like indulgent elders, We applauded
the grand whole which they go proudly
showed US, saying among ourselves that
the corners would come in time.
The whole plan Of the exposition
grounds was beautiful, especially at
night; that We must admit. (All sdml-
ration comes IN the form Of an admission
! SO soon after Chicage's fair) The lagoon
with it's surrounding court lies in val
ley from which the land rises in the
form of terraces. Upon these terraces
are the exhibition buildings on three
sides, Midway heights on the other.
This arrangement gave unusual advant-
ages for splendid effects OF lights and
othsr decoration.
As to the exhibitions themselves, what
We wanted most to see, OF course, were
exhibits characteristic Of that section of
the country. Accordingly We inquired
first of all, for the negro building. At
| first glance the contents of this building
! were most uninspiring. The eye is met
by row upon row Of carriages, unclassi-
fed pieces of furniture, and heterogen-
eous mass of man afsctured articles, with
nothing remarkably beautiful Dor espec'
tally wonderful about them, until you
| read the inscriptions they bear.
Then you learn that a certain
carriage, we'll put up little
vehicle too, was made by some young
colored lad, or a set of furniture by sew
eral former slaves and you leave the
building with one troublesome question
what to do with the worthless negro
population-conside quieted.
! Another building very popular with
all visitors was the little building for the
exhibition of confederate relics. In this
building we found in concentrated form
all the longed for historical associations
lacking in the city itself. Here we saw
pair of blood stained gloves worn
throughout the battle OF Chickamaugs
then q suit of gray made by the wife OF
some officer hero; and everywhere Stone
wall JacksoD's sword, until We began to
think that gallant officer as extravegant
IN swords as Mark Twain though,
Columbus was IN skulls, after he had
been called upon to wonder at five
different authentic specimens in as many
different museums.
The rest of the exposition We disposed
OF in a somewhat casual manner anxious
to give some time to the city. Atlanta,
as it stands now, is modern city. Get
that idea, that 1t is city, a new city and
a new city in the south and there is little
more to be said. 1t is not essential,
even. to remember that it is in the south
its southern characteristics are not
striking. They exist however, as you are
likely to learn. When you arrive. for
instance, the chances are many that your
trunk has not done likewise. One some
times has this experience in the north.
But upon inquiry you learn that it had
never occurred to the management that