Evening star., 1897-05-27
ALREADY n SUCCESS
f
Nashville E1podtiod lis Ali That Was
Hoped or. -
FROM An ARTISTIC toHf OF VIEW
The Government Exhibit is a Most
CrediMbIe One.
SOME OF THE FEATURES
ecial Correspoudence Of The Eyen,nr st.r

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star
NASHVILLE, Tenn, May "a, 1897.
No people In the United States are pronder
Of their state than Tennesseeans, and no
citizens of Tennessee are prouder of their
city than the people Of Nashville what
we have. what we are, what We have done.
what we are going to .do'-these are the
subjects Of their constant eulogiuns Just
row all their pride is centered upon and
about the centennial exposition. The feel
ing of individual ownership is intense.
personal responsibility, with all it's arx-
ieties and hopes and fears, rests upon
the shoulders Of every man, woman and
child who calls Nashville home 1t is never
The centennial. but always ''our" CEN
tennial. No mother ever beamed more
radiantly with happiness upon hearing
praise of her first-born than does the cit
izen of Nashville when encomiums upon the
exposition are offered by the stranger
within the gates. And it Is a pleasure 10
be able to state that this intense ardor AMI
devotion have borne abundant fruit. The
exposition will bring fame to Nashville,
not only because of the general excellence
of the affair. hut also. and principally. as
demonstration Of the energy and thor
ough capacity of her business men, who
have worked with such intelligent energy
that no stroke has been wasted. The city
Is proud Of her handsome creation. but she
Is no less proud of the men who have made
1t what 1t Is. 1t Is pleasant to the people
OF Nashville to have, the country a witness
to the justification OF their confidence in
the C,en to whom was intrusted the man
agement of the enterprises confidence
that was practically manifested In their
contributing IN advance to the exposition
fund sum exceeding half O million, and
that, too. at time when the whole coun-
try was in the depths of a most severe
commercial depression.
An Undoubted Success.
And the exposition is success. Not yet,
of course. a financial success, but as a
work of art instruction and amusement 1t
is all that was hoped for The close group
ing of the buildin gs-the grounds comprise
only 42 acres-enables the visitor to enjoy
the exhibits without the fatigue that great
er distances would involve, and makes the
pictures that are presented from various
vantage points fuller and handsomer. Es-
pecially Is this latter advantage noticeable
ings are SO close to- each other as they
present themselves to the eye that the
rows Of incandescent lights upon them
seem to connect and form an unoroken
lights used at Atlanta and with three times
as many in proportion to space covered as
were at the worlds fair at Chicago, tho
lighting Of grounds and buildings is superb
exposition the grounds appear ample Their
flower beds. arbors. cQlonnades and foun-
tains do not seem at an crowded. The rich
soil and excellent climate Of tine great cen
tra1 basin in which Nashville Is situated,
coupled with the magical touch Of the hand
OF the gardener. have caused ihe various
outdoor botanical productions to thrive
most satisfactorily. Tennessee vegeta BILE
be seen In their natural state. And though
this feature Of the exposition is yet In
its infancy, enough advance has been made
to guarantee rich crop during the later
On the Lake.
The surface of Lake Watauga, the prin-
cipal lake on the grounds. is animated by
boats and water fowl. Gondolas with inn
ported gondoliers. ply their accustomed
trade. and a homemade steamboat con-
structed and operated by a dusky local
character is bringing rich harvest to its
enterprising owner. Ducks, geese and
swans sail gracefully about upon the mid
die waters of the lake, or dive among the
rushes at its edge. The lake also boasts a
pelican among its Inhabitants, which,
am informed, was caught in the neighbor-
hood of Nashville
The lake is quite a gathering place for
visitors to the exposition. On its shores
assemble of an afternoon the bellies and
beaus Of Nashville. well as the many
strangers visiting the city, to stroll along
its borders enjoying the open-air concerts
OF the excellent bard and admiring the
charming reflections afforded by its smooth
surface. Some of the most beautiful
buildings are near its banks. Agricultural
hall. with its nine domes and at night its
1,oO lights; the negro building. a hand
some and stately piece Of architecture. with
just a suggestion of the Moorish in its
appearance; machinery hall, plain but I'm
posing: the pyramidal Memphis building,
the art building, which in its reproduction
OF the Parthenon 1s mute testimonial to
the wonderful architectural taste and skill
OF Greece In her mighty days-these beau
tifm constructions are all mirrored on the
lakes breast. Near one chi the Rialto.
near the other smaller bridge. not known
to fame and so without a name. dip the
end of their arches to meet the rising of
unreal and shadowy arches beneath.
art building is universally called. is a IA
vorite point from which to hear the strains
of the afternoon and evening band con-
certs. 49,
Inside the building is a most excellent
collection Of paintings. All schools are
represented, and abundant opportunity Is
thus afforded to compare the enc with the
other.
The Government Exhibit.
To jump from the Parthenon. at the CEN
ter of the grounds. to the government
building. near the main entrance, the gov
ernment exhibit which was formally
opened last Monday, is in many respects
superior to those at Chicago and Atlanta
1t is better housed than it was at either of
those expositions. and the valuable fea-
e I~A1