Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1897-06-29

until our next issue.
The Tennessee Centennial Exposition
| is, of coruse, a grand affair. The close
grouping of the buildings-the grounds
comprise only 24a acres enables the
visitor to enjoy the exhibits without the
fatigue that greater distances would in
volve, and makes the pictures that are
presented from various vantage points
fuller and handsomer. Especially is this
latter advantage noticeable in the cleo
trical effects. Some of the buildings 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 unbroken chain.
With almost double the number of lights
used at Atlanta and with three times as
many in proportion to space covered as
were at the worlds fair at Chicago, the
lighting of grounds and building is superb.
/ Small as is the acreage covered by the
deposition the grounds appear ample.
Their flower beds, arbors, colonnadeS
and fountains do not seem at all crowded.
The rich soil and excellent climate of the
great central basin in which Nashville is
situated, coupled with the magical touch
of the hand of the gardener, have caused
the various outdoor botanical productions
to thrive most satisfactorily. Tennessee
vegetable products, hay, grass, cotton,
etc, may here be seen in their natural
state.
The surface of Lake Watauga, the
principal lake on the grounds, is animated
by boats and water fowl. Gondolas, with
imported gondoliers, ply their accustomed
trade, and homemade steamboat con-
structed and operated by a duslly local
character, is bringing a rich harvest to
its enterprising owner. Ducks, geese
and swans sail gracefully about upon the
middle waters of the lake, or dive among
the rushes at its edge. The lake also
boasts pelican among its inhabitants,
caught in the neighborhood 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, as well as the many
strangers visiting the city, to stroll along
its borders enjoying the open-air concerts
of the excellent band and adniring the
charming reflections afforded by its
smooth surface. Some of the most beauti-
full buildings are near its banks. Agricul-
| tural hall, with its nine domes and at
night its 1900 lights; the negro building,
a handsome and stately piece of architec-
ture, with just a suggestion of the Moorish
in its appearance; machinery hall, plain
but imposing; the pyramidal Memphis
building, the art building, which in its
reproduction of the Parthenon is mute
testimonial to the wonderful architectural
taste and skill of Greece in her mighty
ldays-these beautiful construc tons are
all mirrored on the lakes breast. Near
one end the Rialto, near the other a
smaller bridge, not known to fame and
so without a name, dip the ends of their
arches to meet the rising of unreal and
shadowy arches beneath.
The lake side of the Parthenon; as the
art building is universally called, is ia
vorite point from which to hear the
strains of the afternoon and evening band
concerts. Inside the building is most
excellent collection of paintings.
The government exhibit 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 features of both have been
| retained and extended. The fish com
mission exhibit is in grotto-like apart
ment, and its display of aquaria, of salt
and fresh-water fish, is. apparently, the
main attraction of this very popular
building. The battleship models from
the Navy Department come in for good
share of attention, and many students
are interested by the attractive and we'll
arranged exhibits of the Smithsonian
Institution and Agricultural Department.
At the Exposition is exhibited the
cabin in which the President of the late
Confederacy was born. 1t came from
near Fairview, Todd county, KY. Mr..
Davis was born there in 1905, and when
sixty-six years old was given banquet