Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-07

Sudpe OF decorated mans ana glasses ana
tins, to sewing machines and drugs.
Take It all in all. the entire food exhibit
and the farm exhibit surpasses that Of the
Worlds fair. | am not prepared to go as
far as the enthusiastic young Iowan who
declared that the Worlds fair wasn't in
1t" with the Omaha show as to agriculture,
but there certainly is an impressiveness, a
clearness of arrangement, a finish OF de-
tail about this part of the exposition that
] did not find at the great fair. This may
be my own fault, but 1t is the experience
OF others as we'll. The agricultural exhibits
are in charge of Prof. f. W. Taylor. The
Manufactures building, being smaller than
the similar building at the Worlds fair, is
more easily studied, and 1t will repay an
indefinite amount OF study.
l am not trying to write a catalogue, only
trying to give an idea of the object and
scope of a fascinating exposition, SO I will
only mention one exhibit that struck me for
its excellence, the Utah silk exhibit. The
beautiful portieres which show the deft
workmanship of the Utah silk weavers also
commemorate indirectly with their gulls
and lilies the hardships of the pioneers.
In the massive Machinery building, which
comes next, is a bewilderment of Interest.
not only for those especially interested. but
for any one. WELL said an honest
farmer, stopping spellbound before a type
setting machine. "if this amt the durndest
threshing machine | ever saw" 1t took
some time to rescue him and guide him to
the agricultural implements.
But the great feature of the building to
the general public is the electric display,
This is admittedly the finest ever made at
any exposition. No one can go through it
without a sensation of awe before this
vast, half-unfolded terrific force which we in
our generation have made the slaves Of our
daily life. 1t is a wonderful exhibit-and a
terrible one.
Another wonderful exhibit, although less
striking, is the educational exhibit which
occupies the galleries. The Board of Man
ayers is composed of women. The president
is Mrs. A. j. Sawyer of Lincoln, Neb.
AS might be expected, there is a splendid
Mines and Mining exhibit. Architecturally
the building, with it's unique domes and
broken entablature, its Ionic colonnades and
It's balconies, is one of the most pleasing.
There is less sculpture, but an original effect
Of lines and shadows, unlike that obtained
by the treatment of any other structure.
Music at the Exposition.
Before one comes to the Mines and Min
ing building he reaches the Auditorium.
where are held all the public exercises Of
the exposition. The architecture rests the
eye with its simplicity, yet is entirely har-
monious. The building can seat 900 people.
During the two months of the eXposition's
life now passed, June and July, the Apollo
club. the Marine band, Theodore Thomas
orchestra, the Dubuque Choral association
and other musical bodies have given most
admirable music. We are thought to be an
unmusical people, but the German leaven
In us is rendering the criticism harmless.
Nor have | seen more attentive or enthusi-
astic audiences than | saw during the last
week in June in the Auditorium.
Merely a nominal sum is charged for adj
mission. At first there was no charge, with
the natural result that all the curiosity seek
ers sauntered in and sauntered out of the
free show" The small charge restricts
the number to those who really come to
listen to music, and the result is all that
could be wished.
One building on the Main Court no lover
of children will omit to see, the Boys and
Girls building, which the children of the
transmississippi valley erected with their
~nickels. 1t is simple but pleasing outside
and most conveniently and p%rettily furnished
within, and hundreds of tired mothers were
resting themselves in it's cool parlors one
very warm day when I saw it.
A pleasant feature Of the exposition Is a
kind of hospitality which 1t extends to its
patrons. There are a great many places
where visitors for the day can be refreshed
and rested. Every state building opens wide
it's doors and the abundance Of easy chairs
and lounges, as we'll as the omnipresent
rocker" invited the tired excursionist
everywhere.
At the Press building there are all the
daily papers, room for writing and invari-
ably a group of agreeable people. 1t is this
electric current of human sympathy that
has made already a kind of social life at
the exposition. There is a society composed
of the different officials. And, gradually,
the visitor who remains for any length of
time becomes acquainted with these pleas
ant, we'll bred, we'll educated people who
have all the western kindliness and courtesy
of manner and the western pride In their
beautiful exposition, and therefore are will
ing to take pains without end in the sight
seer's behalf; so presently they are no
longer strangers in a strange town, but meet
friends at every corner. Something of this
pleasant atmosphere is felt by the most
transient Of guests. They are guests whose
presence Is welcomed as well as their money.
The management In the first place, the
officers, the employees, the people of Omaha
all make one feel this grateful sense OF
personal welcome.
Evening at the Exposition.
No one is more courteous than the super
intendent of liberal arts, Mrs. Frances NJ.
Ford, who is making more friends than she
ever will know by her gentle kindness to all
sorts and conditions Of women and men.
Her beautiful building reminds one Of the
Women's building at the Worlds fair, but
1t is more severe in treatment; 1t has,
however, the same graceful Sky line, with
it's group of statuary at the corners and it's
ornate second story.
One amazing thing about any exposition
is how soon it Is evening. AT Omaha the
most fascinating thing is evening. Sitting
on one of the cool roof gardens one may
dine and watch the golden fires light In the
sky and deepen to crimson, while the
wooded bluffs that hide the river are
softened by the most tender mist of haze;
and the great white clouds in the quivering,
shining sea are like snow-capped mountains;
and below, around, Is the wonderful sky
line, domes and towers and statues carved
against the darkening blue. Whatever of
dust or heat or human crudeness and jar
there has been through the day fades under
the spell of this enchanting hour. Even the
garish music of the Midway Is softened by
distance, and the ''coon song OF the boat