The Florence daily tribune., 1898-06-01
OMAHA'S BIG FAIR
OPENED TODAY
Description of Some of ITS Main
Features
ENORMOUS CROWD PRESENT

Omaha, June 1.-The Trans Mississip-
pi exposition was opened this morning
with great pomp and parade. There is
general holiday here and over 10000
people witnessed the ceremonies.
The scene at the grounds is one OF
bustling activity. Hundreds of work
mon are beautifying the grounds, while
in the buildings as many more are rap
idly unpacking the carloads of exhibits
which have been received, The decor
ators are busy with statunry and pic
lures. Domes are being gilded, tags
flung to the breeze, and all this is being
done with an astonishing rapidity that
makes the great exposition fairly grow
while you wait. On the Midway ara
seen strange looking people who will
presently occupy the different villages
The quaint looking buildings, with
their foreign, unfamiliar architecture,
are nearly completed. A Japanese tea
garden, a Moorish village, with an in
tervening court filed with shady trees,
| giant iron see-saw. German, Chinese
and negro villages with their typical
accessories, great pavilions, odd little
hooks and corners go to make up "a most
attractive looking amusement quarter.
In the Government building many ex
uipits ure stth WHICH hre oi peculiar
| interest In this time of "wars and
rumors of wars" In the navy depart
ment exhibit models of our entire array
of battleships are shown. Broad bands
of Grape, in contrast to the loving folds
of Old Glory, decorate the corner
where the Inflated Maine Is shown,
These little models cost the government
from 5000 to So, 600 apiece, and are
absolutely perfect in every respect. In
the exhibit of the war department are
seen torpedoes which carry 100 pounds
of the deadly dynamite, while the sub
marine mines call forth great interest.
The fisheries display, with its cool
yrottos and great glass tanks OF green
sea water, with their flnny inhabitants,
is one Of the most attractive displays
in the buildings. The lighthouse, post
office, agricultural and treasury de-
| partments all have most interesting ex.
hibits. A mint will be operated daily
and will turn out specimens of tho ex-
position medal.
The Art building contains many
treasures that alone are worth coming
far to see. A great many walls are
already covered and Manager Griiiiths
is one of the bueiest men upon the
grounds. Nearly every known school
= painting will be represented, he
dozen splendid examples of the Scotch
school. Look ut those flowers, each
petal is formed with a single sweep of
the brush, and yet they bring their
fragrance with them. Now here is a
contrast in the shape Of panel of
roses, by Miss -. Most women paint
flowers as they bake bread-by given
rule. I say this with all respect to the
women, for my mother was a woman,
likewise my sisters, but they can't
paint flowers, as rule and great
many of the pictures we have received
of this kind will have to remain In q
dark closet"
The scene in the Agricultural build
ing is n picture of industry. The dis
plays made by the different states are
most complete and pleasing The Cot
ton Belt line has a magnificent display.
among which is a picture, not in
artistic In its way and enormous in its
dimensions, which is made entirely of
corn.
In the Mining building will be found
the most complete collection of min
erals ever brought together. From
klondyke gold to Arkansas lead, they
are all represented.
Everything is being rushed forward
in systematic haste and there IS no
doubt but that general order will pre-
vail when the gates are thrown open to
the public.