Omaha daily bee., 1898-10-23

Children Admitted Frec.... l3,ool
Total for the week. ....... 1iS,ols
Total to Date .............. 2,201 ,2OO
Grabbed, contrary and disagreeable as
Mother Nature has appeared during the
week the old dame showed that there is still
a strain OF amiability in her disposition by
showing a smiling countenance to the chill
dren who were the guests of the exposition
yesterday. For six long days she had fused
and fumed and fretted like a spoiled baby
instead of the mature matron that she is
Even yesterday she appeared with her GUS
tomary frown and seemed disposed to be as
unlovely as ever. But the bright glowing
faces and happy voices of $1,000 boys and
girls could not be withstood. After a couple
of hours she began to relent. The sodden
clouds broke here and there in tiny riffs of
white. Then the blue sky peeped through
and a long, slanting ray Of sunlight illu-
mined the raw atmosphere and rested
caressingly on the golden dome Of the Gov
ernment building. The riffs broadened ard
the clouds were rent into fragments that
were hurried toward the horizon by the
sharp morning breeze. The single sunbeam
was multiplied until 1t merged into the full
radiance of the october morning and gave
back the dazzling beauty Of building and
landscape that had been stolen by the
SOmDef ClOuu SHADOWS Ol IHe Weth
why, it doesn't look like the same place,
does it mamma?" queried maiden of half
dozen winsome summers, as the gorgeous
brilliancy swept over dome and colonnade.
And it didn't, for the beauties that had
slumbered in the shadow burst into new
glory in the sunlight. The dull white of
the buildings became alabaster and the rus
set tnts Of the landscapes burned with the
brightest autumn colorings.
1t was not altogether the same show that
the sun looked on just before he said fare
well a week ago. The glowing green of leaf
and flower was no longer unbroken There
were streaks of russet and crimson and gold
and here and there the flowers that had
bIoomed 50 lavishly were blighted and
withered by the snow and frost. Some of
the vines that had luxurated in the out-of-
the-way corners shrunk closer to the walls
and half-dead leaves ratified ominously of
winter winds. Even the cannae that had
clung to life as though reluctant to close
their eyes on so much beauty were not left
unmarked and only here and there a bios
som remained to smile back a greeting to
the blue sky. But If the frost had stolen
some of the summer beauty it left the glow
and color Of autumn. The bright tints OF
which It robbed the flowers were scattered
lavishly over the shrubs and foliage and the
effect was even more beautiful than before
II seemed most fitting that during its last
days the White City should be robed in the
colors of the departing season and no one
seemed to regret the change.
brought Out the Enthusiasm.
To the crowd almost anything would have
seemed enjoyable with the unaccustomed
warmth and comfort of the sunshine Ii
I was a most delightful novelty after th'
frigidity and the gloom of the week, ant
the big crowd of boys and girls enjoyed J
with all the enthusiasm of youthful spirits
They romped through the buildings ant
raced in happy battalons along the walk
and avenues, while the older people took
back seat and enjoyed the pretty spectacle
The children were a little late in get
ting started, and it was the middle Of tn
forenoon before they appeared on tn
grounds in sufficient numbers to indicat
- the character of the day. But as tn
sun poked a rift in the clouds and smile
a merry welcome, the rush came, and fror
then until long after noon there was con
tinual procession at the gates One turn
stile was set aside at each of the main en-
frances TO admit the children, and 1t wa
kept turning with regularity that rapid
filled the grounds.
1t was not exactly the same crowd tha
There were more OF the little ones VIII
wore their big brothers and sisters mad
over clothes. and whose attire supple
mented by the ingenious devices peculiar I
mothers who have to confront the probler
of making something out of very little c
anything at an. There were hundreds c
youngsters on the grounds yesterday VIII
have never been there before. They could b
designated almost at glance for their ad
miration was compounded with the wonder
ment Of those who have been confronte
with something of which they have neve
dreamed. They congregated in little group
as though they were dazzed by so man
pretty things and must pull themselves tc
gether before thev could decide what dt
served their first attention
The attendance was not confined to Omat
and it's vicinity, for the morning traiI
brought in hundreds of children from neigl
boring towns and villages. One party
400 came in on the Rock Island and bega
negotiations to see whether they could obta
the ADVANTAGE of the 15-cent chldren's ra
that has been in effect on previous children
davs. When they were told that they cou
come in without paying a cent they becan
the most delighted crowd that has been
the gates this summer. One big boy call,
for three cheers for the exposition and tn
were given with a unanimity that testif
10 their hearty appreciation OF the lberali
OF tho MANAGEMENT
There was nothing in the way OF a celebr
tion to occupy the time of the children al
they were left free to spend the entire d
in seeing everything that constitutes the bi
gest show on earth. There were enough pa
ents aud teachers in the crowd 10 see IN
u none OF the youngsters came 10 grief a
everyone on the grounds seemed to be ma
Ing a personal effort TO see that the eh
dren spent pleasant holiday.
The German celebration that was par
any prevented by the unfavorable weath
Tuesday. will be carried out this aftt
noon. The parade will leave Turner hall
o'clock and arrive the grounds abe
$50. The floats and other spectacular feS