The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-10
OMAHA EXPOSITION
Our Exhibit Attracts the Crowd.
Watermelon Dav

Interesting news comes from the trans
Mississippi exposition at Omaha through
Mrs. Virgins letters. She writes that the
Los Angeles county exhibit was crowded
from a. m. until 10 p. m. on the Fourth Of
July by sight seers, to the neglect Of other
departments Of the show. As direct re-
suit of the advertising California products
are getting from the exhibit 1t is stated that
every dealer in the city who has goods
there has received orders for shipment to the
eastern states.
The following letter describes watermelon
day:
Yesterday was watermelon day at the ex-
position. The generous commissioners Of
Texas presented the exhibitors Of the hor-
ticultural building a car Of watermelons
with which to give watermelon supper.
Everybody was invited. There were to be
free watermelons for all who came. You
can well imagine that 1t brought jolly
crowd, as we'll as good, big one. The sup
per was to begin at o'clock. Long before
that hour the crowd had gathered around
the huge pile Of luscious looking melons
(which lay on the grass in the shade. A hollow
square was made by means Of ropes and
guarded by the guards. A temporary table
was thrown up near the melons, and at the
appointed hour the horticultural exhibitors
dotted their coats, rolled up their sleeves
and with huge carving knives took their
stand at the tables. The guards handed up
the melons, and with two strong strokes
every man laid a melon into four fine, big
red quarters
Then the crowd was marshalled past the
tables: and as each one gathered up his por-
ton and passed on, the fun grew greater
and the noise grew louder. The shady
lawns about were soon covered with groups
Of happy people eating to their fll. The
singers from the "Old Plantation" had been
invited, and as they came running and sing
ing down the long. broad avenue that leads
to the horticultural building, other people
felt their enthusiasm or mirth and all ran
Twas really pretty sight. The darkies
gathered on the piazza and sang q water
melon song as only darkies can. Their
bodies swayed, their bright teeth shone, and
the song was truly a laughing song. Each
darky's recompense was huge melon. and
each one looked as If he thought himself we'll
paid.
Watermelon day will long be remembered
as a happy day at the exposition, and we
hear that Texas will give us q peach day
and plum day, and that Colorado is to give
us watermelon day. Among the generous
gifts to the exposition is one from Marcus
Daley, the horseman from Montana, who Of
fered to duplicate any appropriation the
legislature might make. Montana appro-
priated $4,000. So with $50, 900 Montana Is
making a good showing.
Still no exhibit at this exposition bears
greater marks of liberality or fnagnanimity
than does the Los Angeles exhibit 1t is the
pride Of the exposition. and is conceded by
all to be the most artistic on the grounds.
The display seems almost beyond the COM
prehension of many. Had It not been for
the far-sightedness and liberality Of few
of the best citizens of Los Angeles all this
opportunity would have been lost, and as
certain as the sun shines upon the Just and