Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-07-21
The Editor at Omaha.

Gil Blufts have been saying they have a
monstrous show out on the banks of the
Missouri the public generally have ac-
copied the statement with grain of
allowance thinking they were interested
and therefore biased witnesses We
visited the so-called Trans Mississippi
and International Exposition two or three
days last week and can now speak on the
subject with personal knowledge. We
confess we were happily disappointed.
There is an admirable exposition there,
one that is credit to this western
country and which will do it much good
in the way Of advertising to the world
the advantages of the west.
One who has attended the Worlds
Fair is at once struck with the resem-
blance OF this exposition to that great
exhibit. The general architecture of the
buildings, their faultless Wilderness, the
beautiful lagoon, and the arrangement
OF the exhibits bring back to one the i'm
pressions made at Chicago in 1893. But
the main buildings are not so large, nor
are there so many of them. But there is
enough at Omaha. There is more salts
faction in looking at and examining a
reasonable amount of exhibits than to be
overwhelmed with so much that the
memory lags and the body is fatigued
before the beginning is made.
Recall little of st. Johns description
OF the Celestial City and mingle it with
what you can remember of the master
pieces of painting of marble colonades
and you will catch partial glimpse of
modern exposition The streets are
not paved with gold but your wondering
gaze is arrested by most imposing build
ings embellshed with all the beauties
OF architecture and statuary. They APP
pear in the purity of marble whiteness.
There is not sea Of glass, but one OF
limpld beauty, the lagoon, and there is
rainbow like unto an emerald" The
fountain in the lake throwing it's grace
full clouds Of spray, is continual source
OF enjoyment. Then when night comes
and the great buildings are lighted up
with rows on rows of electric lights, and
the lagoon is surrounded by them and
their sparkling beauty is reflected in the
shimmering water, then it almost seems
the scene is beyond the earth,
! The exhibits in the main buildings,
| fine arts, liberal arts, manufactures agri-
cultural and mines and mining, while
not nearly so extensive as at the Worlds
Fair, are as attractive and instructive.
The government building contains the
most interesting class Of exhibits on the
grounds. The army, navy, postoflice and
other departments are splendidly ex-
hibited. A student Of history, OF politics
and of government can find enough there
to proftably take his time for several
days.
| There are many state buildings among
which the Iowa building is as pleasant
and attractive as any. 1t is used for a
place for Iowa people to meet, visit and
rest, and not for exhibits. Iowa has as
good an exhibit in the agricultural build
ing as any state.
Then comes the midway! 1t has
great jargon Of noses and variety Of
shows They all charge admission Of
from ten 70 twenty-five cents. Some are
worthy, several are rot. Among the
former in our opinion is the Wild West
Show. Indians COW boys, western hunt
ers and women who can ride like hur-
ricane, enact in realistic way the scenes
of the frontier Of many years ago. 1t
correctly portrays part of our national
life which will soon be gone.
The negro plantation is another at
traction in midway representing a
distinctive phase Of American life. An
old fashioned rail fence surrounds the
grounds. Several log cabins are there
and are the homes of about half dozen
negro families from the south. Around
the cabins are many implements remind
ing one Of the simple life Of these people
half century ago, The spinning wheel,
the reel, the loom, the clapboard. the
ash hopper, the sickle, etc, are remind
ers OF the past.
On midway is the celebrated painting
OF the naval fight between the Monitor
and Merrimac. The painting is fifty
feet high and four hundred feet around.
1t was painted IN Paris nine years ago
by M. Polpot, who also painted the great
panoramas Gettysburg, Shiloh, Bull
Run and the Crucifxion. He had thirty
assistants and it took them over year
to paint it. 1t is great picture and
we'll worth seeing.
On west midway is little exhibit
called the bombardment OF Mantanzas
which is one of the finest things on the
grounds. Moving pictures are beauti-
fully thrown on big screen. The war
scenes are vivid and wonderful and the
Spanish bull fight shown is exciting.
Tka Nh ;oaea y;IIooa 10 of gonna intarest