The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-11-05
CROWDS IN AMERICA.
They Are as . Rule Orderly and
M Weu-Mannered.
Homs Observations Of German Visitoz
70 the Chicago Worlds Fair-Au OBJ
~ ject Lsssoa In the Advance
81 9o< - o1 Christianity. if5Q

Homo Obasrvasiens OF . German visitoz
to the Chicago Worlds Fair-An OBJ
ject Lesson In the Advance
3s 9!s y Of Christianity. lq
The horror Of 1000 lives crushed out
in Russia, in struggle for free food
furnished by the czar on the occasion OF
his coronation, makes pertinent q
startling comparison between the moral
and social condition of the common
people, in Russia, ruled by the sword,
and the same class in the United States,
ruled by themselves 80 gu,8as z
At the dedication ceremonies Of the
worlds fair in Chicago, in 1898, a. free
lunch" was spread in the Electricity
building, sufficient to feed 100000. Near
ly 100000 people entered the fair
grounds on dedication day, and half
! that number were seated in the Manu-
facturers building, witnessing the cere-
monies. After the ceremonies, the
Electricity building was thrown open,
the crowd was admitted, it helped itself
to food and departed. There was no
extra police precaution, nobody was
hurt, no property was destroyed, and
much of the food and all OF the dishes
were left on the tables. OF course, no
comment was made on these facts. It
was nothing but the ordinary. It was
what naturally should be. ,
A few weeks later met in Chicago
a German man Of wealth and .educa-
ton, who was on his first trip abroad.
lie talked Of the wonders he had seen
in America, and said: "The most inter-
esting and instructive experience have
had was at the dedication ceremonies
of the fair. / had just arrived from Ber-
lin, and this was my first encounter with
an American crowd. On dedication day
I went to the grounds early. Passing
the Electricity building, I saw such a
vast spread of linen and dishes and
stacks of cold food that 1 inquired of an
attendant what it meant. was in
formed that a free lunch would be
served to 100000 people after the cere-
monies. I inquired how it would be
served, and was astonished to learn
that the crowd would be admitted with
out restriction, and that everyone would
help himself. My experience with the
populace was confined to Berlin. and
made. up my mind that the free lunch,'
under such conditions would be the
feature of the day, and determined to
get into safe place and see the riot
when the people were admitted.
81 did not see the ceremony at the
main building. I waited near the door
of the Electricity building and slipped
in at the first opportunity. I stayed
there for over an hour, and until 1 was
thoroughly disappointed and aston
ished. The people thronged in smiling
and begging pardon Of one another for
being compelled to crowd and push at
the entrance. They took what food
they wanted, and got out Of the way of
the crowd behind. Isaw men who were !,
certainly workmen take handful Of
bread and meat and retire, allowing
other men to take their places at the
tables.
'It was the greatest object lesson in
the advance ofiChristianity had ever
experienced. 1t gave me. a glimpse of
social condition I did not think ex-
listed. Why, in Berlin, under the same
conditions. the first rush of humanity
would have swept those tables clean OF
food, cloths and dishes"
I met this same gentleman in the
rotunda Of the Administration building
on Chicago day at the fair, when the
greatest multitude in the history of the
world assembled. when 100000 people
gathered together, restrained only by
their desires, and not one was seriously
injured through the selfishness or. ig-
norance of the others. My German
friend was interested to the point of
excitement. He had been watching in
wonder the great mass of humanity.
"yNhat sight!" he exclaimed. "You say
there are above half a million of people
here, and there must be more than that.
And they come and go as they please,
and do as they please, and not soldier
visible. But expect the secret of it is
that every man out there is a soldier in
the sense Of preserving order. You are
a great people in America. This day
has been a mighty sermon to me. It
proves that mankind is getting better
and higher morally, and that your peo-
pie, more than any other, have arrived
Mt an understanding of the great truth |
that the only way to be happy is to make
everybody around you happy. Inever
that 4 commercial community |
like this could, even for day, SO uni
obey the law of love your
neighbor as yourself but this crowd
is wonderful proof of it. Here is the
lion protecting the lamb, and l believe
tho millennium is beginning in America
IN. Y. Mail and Express.
LATEST PEOPLE ON EARTH.