The times., 1898-08-07

But tn great feature OF the building
10 the e ,eral public Is the electric dis
play. This Is admittedly the finest eve
made at any exposition No one can gs
through 1t without a sensation of aw,
before this vast, half unfolded, terrifi,
force which we in our generation hav,
| made the slaves of our daily life. 1t is &
wonderful exhibit-and a terrible one.
Another wonderful exhibit, although les.
striking, is the educational exhibit, which
occupies the galleries. The board of man
ayers is composed of women. The presi
dent is Mrs A. J. Sawyer, Lincoln, Neb.
AS might be expected, there is a splen-
did Mines and Mining exhibit Archi-
tecturally, the building with its UNIQUE
domes and broken entablature, its Ionic
colonnades and its balconies, Is one of the
most pleasing. There is less sculpture.
| but an original effect of lines and shad-
ows, unlike that obtained by the treat
ment of any other structure.
Before one comes TO the Mines, and Min
ing Building he reaches the Auditorium.
where are held all the public exercises
of the exposition. The architecture rests
the eye with it's simplicity, yet is entirely
harmonious The building can seat 1900
people.
During the two months of the expasi-
tons life, now passed, June and .Tuly.
the Apollo Club, the Marine Band Theo-
dore Thomass Orchestra, the Dubuque
Choral Association and other musical
bodies have given most admiral music.
We are thought to be unnusical peo-
pie; but the German leaven in US Is rem
dering the criticism harmless. Nor have
! seen more attentive or enthusiastic
audiences than / saw during the last
week in June in the Auditorium.
Merely nominal sum is charged for
admission. AT first there was no charge.
with the natural result that all the curl
osity seekers sauntered in and sauntered
out of the free show" The small
charge restricts the number of those who
really come to listen to the music; and
the result is all that could be wished
One building on the main court no lover
of children will omit 10 see the Boys and
Girls Building, which the children of the
Transmississippi Valley erected with
their nickels. 1t is simple, but pleasing
outside. and most conveniently and pret-
tily furnished within and hundreds of
tired mothers were resting themselves in
its cool parlors on every warm day when
/ saw il.
A pleasant feature of the exposition is
the kind of hospitality which II extends
TO its patrons. There are a great many
places where visitors for the day can be
refreshed and rested. Every State build
ing opens wide its doors and the abund-
ance of easy chairs and lounges. as well
as the omnipresent rocker" invited the
tired excursionists everywhere.
At the Press Building there are all the
daily papers room for writing. and invar
iably group of agreeable people 1t is
this electric current of human sympathy
that has made already a kind of social
life at the exposition. There is society
composed of the different officials. And,
gradually, the visitor who remains for
any length OF time becomes acquainted
with these pleasant. wei-bred. well-edu-
Gated people, who have all the Western
kindliness and courtesy of manner and
the Western pride in their beautiful ex-
position: and. therefore, are willing 10
take pains without end in the sightseer' S
behalf; so, presently, they are no longer
strangers in a strange town, but meet
friends at every corner. Something of
this pleasant atmosphere is felt by the
most transient of guests. They are guests
whose presence is welcomed as well as
their money. The management IN The
first place; the officers, the employees, the
people of Omaha, all make one feel this
grateful sense of personal .weclome.
No one IS more courteous than the
superintendent of liberal arts. (Bureau
X. Mrs. Frances NJ. Ford, who is max
ing more friends than she ever will know
by her gentle kindness 10 all sorts and
conditions of women and men. Her beau
tiful building reminds one of the
Womans Building at the Worlds Fair,
but it is more severe in treatment II
has, however, the same graceful sky
line, with it's group of statuary at the
corners and its ornate second story.
One amazing thing about any exposi-
ton is how soon 1t is evening. At Omaha
the most fascinating thing is evening.
Sitting on one of the cool roof gardens
one may dine and watch the golden fires
light in the sky and deepen TO crimson,
while the wooden bluffs that hide the
river are softened by the most tender
mist of haze; and the great white clouds
in the quivering, shining sea are like
snow-capped mountains; and below,
around is the wonderful skyline, domes
and towers and statues carved against
the darkening blue. Whatever of dust or
heat or human crudeness and jar there
has been through the day fades under
the spell of this enchanting hour. Even
the garnish music of the Midway is soft
ened by distance; and the coon song
of the boatman on the lagoon is mel
lowed into an indistinguishable harmony.
Later, we go down and sit on the Ia
COON side and watch the swan boat
glide amid the gondolas. and watch the
lights spring up until the whole lovely
court is trimmed with fire and the fiery
lilies are splashed by the fountains and
the great torch of Liberty waves a daz-
zling radiance over all.
The scene is ineffably soothing; 1t has
soft, poetic beauty that one does not
expect, and it will haunt every behold
err why not" it always seemed to
whisper, why not have beauty such as
mine; not merely for your transient de-
light, but for an enduring possession
OCTAVE THANET.