Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-27

10 p. m.-Psin's Battle of Manila. with
grand fireworks
Where do these children all come FROM"
was the query that one exposition officer pro-
pounded to another yesterday as the two
stood upon the bridge which spans the la
goon, watching the army of children swarm
ing through the gates and taking possession
OF the buildings and grounds.
Yesterday morning when the exposition
gates opened there were hundreds Of boys
and girls there waiting to be admitted. They
were bright-faced, rosy-cheeked little things,
clad in holiday attire, their faces wreathed
In smiles in anticipation Of the Joys that
they were expecting to experience. All, or
nearly alr carried corpulent lunch baskets,
containing the dainties prepared by mothers
or kipd friends. Then all of them had some
money which they proposed to spend In order
TO make their stay more enjoyable. Later
in the day every motor car deposited large
load OF human freight at the gates. through
which the little folks passed, no questions
bing asked as to where they resided.
On the card the day was designated as
one for the children Of Council Bluffs. How
ever the children from Omaha and South
Omaha were not to be deprived of days
sight seeing, and consequently they took the
chances Of gaining admission to the grounds.
There we're no chances to be taken, however,
as the exposition officials had given orders
10 pass all children, providing they came
within the age limit, the minimum of which
was ave and the maximum, fifteen years
During the early morning the majority OF the
arrivals were from Council Bluffs, but long
before noon they were outnumbered two to
one by the boys and girls from Omaha and
South Omaha. They swarmed In from every
direction and swept through the buildings
like one great wave, but to their credit 1t
may be said that they disturbed nothing, no
matter how fragile the exhibit. In the ma
ohinery building they devoted their time to
watching the machinery and then on they
went from one building to another. In the
Government building they interested them
selves in studying the war exhibits and delv-
ing deep down into history, trying to ascer-
tain knowledge from the relics that date
from the time of the revolutionary war up
TO the present.
For many of the youngsters the Midway
proved to be the star attraction, while others
preferred to study the habits and customs
of the Indians, the Cubans and the Hawaii
ans. Others preferred music and it was with
q great Ieal OF pleasure that many listened
10 the Indian band in the forenoon, God
frey's band and the musical features, accom-
panied by fireworks, on the Plaza in the
evening.
Taking it all in all, the day was sue
and was one that was highly enjoyable.
There were no accidents to the children and
It was at late hour when the last one left
the grounds last night. The presence of
the children drew a goodly crowd in the
evening, many parents going out to look
after their little ones and see that they got
off the grounds and returned home.
So successfur have the days given over to
the children been that the managers OF the
exposition are seriously considering the ad-
visibility of deciding upon every "Wednesday
as children's day. In the event that they
take favorable action upon this proposition
children from everywhere, whether alone or
accompanied by their parents will be ad-
mtted free.