Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-11-24
THE OMAHA EXPOSITION.
ITS BEAUTIES DISSOLVED
FOREVER.
The Last Great Educational and Amuse-
ment Enterprise of The Century.

The Last Great E Educational and Amuse-
ment Enterprise of The Century
Special Correspondence to the Evening Capital
In the Liberal Arts exhibi, were two
vases valued at S. 900 each. They rep
resent Liberty" and Progress. and
have been previously exhibited at Wen
ma. Paris, London. Berlin, Chicago and
New York. One vase represents the
taking of the Bastile in 1880. tine other,
Progress" represents from the discov-
cry of America by Columbus,,o 10 Lincoln $
emancipation proclamation.
The Hawaiian School exhibits were
particularly interesting. The Pohukaiwa
School at Honolulu. Hawaiian Islands,
had specimens in drawing. patching. COM
position and solutions in arithmetic worthy
OF any OF our schools in these parts. The
Horticultural Building was a gem. At
night the approach was through fairy
like lawn where, hidden among the shrub
berry, were hundreds of multi-colored in
candescent lights.
Entertainments were daily features at
the Exposition. There was during our
visit exhibitions of high diving by the
worlds ,h lmpion divers. who leaped
from an elevation of 90 feet to the lagoon
bs meath. The Olympia. with Admiral
Dewey aboard. crossed the lagoon amid
the explosion of numerous submarine
mines. There was a burial at sea,
when Madame Johnson. tied hand and
foot. was sewn in sack. weighted and
cast into the lake. and cutting herself
loo Sc, emerged after remaining beneath
the water two minutes and quarter.
There vas sham battle OF Indians,
and a band concert at night in the con-
cert ball by Cincinnati orchestra of Al
pices. The grounds by day were as
beautiful as poets dream. but by night
they were dream OF loneliness. Their
electric efulgence obscured the splendor
Of the heavens. The moon paled, the
stars waned before the fash and gleam
of over $1,000 electric lights. which fash
ed and cleaned in symmetrical lines of
dazzling light along the outlines of the
buildings and the majestic columns OF
the colonade. This splendid ilumina-
ton was one OF the crowniDg features OF
the Exposition.
The display was most effectively ar
seen by day was grand and beautiful,
but when night spread its sable wings, a
fairy scene sprang into existence. Each
outline defined. each tower and minaret
clear cut and brilliant with myriads OF
electric lights flashing like stars OF ever
changing, shimmering briliancy. The
illumination of the Court OF Honor is be-
yond description. Lights flashed from
cornice and arch. from balustrade to
lofty spire, from pillard colonade 10 gid
ed dome, reared aloft on the Govern
ment Building. The electric fountain at
the western end cf the lagoon was ver-
liable rainbow of changing lights, now
clearest white like showers of diamonds.
now shell rose to softe St green, and then
from sprays and showers OF crimson to
all the colors Of the rainbow mingled.
shifting, changing, dream OF feeting
beauty.
Around The Court of Honor gardens
OF tropical plants bloomed by day, and
blossomed in yet more brilliant HUGS by
night Three thousand lights clustered
and colored to represent full blown flow
ers, lighted the foliage. and gave the
threw into bold relief each group of stat
uary upon the buildings. The effect was
marvellous. Those who are qualified to
Judge. pronounce the electrical illumina-
tion at the Omaha Exposition to have
been the most magnificent ever arranged,
far surprising the brilliant illumination
at the Worlds Fair. There, a great
many more lights were used, but they
were more scattered. here the grouping
and designs followed out, contributed
largely TO the beauty of the scene. The
Greater America Exposition was credit
to Omaha. and the State of Nebraska,
and indeed, to the whole United States.
Ii has passed into history. rejecting
the stirring events of American history
during the closing two years OF the nine
teenth century. 1t will probably not
only be the last great edus a,ional enter
prise OF the century. but the most unique.
1t had theme and purpose distinctly
its own. 1t was worthy ente rprise of a
worthy town. The Chicago Wiecking
Company purchased the buildings for
$so, 900. The Omaha Exposition was
built and conducted without asking a
dollar of contribution from national. state.
county or city treasures, but it enjoyed
the voluntary support and aid of the
heads of the departments Of the national
government in the acquisition OF war ex-
hibiis and those from the insular depend
encies. The Omaha Exposition is a
thing of the past, its countless beauties
have dissolved forever, and there is some
thing pathetic in the fact that the last
great educational and amusement enter
prise of the century has passed into his
tory. E. A. G..