Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-07-06
AMERICAS COLONIAL EXPOSITION.

Novelties and spscislties In the Midw ~
Gathered Together From All the
| Four Corners of the Earth.
The novel and interesting features
of the amusement section at the
Greater American Exposition that
promise during the next four mon tbs,
constitute one of the distinctive merits
of the great colonial exhibition. For
the past six months the concessions
department has devoted much Of its
time In seeking for novel attractions
OF the highest order and In refusing
hundreds of worthless applications for
space 10 what is known as the Midway
tract. The result is that while this
phase of the exposition does not equal
In magnitude the famous Midway Of
the Worlds Fair, 1t will outclass it in
its really interesting features and it
includes large number Of unique and
attractive ideas that have never been
worked out at previous exposition.
The visitors who will swarm through
the grounds this summer will have an
opportunity to see many things that
have never been seer before and it is
believed that some OF these novelties
will become as famous as those that
made the reputation at previous ex-
positions.
THE Artists Studio" to be exhib-
tied on the West Midway at the COM
ing exposition, has already awakened
much interest among artists and
patrons and bids fair to receive wide
criticism OF the most friendly charac-
ter. The idea of an exhibit of this
kind was first conceived in the New
York Academy of Fine Arts in con-
nection with the delineation of the
living form, the spirited criticism
which at the opening Of the Worlds
Fair at Chicago having evoked wide
public comment at the time because
Of the French statuary then exhibited
before the public. Since the close of
that great exposition even higher
estimate has been acquired among all
true patrons whatever choice fine art
works are seen. The French adage,
"Honi soft qui NAL y pense, has come
to be rigidly observed and today art
galleries in this country are visited
more than ever before, even by the
prudish, without fear of corrupting
good morals or impropristy.
The now French production known
as Darkness and Dawn" whose
wierd beauty and enhancing splendor
beggars description, will be seen on
far more splendid scale at the coming
exposition. The production was in
spired by Dante's Inferno, and is re-
garded to be the most weird, sensa-
tional and meritorious attraction yet
placed before the public.
Empty coffins contain spirits which
converse, laugh and jest, and jovial
skeletons come from you know not
where aud disappear as mysterlously
as the mist of morning. A monk
guides the way through the internal
regions, which thrill the beholder
with their wierd grandeur. Awful
mills Of destruction are constantly in
motion, guarded by his Satanic Ma
jesty ip person and score of subordi-
nate demons.
Cut out Of solid wall of rock is a
gothic door which constitutes the
gate to Paradise. St. Peter In gala at
tire is on guard and admits one and
all without exception from the gloom
and darkness Of night to the beautiful
dawn of morning. After climbing the
golden stairs vista of a beautiful
grotto of gold, radiant under brilliant
electric effects, with countless glitter
ing crystal stalactites, leaving an i'm
preston long to be remembered, aud
the performance, too, In keeping with
its environment and taking place upon
the surface of a lake OF water with
electric fountain In the foreground.
Beautiful maidens sing and dance un-
der 90, 900 candle power of light, robed
In gorgeous costumes. Here is pro.
duced the dance of the Nymphs and
the posing of the beautiful Spirit OF
the Cave, lone. The magnificent fire
or serpentine dance of Lolita takes
place upon the surface Of the waters,
which catches reflection and doubles
the fine lighting effects thrown upon
costume containing one hundred and
eighty yards Of silk, while the grand
transformation scene which follows
leaves the beholder in delightful sur.
prise and wonder.
The Shooting-the- Chutes will shoot
itself into popularity here as 1t has
elsewhere. The same is true OF the
imported oriental display known as
the Streets Of Cairo, which will have
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