The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-09-14
EXPOSITION ATTRAcFloNs.

GAr Ooa MN Al tt<fAAt{(HNSs
/ soenss end Amusements That VIII
Claim visitors to the Great
Trade Show. 5..4
Philadelphia, Sept. 14.-Not a dull
spot Is to be found anywhere in the
Philadelphia National Export exposi-
ton enclosure. comprising tract OF
% acres. Out Of this emerald field.
dotted with the choicest OF products
from the domain Of Flora. rises the
White City. builded for the exposition.
An advantage possessed by the great
enterprise is its location. The grounds
are of easy approach by the most i'm
portant street car lines Of the city and
special station Of the Pennsylvania
railroad. These means of access are,
however, not the only ones. Long lines
of bicycles today approached the
grounds from. every direction, in an
ticipation of which an extensive build
ing for the checking of thousands Of
wheels had been prepared. The pres
ence of large number of cycle be-
skirted women with natty outing cos
tunes was one Of the picturesque in
cidents Of the proceedings in the Audi
torium.
The main entrance of the building,
on South street. leads to the main
building Of the exposition through
wide and beautiful esplanade, with
many greenswards and profusion Of
evergreen decoration. The crowd
passed through this grand avenue of
approach, which is lined on either side
by succession Of striking buildings
of peculiar and fantastic architecture,
in which the lighter amusements of
the exposition, the diversions, SO to
speak, of the show are to be seen and
enjoyed. These structures comprise
group of buildings In which is gather
ed the Inhabitants of Chinese viii
lage of 500 persons. Near this is to be
seen an Oriental theater. coffee house
and smoking room, in front Of which
one will see the curious dancers and
performers of the theater gazing at tho
passing throngs. no doubt as funny
sight to them as they to the first day
visitor to the exposition. The busy
preparations for the camps for the
holding of Navajo and Moqui tribes of
Mexican Indians are also visible from
the esplanade, affording an interesting
picture of aboriginal life
The grand facade of the Main build.
ing, with its lofty columns and impress.
sive decorations, made an instant i'm
preston upon the crowd. The build.
ing itself is situated in the midst of 6d
acres of ground, and extends from the
main entrance back 1000 feet. The
effect of the great pediment above the
main entrance is particularly effective,
and was the subject of universal admir-
alton. 1t is representation of Com
merce, 80 feet long and 10 feet high,
and above this is splendid quadraga
Is feet high to the top Of the surmount-
ing figure of Victory. This fine figure
is balanced on either side by groups 10
feet high representing Transportation
and Navigation. Between the door,
ways of the main entrance appear large
circular placGues, modelled In relief.
with the seal of the United States,
Pennsylvania, the Franklin Institute,
the Commercial Museum and the city
Of Philadelphia.
Through this splendid gateway the
crowds passed Immediately into the
midst of the exhibits in the spacious
Main building, with its acres of floor
space. miles of aisles. lined with uis-
rlays of every conceivable variety and
where moving machinery and
products of the most minute descrip-
ton, as well as the most gigantic ir.
design, appear in the process of con-
where one secs objects of
utility no bigger than the bead of a
pin being turned out by machinery at
the rate of a thousand a minute, in
with a full size section Of
the great strineing steel arches of
thousand feet span cantilever bridge.
The Auditorium. in which the expo
sition opening exercises were held, and |
where concerts by some Of the best
amgreeations in the United
States will be given daily, is set in one
of the five pavilions. all under one
roof comprising the Main building. Al
though this Auditorium is $50 feet
long, 1856 feet wide and of lofty and
imposing height. it is almost lost in
the vastness OF the great Main building
itself. Upon the stage is mammoth
pipe organ. "a feet wide in front, and |
stretching hack IL feet. This organ /
1.249 pipes, and it's tone is
Its swelling notes roll
through the great Main building in |
beautiful and harmonious tones The
srgan stands % feet from the floor of !;
the stage.
There is a gradual ascent from the |
stage to the rear of the Auditorium, |
and score Of rows of terraced seats |
beyond the space, usually designated |
is the orchestra OF theater. The eff
feet of the arrangement and massing |
Of the great sea of faces as seen from |
the stage proper, WIS very striking, |!
and happily the acoustic properties Of |
he hall were adequate TO the demands |
made upon it.
Every nook ard corner of the exnosi-
ion home offers come attractions.
Within the buildings are exhibits, at
lactive for beauty or grandeur, the
Shir of machinery mingled with the
lum of voices; about the grounds an
1hlect lesson in modern landscape ey-
cheering, by which bog was trans
orned into great lawn; along the
Isplanade q medley in lesson giving
The effect of the interior
md surroundings and the enjoyment
Of the interior and contents of the
great exposition buildings will be
heightened by the autumnal tinse ap-
olied by the artist, Nature, and the aus
picicusness Of this season of the year
'or outdoor moving about.