Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-09-28
AN aoUR ON the EsPLANADE
rhinrs curious, Interesting and Anu.ln

Things Curious, Interesting and Amusing
on the Brora Patn of the Exposition.
Philadelphia, Sept. %. Visitors at
the exposition become quickly famil-
lar with the Esplanade. 1t is the first
thing which they see, and the first
thing which they hear Of the expo
sition-tor the Esplanade Is vociferolis
as well as picturesque: It is the wide
pathway to the main entrance of the
exposition buildings, and the home of
the lighter amusements of the exhibit
ton. Here the languid beauties Of the
east mingle with the dark skinned
"Mammys" born on the old plantations
OF the American south, in the days be-
fore slavery was abolished in the Uni
ted States, and the costumes of the
European Turk walk comfortably side
by side with the simple dress of the
reservation Indian.
The noise of the Esplanade is the
confusion of various tongues, the
beating OF drums, the shrill cries OF
animals from the far chimes and toot-
ing of instruments which torture the
ear and call the attention to the varie-
gated attractions that skirt the broad
paths to the main buildings.
Occasionally the trumpeting of an
elephant may be heard from one of
the long low structures to the south.
This is said to be a cry for a new
supply of peanuts. On Saturday this
elephant wandered from his home,
broke off the sheeting and boards from
the brick Esplanade restaurant and
deyoured two bushels of choice peach
es and half barrel of soda crackers.
This episode did not, however, create
so great a sensation as the appear
ance amidst the Esplanade throng of
the smallest woman in the world, who
was in constant danger of being tramp
led to death by the crowd. This was
Chiquita, the human midget, who is
no higher than child's knee. She
had taken fancy to go out into the
street. Chiquita is one of the sights
OF the Esplanade whom the public is
not expected to see without the ex-
penditure of their dime. She and the
elephant are not, ehowever, the only
yelled exhibits which appear OCCASION
ally beyond the walls of the theaters
and enliven the scene on the Esplan-
ade. The inhabitants of the Chinese
| village and the women of luxuriant
ease and eastern loneliness, who in
| spire the admiration of the visitors
| at the Oriental coffee room, and the
| gaily bedecked sword fighters from the
| Arabian Theater flash in and out
among the crowds at rare intervals,
and then whisk back again into their
seclusion, where to follow them one
must lose some of his small change.
The eloquence with which the young
man at the old plantation building an,
nounces the varied attractions within
fills the Esplanade with swell and
is answered by the more piercing cry
of the lecturer who in the distance
recites the wonders to be seen in the
famous Hagenback show. A constant
succession of rifle shots announce that
the shooting galleries are busy, and the
occasional cutlery of Navajo Indian Is
heard from the interior of their viii
lage. The Cairo Theater and Oriental
Coffee Parlor boasts of a great array
of dancing girls, score of sword
fighters, gun spinners and an Egyptian
wedding, as well as the attendants OF
troop of bewitching Arabian girls
whose smiles and graces give an ad.
ditional favor to the Mocha and Gig
arettes which they serve to those who
are inclined to such eastern Injuries.
If the stroller on the EspIanade
wishes milder amusements than those
he visits such places as the photo.
graph gallery and has his picture
taken; looks in upon the wonderful per
Torrance Of "Jim Key" the famous
educated horse. or visits the hal
where is displayed fine representa-.
tion Of the birth of the American flag
When man has passed the rounds
Of the Esplanade be finally manages tc