The Portland daily press., 1900-08-08

lrlcks at the same time changing the
solors in rapid succession. making an
effect at once beautiful ana ludierous.
Then came a set piece entitled ssWelcome
Home, which brought forth applause.
This was followed after few minutes of
the beautiful bombs and rockets by a
portrait Of Mayor Robinson which re-
tembled him somewhat and by some was
pronounced a good likeness. Then came
fan of beautiful design and colors. At
hrst it was merely a straight pillar of fire
but this suddenly exploded and opened
into beautiful fan of many colors and
with streams of golden stars coming from
the end of each piece. Then came some
more fountains Of various colored stars
which shot slyward and hoated graceful
iy towards the ground. while the crowd
held its breath for moment in spell
bound admiration.
After this came another set piece en-
titled ''We never forget the Old Home, .
with the outline OF an old farm house
With the barn. picture which may be
seen at any time on the hillside farms of
Maine.
The most beautiful thing in the exhibit
perhaps was the rose bud, which grew
from bud of green with tiny green
leaves to a full blown rose of brilliant
and beautiful red color. This piece was
applauded mora by the thousands who
saw 1t than anything else in the exhibit.
Afterwards was shown the city seal and
then a water fall which was over seventy
five feet long and a magnificent speci
men OF the pyrotechnists art. The last
set piece was ''Come again next year and
every year-Good night This was fol-
lowed Immediately by display Of thou
sands Of rockets shot up from the entire
length Of the space on ich the exhibit
was given. Too N UGH could not be said
about this exhibition. 1t far exceeded the
expectations of those who witnessed 1t
and delighted thousands who viii never
forget what they saw in Portland.
TIE ILLUMINATION OF THE SHIPS.
But the strangers enjoyed above all else
perhaps the electrical illumination of the
six ships OF the North Atlantic squadron.
1t was a scene which battles description,
one which seemed to belong to a land OF
enchantment, SO maryelously beautiful
that words could hardly be found TO do It
justice. At eight o'clock the harbor was
as dark as the blacklist pit and only here
and there gIimmering light could b
seen. Suddenly there flashed from the
west of the New York. the flagship, a
signal. A moment later and then all in
a second each ship was transformed into
a vessel OF tire. The effect was so startling
and SO wonderful that the thousands at
Fort Allen park cried out with one voice
IN admiration of it and then were silent
while they drank IN the scene. The ships
are SO anchored that It seemed as If one
might walk from deck to deck. Far down
the harbor the flagship New York was
outlined by thousands of electric lights.
Her giant hull and graceful outlines, her
military masts and big stacks were
drawn IN lines OF golden light while her
big search lights flashing now TO one
point of the compass and then to another
sent stream OF silver through the black
clouds and added much TO the beauty
OF the whole. Next above the New York
was the Kearsarge She looked to have
more electric lights displayed than any
OF the other ships, at any rate she seemed
to be picked out by every one as the most
beautifully decorated ship of the squad
ron. She was also outlined in golden
light with some arrangement of myriad
lamps upon her which made her seem
twice her normal size The Kentucky
had a similar plan of decoration but not
as large as that of the Kearsarge to all
appearances while the Massachusetts,,
the Indiana and the Texas all followed
some special design OF theirEown, making
of the show one never ending beauty and
itswas viewed for over two hours by the
largest crowd which Portland had known
in years.
IN THE CROWD.
Before the coming Of the crowds at the
Eastern promenade came the fakirs. A
village of booths sprang up along the
roadway. The men with the thirst
quenchers changed their scene of opera
tions from the streets in the center Of the
city to the neighborhood of the big
screens erected for the display OF the set
pieces in the fireworks. With the sellers
of drinks came the men who sought gain
in other ways. There was the "test
your strength, - the machine which regis
ters the muscular power of the man who
swings the big maui. Nearby was the
tent Of the fortune teller, who found
credulous customers even when the |
rockets were splitting the air and the
pin wheels were sizzling. 1t takes all |
sorts of people to make crowd. One of
the queer sorts is that kind which viii
leave good open air exhibition which
is provided free for all corners to crawl |
into stuffy little tent and listen to the
secret OF the future. In front of all these
booths blazed the torches and through |
the flame and smoke came the sounds |