The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-09
Press BIPeau at
the Pan.RmeriCan

work and through its enterprise is dis
seminated most of the information
regarding the progress of affairs at
the great exposition.
Just why. however. the Press build
ing was located on the Midway exact
ly opposite Bostock's animal show, no.
body seems to have attempted to ex-
plain. There is a force of clerks in
that Press building who have duties
to perform and they do appear to be
very busy. How on earth they are
able to think or write coherently in
that locality passeth the understand
ing of man. or at least. of woman
How on earth the visiting representa-
tives Of the press who are urgently
invited to use the pleasant reading
and writing rooms are able to accept
this courtesy with any degree of lit
eralness is also past finding out.
%
In the first place, there are two and
sometimes three or four of the most
interchangeable, irrepressble, and en-
thusiastic ballyhoos outside Bostock's
show that can be found anywhere on
the Midway. When the gigantic indi.
vidual with the sad-looking frock coat
opens his mouth the results are appal-
ling. When his efforts are supple
mented by those of the other consci-
entious gentlemen who try to be worth
their salary. any body in the vicinity
who is trying to write letter home
10 mother or the newspapers. Is pre-
pared for an instant to believe that
there are worse calamities than to be
born deaf. When to their clamorings
are added the roars of wild beasts in
doors which are alleged to be under
process of training, the condition is
simply indescribable.
O.
There ia one lioness in a cage ex-
posed to the view of the passers-by
that must be a trial 70 her family.
Either she is an uncommon scod or
else she has the toothache, for she
Keeps up such an everlasting COM
planning in loud tone of voice that
at times almost browns out the dis
turbances made by her rivals on the
other side of the bars. Then occa-
sionally the elephants behind the
scenes do great deal Of expostuIat-
ing and altogether the person who can
compose any sort Of sane letter
across from Bostock's ought to go
out as war correspondent or an
apprentice in a. boilershop. Probably
it's all right, however. Bostock's is a
good landmark and unsophisticated
newspaper folk are sure to find the
Press building. Possibly. too. il is
generally understood that they will
spend most of their time on the Mid
way. Then it is close to the East
Amherst gate, which is the most pop
ular entrance.
There are nice people in the Press
building. They are up stairs and
they greet you YEARLY, but courte-
ously. You needn't expect to find Mr..
Bennitt, he is always somewhere else
than where you are. He is about the
best looking man on the whole PAN
American board. His understudy, Mr.
Bolles, looks like an artist with his
tawny, pointed beard. A Mr.. Hester.
who is several degrees more polite
than Mr.. Bolles. is quite the incest
person there. The duties of the posi-
tion seem to he making out passes,
and as surprising percentage of
the attendance at the Exposition has
been "dead-head," he hasn't had much
Of a Summer holiday as might be I'm
agined.
About the first thing you see in the
Press building is a big registry book
on the hall table. 1t is temptngly
open for the inscription of your name.
There is fascination for some people
in registering wherever the opportu-
nifty occurs. They have yielded TO
this fascination indiscriminately all
over the place at the PanAmerican.
They register in every state building
that has acquired such a volume.
You will even see their names on the
book in the hearse department in the
Manufactures building, where a polite
young man presides. BY the way, the
chief attraction here is a funeral car,
costing several thousand dollars, the
principal recommendation of which Is
that its panels are of such highly pol
ished wood that they would delude
the very elect, if not the occupant,
that they are made of glass. I've
never been able to see why this is such
n wonderful advantage. when glass is
so much cheaper and doesn't get
scratched.
So the people have registered assid-
uously and with persistence whenever
possible. The women have given
special evidence of the mania. In the
Woman 5 building only club members
and college women are supposed TO
register, but there are others in the
fat book on the table. 1t is astonish.
ing, the number OF Twentieth Gem
tufy clubs which are flourishing in
this land Of ours. One is consumed
with wonder as to what all these
women do besides belong to clubs.
The very first name In the register
In the Women's building is Theodore
Roosevelt" written in a jerky, ner-
vous hand, that seems to show its
teeth. The remainder of the names
belong to feminine visitors.
Oddly enough. the names written
first on a certain day in the Press
register were those of Mary Bryan,
Ruth Bryan, William j. Bryan and
William j. Bryan. jr. There are some
people who always parade their do
before the public I'd have
liked William j. better If he had writ
ten his own name first. There were
other interesting names here, the
residences ranging from Waco, Texas,
TO Nova Scotia. One, in delicate. lady |
like characters, was that of Julian
while just below was
Walt McDougall" in the characteris-
tic strong hand, familiar TO us in the |
if irritating, cartoons in the |
North American. There is great |
chance at the exposition for an enter |
prising forger to study signatures and |
perfect himself in his genteel profess |
sion.