The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1901-09-27
Florida Editors at the Pan America
Exposition.


Exposition.
The Florida editors, about forty i'm
number, Governor Jennings and some
of his staff, and the Tampa Light In
fantry, left Jacksonville on September
9th on special through Pullman
train for Buffalo, arriving in that city
on the morning of the eleventh, after
very pleasant journey. The party
had their headquarters at Statler's
hotel, which is situated just a short
distance from the exposition grounds
aud has the reputation of accommo-
dating easily five thousand guests.
Mr.. Z. o. Painter, who acted as the
head of the press association in the ab.
sence Of It's president, Mr.. b. B. Tatum,
through the courtesy of Col. L. NJ.
Weir, Florida commissioner, succeed
ed i'm Securing passes into the exposi.
ton grounds for the party.
The afternoon and evening was
spent i'm viewing the exposition.
Many of the party had never before
visited an exposition and to them and
20 others the Pan-American was a
wonderful revelation.
We first visited the Florida exhibit
which is in the horticultural building
and were warmly welcomed by Col.
Weir, Mr.. Pfeiffer and Miss Badger,
/, who are in charge of the Florida ex-
hibit. During our stay we visited all
Of the most important buildings both
Of this country and the South Ameri.
lean countries.
Among 80 much that is worth ones
attention il is impossible to give an
adequate account, so suffice it to say
that every department was represent
ed i'm manner both pleasing and iD-
structive TO the visitor.
In contrast TO the Chicago exposi-
ton, where all of the buildings were
white, hence the appelation, "the
white city," the Pan-American expo
sition is called 1.-The rainbow city,"
the color scheme of the buildings be-
ing after the Spanish Renaissance.
Whether the color scheme is more or
less beautiful than at Chicago is a
matter of personal preference.
But the palm for being the most
wonderfully and beautifully illumi-
mated exposition is accorded to the
Pan-American exposition without the
semblance of dispute. The falls of
Niagara is of course the power from
whence the great force is generated.
The following description of the elec-
tric glory of the exposition is from
the pen of Mr.. Robert Mitchell Floyd,
of Boston, so pleasantly known to the
Florida press association:
The fiery sun had sunk behind great masses
Of heavy clouds. making its protest IN the angry
rays that here and there pierced the threaten
ing darkness that grew denser until the arch
OF heaven was blackest night
| The whirring wheel OF the troliy pole threw
/ out it, iurtd green glare marking aud empha-
sizing the more the settled gloom, for it was
! night when bats flew low. and swallows kept
| circling near their nests. Soon we reached the
high fence that separated the old city from the
new and passing the turnstile we were in the
| Sunkeu Gardens where costly statues that Hank
| cd il peered out upon Us like frightened things
\ from their home of gloom, while on either side
aud away above US the shadowy outlines OF
Agriculture and Mechanical Ats buildings are
/ Just visible.
Up tine long flight of steps, in front OF the
great Tower We halted and listened to the
| rush and fall of many waters that gushed with
mighty force from its face. making weird sounds
like fairy music through the sultry air.
| ON aud on by the Court OF the Fountains
where myriads Of tiuy jets from fowering:cups
flung the waters spray high in air, as soft and
shirnnering a. a bridal veil.
| Bat ever wandering on we passed the Foun-
\ tain Of Plenty. where graceful figures OF child
! ren Sport in the babiing waters. Then still fur-
| Their back close under the four noble Pylons.
topped with heroic figures Of warriors bestriding
rearing chargers we stood with the gathering
hosts that ever increasing were silent 1watch-
fui. waiting.
From this slight elevation on the bridge that
spans the winding canal, we gazed down the
long vista at the faint outlines Of pictureddomes
great buildings and frowning castles. with their
| many pointed turreis. suddedly, hushed
silence seemed to hover over all; then If touched