The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-11


" imagery Of the poet the fact
that all life presents two
great aspects, the grave and
gay. Whether in animal life or in the
sphere OF human activity these two
phases of existence are sure 90 be
found. The grave and the gay compile
mert each other in the order Of life es-
tablished by the hand OF a kind and
gracious Providence There are sun
shine and shadow. laughter and tears
comedy and tragedy and both phases
of existence are necessary In order that
the scheme OF "a wise Creator may be
fulfilled.
But IL Is good plan 10 emphasize
and encourage the gay and more cheer
ful aspects Of life, fol. do what we may.
the serious and grave VIII have oppor'
tunity" enough 10 impress the character
and make a mark upon human affairs.
Even religious can with advantage
give expression 90 nerriment and good
cheer In the mcdi@vatages thiswas rec
osnizcd even more than now, of which
We find traces ina the sculptured forms
in ancient cathedrals, where grinning
arches and columns through the dim
religious Hight" In the religion. of
primitive peoples. notably the North
American Indians. Laughter holding
both his sides" as Milton expressed IL
I'm Il Allegro takes conspicuous
part i'm religious ceremonies. The In
dian as he goes through the evolutions
OF his semi religious dance, intended I'm
rart 10 express thankfulness TO the
good Creator for his kindness 20 man.
Efins and laughs and otherwise gives
vent 10 his sense of humor and gayety.
performance which h. deems In no
wise inconsistent with the religious
character OF the ceremony.
No great enterprise car be undertake
en- TO represent the broad field OF hu
man activity and emotions without
making conspicuous the light and gay.
and In an enterprise like an Exposition
~ Is fftting that this should have pc.
culiarly conspicuous attention.
'All work and no play makes Jack a
dull boy Tho principle expressed In |
this famous adage j. more and more
recognized IN All up tc date schemes OF /
educational work. Tho kindergarten Is 4
an expression of this fact. and the uni |
rcrsal tendency of educators OF today !
r. 20 make all branches OF public In !
struction as attractive 20 tho youthful !
mind as possible rather than 10 repei Z
the student and create i'm him a dis /
taste FOR learning by making the task /
n difficult and repugnant orc
When Expositions. which In the last
analysis are but universities upon n
magnificent scale. were ffst Instituted.
comparatively little attention vas paid /
10 the light and gay aspects of life. TO /
sports and aInusements az that word
Is usually understood. or 60 fiustra-
tions of the quaint and curious Gus.
toms OF the various peoples of the
earth But as Exposition followed FIX
position and their managers profted
by exnerience u became evident that
they could be- made TO pay much better
when the amusement features and the
JOYOUS and gay side OF their character
were made prominent and that I'm
bringing these 10 the front there was
no detraction from the educational in
nuence exercised by the Exposition as
n whole. Thus the Midway became a
recognized feature OF the great Exposl-
tions and from mere side show IL
grew into splendid aggregation of the
HfN 'ul ibhNF liC uONti ana eN-
citing, the weird and mysterious, the
fnntastic and picturesque. the strange
and marvellous things brought from all I
quarters OF the globe.
While IL should not be supposed that
the Midway OF an Exposition comprises
all in such an enterprise that Is gay and
light hearted, novel and entertaining, a
is natural that within that charmed
portion Of u great fair all this should
be found in a pre-emnent degree.
when the Midway at the Pan-Ameri-
can was proposed. Il was determined
that IL should be the very hcst of its
kind and The greatcst thine That ever
if IN treating uf so light a
theme one may be permitted 20 fan in
60 the language OF the streets From
the beginning an effort was made 20
Gull from the vast number of novel and
attractive features offered those which
would combine the elements of excite
ment and entertainment and at the
same time impart the kind OF educa-
tional influence which travel in foreign
climes and among strange and un-
known peoples Is won't TO confer
Thus with the $4,000 OCO being ex.