New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-05-12
4 TRIUMPH OF LIGHT.
THE ILLUMINATION OF THE PAN-AMERI-
CAN EXPOSITION AT NIGHT A MOST
WONDERFUL PICTURE.

Buffalo May 1-Much has been written and
printed Of the marvellous beauty Of the illumina-
ton Of the Pan-Amercan Exposition grounds
by night. but il is not easy to say enough and
II is impossible to say too much. 1t is impossi-
BILE, indeed, to describe the effect that it can
be fully appreciated by one who has not seen it.
A good pics:zA may convey some notion OF It,
but not a fur, -->Axation Of its brilliance and
nagnificence.
And yet the effect is produced by the simplest
OF means 1t is nothing but lights and lights,
and more lights. There is attempt at mo-
ton color. and thereby is saved all the con-
troversy and disagreement which have been so
rampant with regard to the many and varied
hues which bewilder the sight OF visitors to the
exposition by day.
All the buildings have thin structural lines
marked out with rows Of electric bulbs; and the
electric tower has not only its outlines. but the
pattern of its elaborate decoration SO Indicated
The effect of treating the electric tower to this
extent in a different manner from the other
buildings is a most happy one. 1t makes the
tower a more distinct object than any of the
buildings which surround il, and when several
are seen at the tower is then forced upon
the sight as the true centre of the picture. and
the eve rests contentedly upon il. the other
buildings simply leading the attention up to II
and not in any case drawing il away TO them
selves.
But the tower is not merely object of glar-
ing brilliancy In fact il is not glaring at all
Brilliant as il is il gives the impression of soft
ness and of wonderful lightness. If this notion
can be reconciled with that of grandeur Of form
and substantially of build another step will be
made toward a realization of the picture.
Next in beauty TO the electric tower are the
domes of the United States Government Build
ing the Temple of Music and the EthnOogy
Building. These are all in such position that
they are seen at times reflected in the pool in the
Court Of Fountains and then another element
OF loneliness is added, when it scarcely seemed
possible that there could be more. When the
water is smooth these reflections are a simple
repetition reversed of the domes Of light with
the buildings which bear them, but where the
water is stirred into ripples they seem some
times like the pipes of great silver organ, and
again a solid sheet Of pale and shvering light
If the eye, satiated with such luxury, turns
away from the tower and the domes it encoun-
tiers the mass Of buildings TO the west of the
Esplanada and the Plaza, which rise with roofs
and cupolas, and minarets and spires one be
hind and above the other, all cleaning with the
same incandescent brightness like city built
OF jewels
1t is scarcely possible to believe that it is all
real One remembers stage plays and panto-
mines where efforts have been made to fill the
vision with gorgeousness and gayety but these
were always gaudy and garish and trivial while
this is soft and harmonious and stately and
grand One remembers the stories Of childhood
about fairy palaces and cities of enchantment
which were seen. but could not be approached
and expects to