Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-09
(By Claude H. wetmore.)

From all quarters of the earth are
gathered people who will celebrate the
holidays in ST. Louis this year. They
have assembled to complete the build
ing of the most remarkable city ever
erected; remarkable for the millions
of money that it has cost, for the
master minds who have been called
in consultation, for the artistic pie
ture it presents and for the fact that
it is the educational triumph of the
worlds history. notwithstanding the
many eXpOsitions that have been held
none has had the revealment of pro-
gress as the corner stone and none
has had the dissemination of knowl-
edge so thoroughly manifest in every
step forward that has been taken.
These facts become more pro-
nOunced as the old year draws near
to the end and the installment of
moving exhibits goes forward with ra-
pidity. Not only are completed pro-
ducts coming from factories. but the
machines with which they are made
as well, and from one end of the
grounds to the other thousands of
workers are shaping that which when
the gates open will produce a gigantic
moving picture of how things are
created in the dawn of the Nine
teenth century.
Of the people who are gathered in
Ibis interior city and who have jour
neyed. many of them across the ocean,
TO participate in this universal awak-
ening, perhaps the most interesting
are the new citizens of the republic,
the FilipinCs, Hawaiians, Samoans and
Porto Rcans. They are striving under
great difficulties to take their part in
the great display of nations for the
| blasts of winter were never felt by
| them before, snow they never saw
and they examine it carefully, while
| they initiate their brethren of the
north by blowing on benumbed fing
ers. Yet they go stupidity ahead. COM
| plotting such buildings as will house
| their displays next year.
1t was a strange sight the other day.
that of Filipino going to work clad
in linen trousers and linen duster.
when the mercury stood at Is above
zero. Wrapping towel around his
| head he mounted the roof of the pa
wilton where duty called him and
was not long. The chill air conquer
ed and a jefferson guard appointed
from North Dakota. aided in thaw-
ing out the thin-blooded native of the
far away archipelago. This happened
during the first cold wave" Now the
FilipinOs. the Hawaiians and Others of
the tropics have warmer clothing
and they work on Notwithstanding
the blasts from the arctic.
An interesting sight is to watch the
native Chinese engaged on the pavil-
lion that will hold the wonders from
the Flowry kingdom. Their costumes
in strange contrast with those of 9TH
er workmen attract much attention
and any day a group of interesting OBJ
servers may be seen lining the broad
wall that leads by China's home to
the Administration building. The deft-|
ness with which they apply the deli
cate woodwork is as pleasing a study
as their methods and dress. No
American could complete the task.
and after the foundation had been laid
and rough beams placed in position.
laborers of this country were glad to-
give place to those from the orient.
In like manner the japanese are beau
tifying their temporary home with
creations made of bamboo and fancy
carved woods brought from the realm
of the mikado.
While the gutteral sounds that ac-
company the labor of the ASiatics are
borne on the winters wind in accom-
paniment to the Tasp and clatter of
saw and hammer. noises that smack
of old England come from the same
locality. For adjoining China is Great
Britain's picturesque structure, and
laboring there, both on walls and in
the garden adjacent, are men with
the true cockney accent which can be
recognized the world over. Material
which they are putting in place was
fashioned in England; the trees and
shrubs which they are planting in
the soil were brought over wrapped
in straw, and next year these will
bloom even as they did last summer
in Kensington gardens.
To the west of China. Belgium is
making herself at home and men
from Antwerp are directing the plac-
ing of huge steel arches which will
mark the structure of one of the most
solid on the exposition site. On hill
men from the Rhine are creating al
castle and on a plain Frenchmen are
completing with artistic touches
the reproduction of lie Grand Trianon,
that beauty spot of Versailles which
marks on the continent a scene of
monarchs' mad revelry.
The thousands of trees on the expo
sition site are bare of leaves now
and the two score and more state
buildings, which next spring will be
partly hidden by foliage, stand out
plainly. This ground forms meeting
place for Americans from every sec
ton. Architects. contractors, and
commissioners from California plan
with these from Maine TO complete
this portion of the picture Designers
from Florida almost touch elbows
with those from Alaska. New York