Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-09
CHRISTMAST|OE AT FAIR
Snow Falls Upon the Miniature Alps and the
the City of Jerusalem at ST. Louis.

| The ragged peaks of these lofty Alp.
glistened in the distance. and it seem
ed to Onl0okers as if bit of Swiss
scenery had been transported from
over the seas to St. Louis.
However appropriate the snow faI
may have seemed here, the descent OF
flakes upon the city of Jerusalem was
homogeneous, and il taxed ones mag
ination to believe that yonder white
clad mound of earth had been raised
to represent the Mount of Olives. But
wait till the warm rains of spring
shall come. Then this land will bloom
with the verdure that grows in Pales-
tine.
Wend your way over the snOw-cOv-
cred ground to the vicinity of the
Palace of Agriculture. where work
men, mutfied to their ears, are engag-
ed in digging basin. What win be
here?" you ask, and the reply, ~
pond for the lilies of the Amazon and
the lotus of the Nile is as startling
as the answer given in this old Eng
lish verse:
''Old man. old man,
Why biggest thou this grave
In the heart of London town."
And the deep-toned voice of the
digger replied:
Were laying Il gas pipe down"
Yes. lilies and those flowers that
graced the Egyptian stream where
Cleopatra wooed Marc Antony are to
float lazily above where these work
ers are throwing frozen earth to one
side. Today they are being nourish-
ed in hot houses. when spring comes
they will be transferred to water
which will have been warmed by sub
merged steel coils and which will be
kept at an even temperature until the
heat Of summer renders artificial
aid unnecessary.
So one notes in wonder the ice
clad rock hill that will be warm arid
land for the cactus when the gates
shall be open in 1904. This soil must
be heated even as the water for the
tropic pond and during this winter
mans ingenuity is providing for the
necessities that will arise in May.
Speaking of the holidays, St Louis
was never so gay as it is this win
ter. and the season of 1904-05 promises
to even eclipse that of the present.
This year the Chinese commissioner
is entertaining in oriental splendor:
Great Britain representatives have
planned extensive preparations for the
Feast of Noel; distinguished gentle
men from the land of the car. from
France. Germany. Belgium, Italy and
other foreign countries have made ar
rangements to hold open house dur
ing Christmas tide.
All foreign commissioners who have
been fortunate in leasing residences
have done so for period that extends
into the spring of 1905 and the post
exposition season. will, as. said, see
gayety at least equal to that of the
winter months prior to the time when
the gates shall open.
Army and navy men will add to the
social entertainment and these Off
GERS will not only be from the United
States military arm but from other
countries.
If present plans of the exposition
are carried to completion the Missis-
sippi river off St. Louis will rival
Bar Harbor or port in the Riveara.
1t is prepared that light draught men
of-war steam up the Mississippi and
anchor off the Worlds Fair city, and
if this be done the decks of these yes
sells will be scenes of hops and re-
ceptions while many a banquet will
be given in wardrooms and captains
cabin.
Not until this holiday season has
the metamorphosis of st. Louis from
an interior distinctively American mu
to a cosmopolitan city been
pronounced. The winter sees for
eigners from all chimes thronging the
streets and elbowing their way
through the stores. Many languages
are heard in the restaurants and the
flags of all nations are seen waving in
the wintry winds.