Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-11-09
Memories of The Fair.
DIR. w. H. STEELE,

Night steps forth and waves his
wand over the Fair City, then the
illusion is complete. The outlines
and masses, fine architecture, vistas,
plazas s1d lagoons, are always
grand and inspiring, but it needs
the softening shadows of night and
illumination of thousands of electric
lights to bring them out in all their
glory. The weary multitude that,
during the day, wander from place
to place without any object, the de-
bris from lunch baskets and odor
from restaurants, seem incompatible
with the beautiful buildings. ter
races, plazas, and lagoons, When
evening falls and the darkness be-
comes mysteriously luminous, the
reign of enchantment begins.
Sitting on the steps of the music
pavilion one balmy October even
ing, / watched this transformation
take place and it's memory will go
with me through life. Gradually
the shadows ascend the Louisiana
monument, until the last Pickering
bar of sunshine disappears from its
gold banded dome. Slowly the cas-
cades grow transcendant with inte-
rior flames of colored lights, con-
stantly changing in color and depth,
varying in shade and producing the
most beautiful effects IMAGINABLE on
the falling waters. The cornices,
corners, arches, and domes of the
big buildings stand out in red and
golden beads Of fire. Launches and
gondolas are gliding noiselessly over
the quiet waters of the "Grand Ba-
SIM and the song of gondolier
floats up on the soft South wind as
he keeps time with the dip of his
oar. The discordant and inarticu-
late murmurs of the gazing crowd
is succeeded by silence as they stand
awed in admiration of the enchant-
ing scene unfolding in the mysteri-
GUS twilight.
Deep beyond words and far be-
yond expression, is the subtle pathos
of this transitory scene at such an
hour. AS | arise from the pavilion
and turn my steps homeward, a feel
ing of sadness creeps over me, to
think that this fragile city of beauty
like the exening rainbow, must soon
disappear. But its magnificent men,
cries and lessons can never die. The
outlines and proportions of these
fine models of architecture will sur
vive in the minds Of the thousands
who have been charmed and educa-
ted by their contemplation.
Any attempt to estimate or meas
ure the lessons of the great Louisi-
ana Purchase Exposition and its
educational benefits would be i'm
possible at this time. 1t is very
doubtful if five per cent of the WISH
tors to the Fair make a careful study
and analysis of the exhibits, but a
large per cent study those exhibits
in which they are most interested,
and carry home a rich store of in
formation that will be invaluable to
them through life. Thus much Of
the information cleaned at the Fair
will be gradually unfolded in the fu-
ture conditions of private and pub
lie life.
The immensely of the grounds,
buildings, and exhibits are appal-
ling to the "short-time" visitor. and
a great deal Of time is lost by many
strolling through the crowd in an
unorganized manner. Of course if
one has "short limit ticket" min
ute inspection is impossible, but if
previous arrangements have been
made, the grounds carefully studied.
and program mapped out, much
can be accomplished in short visit.
One of the greatest lessons taught
by the Exposition is the continual
advancement of the world. In every
exhibit OH the grounds, and even ON
the Pike. one can not fail to observe
the upward march Of humanity. To
me this picture is more wildly de-
picted in the Transportation Build
ing than anywhere else. The hum
blest person in the land to-day en-
! joys travelling facilities that the
treasures of monarchs could not
command century ago.
Standing in the middle of this
great building, surrounded by owe,
sixteen acres of transportation ex.
hibits, dating from the age of oxen
donkeys, camels, and canoes, up tc
, the palatial trains and vessels Of to
day, the contrast is SO great that
/ one stands awed, and cannot hell
but speculate on what will be the
! result of this onward march, il
another hundred years.
Some very sharp contrasts can be
drawn if we go back no further
than the Worlds Fair" at Chicago
AT that time there was not on auto
mobile on exhibit. At st. Louis
there is first-class automobile
!. service all over the city and on thu
grounds. In one of the aisles of tn
, Transportation Building is a,
! "auto" for family touring, fitted W
, as luxuriously as Pullman car. /
carries a forty-horse power engin
and can make speed Of forty mile
an hour ON good roads. The locomo
tive that was the pride Of the Trans
portation Building at Chicago. an
! the fastest in America at that lime
t is now pulling a suburban mil
t train. AS l stood admiring the Obi!
, -Four" engine in the center Of til
building at. st. Louis, 1 could nc
! help but wonder if the same fat
would befall it in the next ten years
8 Who can tell?
Perhaps in another decade til
4 steam engine will be superseded b