The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-24

IT have not seen the display, but.
do you know, that car brought US
more money than the sale of any of
the old junk which we purchased in
acquiring the right to operate a sys-
tenn in Topeka. Most of the old ma
terial we have been obliged to give
away, but the st. Louis street car
company bought this old car from US
to put in their exhibit and paid US
$500 cash for it."
Kansas gained Immediate prestige
at the Exposition by the promptness
with which it installed its exhibits in
the various departments and the
readiness of her state building at the
very opening day of the Fair The
states especially had been dilatory in
putting these temporary clubs for
their own people into shape. It is
said that the Kansas building was
really the only one which was entirely
finished and ready for inspection on
April 80. President Francis paid the
commissioners a special compliment
because of this fact. Nearly all the
state buildings at this time are com
pleted and furnished. but Kansas led
the procession and set the pace, as she
OONeAoACAAo
past.
Our state building is admirably To-
Gated, on high ground, in a conspic-
uous spot of the surrounding forest.
The architecture is pleasing although
there is some criticism to the effect
that the structure is not quite high
enough for it's size. It is thoroughly
homelike within and without, and
f.
side and on the in. There are four
large porches, two off the second floor,
each about twenty-five by fifty feet in
space. Here in ample numbers are
easy. chairs. all forming a delightful
place for rest and comfort.
Someone stated that there were no
sunfiowers in the decorations and
fnishings. This is a canard, and the
man who told the story was no bot
anist, and could not tell the differ
ence between a sunflower and gold
enrod. There is a large mosaic rep
resentatfon of the Kansas flower right
at the threshold in the vestibule, and
Immediately above with an electric
lamp for each center are at least
hundred sunfowers. In the vain
scoting there are so many that no
attempt is made to count them.
The main lower floor contains the
reception hall, or general assembly
room, which is quite large. say forty
by sixty feet, the ceiling extending to
the top of the second story. A bal
cony and balustrade encircle the
walls There are a ladies' reception
room, a rest room and a nursery, with
easy chairs, cOuches and other COM
forts, where tired mothers may rock
to their hearts content and their little
ones be left to sleep or remain at
length with the nurses in charge.
There are a smoking room for the men,
toilet conveniences, a postoffice and
check room. You can get your mail
here and answer letters received. The
commissioners have handsome office
in which they may transact business,
or receive with due dignity, and pride
in their surroundings, the commits
sioners from other states, or citizens
from their own. Here is a large,
magnificent table which will go into
the executive office at the end of the
Fair.
On the upper floor is a bedroom
for the governor, one for each of the
commissioners and the hostess. In
the balcony are a hundred or more
paintings by Kansas artists. There
are also large displays of embroidery,
hand-painted china, and delicate
needlework by Kansas artists in these
several lines, the whole collected by
and in charge of Mrs. Dassler. Mrs.
Noble Prentis, the hostess of the
building, presides with easy grace and
a cordially which makes every Kan
san welcome and at home at once. The
carpets and draperies in the building
were furnished by Crosby Brothers of
Topeka and certainly reflect credit
upon those who bought and those who
sold them.
The bouquets daily thrown at the
ners for the all round taste
and judgment displayed in the prepa-
ration and equipment of the building
are enough to keep the rooms filled
with fragrance without drafts upon
the st. Louis greenhouses and gardens.
The commissioners are: c. H. Luling
J. c. Carpenter, J. c. Morrow, r. T.
Simons and w. P. Waggener. They
can put this paragraph in a vase and
it will do for a bad day.
Ready alike with her displays. was
Kansas in other respects. In the Agri-
cultural building this commonwealth
stands out like a tall sunfiower in a
wheat field. The striking feature is
the Corn Indian, made from different
coIored grains of the Kansas cereal
and from the husks and blades and
stalks of the same. The blanket
which enfolds him of the Kaw tribe is
a work of art which would do credit
to the Navajos. There are a NAM
moth steer made of corn. spread eagles
with wings of husks, a fence of Kan
sas grasses, and columns and posts.
and vases and urns modelled from