Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1904-06-17
Jimmie Foley
Af The Fair

st. louis, June 2. Yesterday
morning we distinguished members
Ct the American Press Humoristt
went over to the ADMINISTRATOR
building to call in body on Presi.
dent Francis Of the Exposition. He
was ia good form, greeted us ami,
ably, made nice little addres which
entitled him to membership ID the
ORG anizatior on the spot, and ga VI
flowers TO the ladies and cigars and
other stuff to the gentlemen, al they
felt disposed to partake. Afterward
ne obtained our priceless autographs
u book he had prepared for that
purpose and then We were dismissed.
1 have no doubt much to the relief 81
the exposition president VINO ought
to have q dozen or two counterparts
or dummies to greet all these delega-
tions, do the handshakiDg act, and q
few monographs to make the speeches
OF welcome to them. AS for the en-
ter lterta lnment part, he could leave the
sidepoard open and the delegations
could e nelp themselves. S..
We have been wading about ia the
ll'1 mud for several days, taking ii the
sights. called at the North Dakota
booth early il the week, Is find Presi.
5de Mt Bartlett. s Cnsh, and the other
m members of the North Dakota force
busy with various lines of work.
North Dakota has good space in in
the agricultural building, more than
is allotted to the average western
state, and the principal booth is on
the main aisle Of the building and
about the center where it is in the
line OF passage through the building,
either from end to end 81 side to side.
The booth, whose construction was
described some time ago, is novel and
The Roosevelt cabin GENES il for its
snare Of attention aud isa drawn .
card. In fact the Roosevelt family
seems to be the real thing here. Alice
has been here for several days and
has attracted as much attention as tie
rest Of the faii, Yesterday We pas
sed SEQ the New York building when they
We're giving her one Of the numerous
soirees, breakfasts, Pink teas, recsp-
tions M or other social distresses 4 with
which m she has been honored, and here
were acres Of carriages and rubber
necks, ;pt the former that the four hun
idred might ride and the latter that
the hoi polloi might gaze. We did
not not rtib bber. Alice had no charms for
ns, as we can zee HAND ndsome women at
ha'ml1 home ! oug ht to get a hand, on
that,
The fair is big, but the general idea
you get is that Of incompleteness aud
lack OF ensemble. don't know Just
what that means bnt j heard some
body say IT and il strikes me that ii
may be about right. The grounds are
the site Of Forest Park. and here are
bills s ard arc valley to snch an extent that
unless you get up in the air you 6 et
very little idea Of the general appear
ance Of the grounds. The buildings
are mag gni6cent and elaborate and the
exhibit as varied and marvellous as
the most ardent student Of scient &.
industry or art could wish, but the
whole thing strikes me az d Jewel or
z number Of jewels id bum setting
Except in q few places, there Is little
studied attempt at harmonious foliage
AM aoral setting. There are some
snnken gardens and more sunken
roads, through whi b yot1 have to
wade to get anywhere. Missouri
mud is friendly stuff and sticks close.
The fair has cost up TO date, so
Secretary Reeves told me, about ST Nv
millions Of dollars. The Official esti-
mate is that IL will Jake an average
OF 200 900 paid admissions 5ay
through The season to bl ing them out
whole. So far the attendance has
been il little disapp pointing, but i think
iti iss just as well. as the fair is not
completed Through. all Of the exhi.5
biz buildings you hear the rettle and
bang of hammers, the ripping and
straining Of saw and other tools, sac
half comp pleted booths. lumber piles,
and other impea; ;a.en.a which ha, 8
no place il q completed exposition.
But ls.' AZ fairs are late and this one is
no exception. the managers are
working tooth and nail to finish
Things bnt there are hundreds of
things 10 be done yet. Railroad cars
loaded with delayed exhibits are
shunted int, the grounds. Big Mis-
souri, mules are hauling naaterials of
various kinds over the grounds. The
road workers are busy endeayor,ng to
complete roads and walks. The Pike
seems To be about the most finished
thine in flla o ra,us,S3e ss 81, j ~, ~