Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-02

Rhode Island. Ohio and English buildings.
OF these beautiful and historic buildings
the present generation knows little or moth
ing.
Time flies so rapidly that it will be diff
fcult for many of the thousands who at
tended the centennial exhibition to realize
that over quarter of century has passed
since the opening day of that momentous
event In the history of Philadelphia
Yet several worlds fairs have been held
in this country since the centennial With
those who remember and who attend the
Centennial, these later exhibitions have
served as a means of comparison with
Philadelphia's great worlds fair In some
instances the comparisons were favorable,
because the centennial exhibition, in re-
gard to its wealth of exhibits and scores
of pretty and commodious buildings at that
time exhibited every line of advancement
and progressiveness in the country. Since
then, however, the marvellous growth of the
country and development of new industries,
its immense wealth and prestige, have been
so great as demonstrated al the world 5
fair, as to make the centennial exhibition.
and particularly the old historic buildings
still standing, seem small indeed in COM
parison.
The Great Halls.
The most intere sting examples of the CEN
tennial buildings which still survive as me
MORALS of the great fair are memorial and
horticultural halls. Both these buildings
have been kept up ever since at the eX-
pense of the city of Philadelphia, and will
likely survive for many years to come.
They were considered pretentious buildings
in their day, but they cannot be compared
with the costly structures at the st. Louis
fair today.
Another interesting building which stood
on the centennial grounds and which has
been kept in repair by the city of Phlladel-
phia is ST. Georges house, which faces the
Lansdown drive. This building, which was
used by the British government during the
exposition, was presented by Great Britain
to Philadelphia at the close of the cenCen-
NAL.
These historic buildings, which in 1876
were the pride of the country, and which
held exhibits of great interest to the thou
sands who fiocked to the fair grounds from
all parts of the world. are still in good con-
dition, provision having been made to pre-
serve to poSteTfty these structures of such
architectural beauty and patriotic interest;
but Americans should make another i'm
portant and beautiful addition to the gar
den spot of the world by making provisions
to provide for the future preservation of
the Rhode Island, the Ohio and the English
buildings, like their imposing companions
memorial and horticultural halls. instruc-
tive reminders of the wonderful exhibition
of 1876
OF the three structures in question. only
one of the group is thrown open to the pub
lie The quaint little Rhode Island building
is now resting room. but is by no means
permanent acquisition. The destroying
hand of modern Improvement NAV at any
times sweep 1t aside
A Resting Room.
The little Rhode Island building is of
Swiss and Gothic design, situated on State
avenue near Georges Hill, and is now used
as resting room, being very little altered
since it welcomed visitors from its own and
other states. One story in height. colored
drab and picked out in red. the building is
most attractive and inviting. and it takes
but a slight effort of the imagina ton to
picture the gay throngs in holiday mood
and attire that in '76 trooped in and out
of the broad door which was flung open in
welcome. The Rhode Island building was
then, now, used a resting room: the
interior was furnished plainly but comfort
ably, and was built to form one wide