Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-07-26
At the Great Worlds Fair.
A MAINE PRESS ASSOCIATION PARTY
VISITS ST. LOUIS AND THE LOUISIANA
PURCHASE EXPOSITION.

A MAINE PRESS ASSOCIATION PARTY
| VISITS ST. LOUIS AND THE LOUISIANA
PURCHASE EXPOSITION.
(Third letter.
By way of introduction to this chapter
of notes, it may not be amiss to inter-
polate the statement that since my re-
turn home have met numerous inqui.
ries as to certain features OF the fair, and
that some samples of my replies are:
"Well, l merely went through that part
of the exhibit, without examining it in
detail" "Well-er-it so happened that
I didn't 90 into that building at all. !"
To some of my questioners it may seem
that / didn't see much of anything any
way, though that is an incorrect idea.
But it is PERFECTLY safe to say that there
is a great deal more that l didn't see
than that / did. A very brief statement
of facts will furnish some explanation OF
this condition.
The grounds are nearly in the form OF
a rectangle, approximately two miles
long by one wide, while the Intramural
Railroad, which runs around mostly near
the outer edge, is seven miles in length.
There are fifteen main exhibition build.
ings-"palaces" is the official term-and
they have floor space varying from about
4 to about % acres, or total space OF
something like 12S acres, all practically
filled with exhibits. In addition to
these there are foreign buildings, state
buildings, ETC., etc., bringing the total
number of structures within the enclos-
ure up to about 500, or about 1000, l
can't remember which, and it makes no
particular difference. Suffice it to say,
that while / omitted none of the main
exhibition buildings from my tour, and
did some of them quite cOnscientiously,
there are nevertheless inside the en-
closure several hundred buildings into
which did not step my foot, and pre-
sumo some which / did not even see.
On the night after our arrival, the big
gest fire of the fair destroyed $50, 900
building in the middle of the grounds,
about half mile from the Inside Inn;
but we knew nothing of it until we read
it in the papers the next morning, ana II
was three or four days before l even saw
| the ruins.
What have said and shall have to say
regarding the things to be seen at the
fair may seem. incomplete, even frag-
mentary: and so it undoubtedly is. 1t
il only few features which can be set
forth, or even touched upon.
THE MAINE BUILDING.
The State of Maine log cabin was not
far from our quarters, and naturally one
of our first acts was to go there to IN
spect that much-discussed structure and
place our names on its register. There
were in the minds of our party varying
degrees of approval of the "log cabin
idea, mainly, however, of negative
quality. Some condemned it in I'M
measured terms, and it is hardly to be
expected that any preconceived opinions
would be disturbed by a sight of the
thing itself.
With the architecture and appoint
ments of the house no one has any quar-
rel 1t is we'll designed, harmonious,
and built of some of Names hand
soonest spruce timber. Its wide, shady,
cool yerandas are furnished with swings
and comfortable rush-bottomed chairs
and settees, and make most delightful
resting place. Within are displayed a
views of Poland Spring and other Maine
resorts, a collection of Lamson prints
Maine scenes, no doubt, though they are
without marks of any kinda case OF
the Sanford pushes, and some other ap-
propriate Maine exhibits. But except
for the main hall, no place could be more
poorly designed for the display Of any.
thing than the dimly lighted interior OF
this building.
have never been in sympathy with
the idea of using log cabin as represent
alive of the enlightened and progressive
state of Maine: and having seen this, |
question seriously if, comfortable and
attractive in it's way as it is, it is truly
typical of anything in Maine. 1t may be
typical of the hunters abode confess
| am not very familiar with that kind OF
structure-but it looks too elaborate for
that. 1t certainly is not typical of the
residences of the state, nor even OF the
comfortable farm homes and pleasant
hostelries where are entertained the
great part of our many thousands OF
summer visitors, three-fourths of whom,
as everybody knows, come to Maine
neither to fish nor to hunt.
As for the location of the building, it
is pleasant and shady, but the house
fronts on what seems to be one of the
least-frequented roads of the grounds,
and its front view Is of the Imprinted
walls of one of the rudest buildings in the
mining gulch. Indeed, it was regarded
by some as cause for cOngratulation that
the building was placed over on the
back slope of the hill where compare
lively few people would ever see it.
JAPAN AT THE FAIR.
The first nation to get its exhibit COM
pletely installed, which was done few
DAYS before the opening OF the fair, was
japan; and Notwithstanding the fact
that the people of that country are being
kent yery busy on the other side of the
globe. the one foreign nation which is
above all others conspicuous in all de-
partments where manufactured goods
are displayed, is Japan. A large amount
of space is occupied by the Yankees OF
the Orient, and the attendants who are
ready to take your order for anything
which they display are not only quiet
and industrious, but very discreet. One
of our party, happening to make re-
mark about Russia, noticed a young Jap
within hearing pricking up his ears, and
ATTEMPTED to draw him into converse
ton regarding the war, but the Jap,
though he spoke good English, declined
TO discuss the subject at all.
There is also typical Japanese village
on the Pike, and another little section OF
Japan elsewhere in the grounds. One
day, catching a glimpse between two
buildings of little hilltop which some
how seemed to be of clearer green than
ANYTHING around it, / went up, to find
myself in what is said to be repro
duction of a portion of the mikado's
gardens. Typical Japanese buildings
Stand in the midst of velvety turf,
through which run graveled walks. In
the tea houses you may have tea and
cakes such as you get nowhere else, serv-
ed by almond-eyed maidens in their alb
surd narrow skirts and Tapping sandals;
while the inevitable bazaar gives you still
another opportunity to invest your
money in the products of the Orient.
Although the tea house girls wear their
native costume in its entirety, the young
clerks in the bazaar are in absolutely cor
rect European attire, with spotless linen.
The garden Is one of the beauty spots OF
the exposition, and is the perfect exem-
plificatiOn of neatness, for in all It's
borders there can not be found one
| cnack of dirt