The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1905-09-28

feared listeners mlSnG GuIHA tliChl
inexperienced if they gave the Portland
fair it's just measure of praise, but not
even these learned and travelled ladies
could withhold their admiration for
the grand and beautiful location. A
location too, which nature itself
has furnished. Mountains on one
side-real mountains too-presided
over by old Mt. Hood who favored us
especially by coming out from behind
the veil of clouds which too often
obscures the view and smiling a
benignant welcome to us. At other
expositions we read of the artificial
cascades, towers and bridges but in
Portland nature has provided the
centres of attraction.
We spent but few days at Portland
and 1 will mention only those things
which attracted me most strongly.
We pass over long bridge literally
decorated with electric lights, to get
out to the Government Building, and
once inside the building the work and
progress of our U. s. Government lies
mapped out before you. Its irrigation
scheme; model of the great Roosevelt
dam in Arizona; the "Oregon Pony,'
the first locomotive brought to the
coast; the old stage coaches, and even
the guns, which require $500 worth
of ammunition to fire off just once.
Bullets were being manufactured
there, the operators being ladies, and
thousands were brought away as
souvenirs-bullets I mean, not the
young ladies'.
The Forestry Building is certainly
a unique and massive structure built
of logs, unhewn huge fellows, some
of them with bark IS inches thick,
and in the building were exhibited
cuts from the large trees, boards 1913
feet long and from Z to 8 feet wide,
with scarce flaw in them. Some of
them were polished until they re-
fiected the light like mirrors.
The salmon fisheries on the
Columbia with $3,000,0O0 yearly
products, was shown with the fish
wheels in operation, tiny wheels but
perfect, and tiny fish also.
In the Foreign Exhibit building
the work of the Japaniza exceIIed all
other.
A picture 9 by IL inches, hunting
scene, price $125, was done, not with
a brush, but with needle and thread.
The blending of color was simply
wonderful
Of the State Buildings l think
took the lead in the
elegance of structure, but Idaho whose
building we were informed was plan
ned by lady, showed the artistic
design, and its exhibits were arranged
with nicely not found anywhere else,
and the same state loyalty prevailed
here that was so noticeable at Payette.
The lady in charge, we have forgotten
her name. resides at Pocotella, the
very center of the desert region, and
even she had the same sparkle of
loyalty in her eye, and never tired of
singing the praises of Idaho.
The Minnesota building was con-
spicuous by it's absence, and even it's
exhibit does not do it justice.
In the California building were
exhibits of its wonderful versatility
Of production; Fruits, grains, honey,
wool, gold, silver and lumber. There
was huge, black bear constructed
entirely of dried prunes, and Gin
namon bear of almonds.
In the Agricultural hall crowd
surrounded the cabin in which Presi-
dent Roosevelt lived when in Dakota,
and it was edifying to see how rever-
emily it was examined.
Unjust not fail to speak of the school
exhibits. The best 1 saw was from
the schools of Alaska, and their ex-
hibit was fine, but have seen just as
good work right in our County Fair
at Sank Centre, pinned to sheet and
tackled upon the broken plastered
walls of that old church building.
1t seemed strange to look at the school
work of the Alaska children, was
very much impressed, especially with
the specimens of their penmanship
and their compositions.
The subject matter of these essays
shows that patriotism is taught in the
public schools of this far off land, the
loyalty of spirit shining through
every line.
AS we reached the gate on our way
out that last night at the fair, we
stopped and looked back over the
bright, beautiful and busy scene.
1t looked indeed like a glimpse OF
Fairy Land with it's millions OF
electric bulbs mirrored in the lake,
and festooned from every building,
tower, and every evergreen tree and
shrub; it's fountains sparkling in the
light, the bands discoursing the
sweetest music, but the program boys
were still yelling, the smoked glass
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