The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-09-05

Scotland Neck Commonwealth.

The editor of tho Commonwealth
spent two days at the jamestown
Exposition last week. We had seer
the grounds twice before, once in
October and again the last of May
The Exposition is now complete
and while it is not a great Exposition
in the sense that the " orld's Fair al
Chicago in 1898 was considered, it is
still great Exposition. 1t is unique
in it's arrangements and appoint
ments, and no one need spend a day
| or a week there even withoutinterest.
1t is an enterprise which, from it's
very nature, enlisted the interest
OF our entire country; and it will be
long remembered as a prominent
date-an occasion of great and
significant interest-in our country's g
history. 1t truly represents wonder
ful development in this great coun-
try's history in the three hundred
years OF our experience in nation
making.
The grounds are pretty and well
laid Off and at every turn one sees
strong evidence of great and strenu-
Gus effort on the part of the manage
ment OF the Exposition to make il
what it promoters intended.
Viewing the grounds in the begin.
ming OF the work as we did last Oc.
tober, it seems bit wonderful that
SO much has been accomplished and
that the Exposition is so great.
The formal opening of the Exosi
ton SO long before the grounds were
ready was great disadvantage and
has all the while initiated against it
but the disadvantage has faded
out, and people are forgetting it.
North Carolina Week broke the ice, ~
as one said, and the people have
continued to go in greater crowds
ever since.
1t was particlarly gratifying to
note the good order of the crowds
and the good behavior of people
generally. From the time we left
home until the return we did not see
more than two persons who seemed
to be under the influence of strong
drink, and we remember to have
heard only one person use a word of
profanity. Everybody seemed to be
in good spirits, both at the Exposi-
ton and the city of Norfolk, and bar
ring the fatigue incident upon such a
trip, it was altogether pleasant.
Norfolk has reason to be proud of
the great Exposition, and while the
citizens OF the city have been taxed
heavily, we believe that in the end it
will be great investment, for thous-
ands of people are learning about
Norfolk and it's advantages who
never before had any true conception
nf them.
In brief article like this it is i'm
possible to go into details. There
are many interesting attractions and
innocent amusements in the grounds.
The buildings are we'll arranged and
they serve we'll the purpose for which
they were designed. The different
State buildings are tasty and show
we'll for the State which they repre-
sent. 1t may have been an accident,
but there seemed to be more a cor
dial welcome at the North Carolina
building than at any State building
we visited. The young man in charge
meets those who enter with a cor
diality which we did not see at the
other buildings. The building itsell
is a thing of beauty, especially on
the inside.
The State exhibits are all interest
ing but we believe North Carolina
exhibit, while not as large as some
others, is one Of the most unique and
attractive there
MAny other things might be said
but we won't say any more now. 1t
will pay any one who can spare the
time and money to spend a few days
at the Exposition, for there has been
nothing exactly like it in this country
before, ..and of course there will be
nothing just like it again.
The enterprise is quite creditable
to Norfolk, to the State Of Virginia
and to the entire nation.