The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-10
TIE JAMESTOWN EXPOSITION
AS IT ~ NOW.

open to severe criticism and 70 hippant
comment. Both were accorded literally.
A general impression was then given which
will not be entirely obliterated by any later
experience. Unfortunately. some criticism
Is unavoidable to-day II the truth Is to
he told. but the Jamestown exposition is
not a fake" IL In not rotten" 1t IL a
very good little show. and II by the wave OF
some magic wand IL could be completed
at once IL would Do excellent. There Ia
much that In Instructive and there IL enough
that is entertaining for those who want
that kind OF entertainment. This state
ment Ia made as the foundation Of what
follows.
Another fact may he accepted a. funda-
mental. Individual opinion OF the merit
Of the affair will depend far moro upon
what the visitor brings to II than upon what
will be found here. II an oversupply OF
expectation be a part OF III visitors
equipment there will be disappointment and
perhaps some disgust. IL a fair and open
mind and an honest Judgment DO brought.
there will be pleasant surprise and general
approval.
II il no part OF the present purpose TO
analyze the attendant physical conditions
OF the place. The writer long ago realized
the folly OF trying chemical experiments
with his digestive apparatus simply for
the purpose Of determining whether The
prices charged at hotels n restaurants
are reasonable or exorbitant. All outward
and visible signs and all the evidences OF
competent authority indicate that condi-
lions here are very much as they have been
on earlier INC similar occasions elsewhere.
Within short distances from the gates. both
inside and outside the enclosure. there are
hotels and hotels. good rooms and stufy
rooms. and there il food and food. good
food at fair prices and inferior ~provender
at low prices. There are IS and so oent meals.
and $40 dinners may be ordered by those
who want them. There are rooms at so
cents and suites at $40. Extortion is not
encouraged by the general sentiment OF
the community. and while here az else
where there will be some who will 60 away
feeling that they have paid more for VIC
tuals and lodging than either was worth.
the great majority will have no cause for
complaint on that score.
In a review OF some OF the advertising
literature Of the exposition there was found
the statement that sits industrial features
are less am~plitudinous than at some other
expositions." The same might be said OF
other features also. The show in perhaps
all Of It's parts is LESS amplitudinous" than
(or in plain English. IL isn't az big as) some
Of the affairs which have preceded it. 1t
does not claim TO be. There il no reason
why it should be. Az a matter Of fact.
there never was a sound reason for an ex-
posiiiol here anyway. The event which
il commentaries demanded some eoog-
milton. II was really our three hundredth
birthday. and we do not have oentennials
Of our existence as American people very
often.
II would nave been proper and fitting to
observe the occasion by a week or two OF
indulgence in a grand military and naval
display, accompanied by a gorgeous ex-
hibition Of fireworks and the roar Of canno
and bursts Of oratory. The eagle might
have been set to screaming until the empy-
rean ran with a h~ullaballoo that woul
have been quite ~undignified but very Amer
lean. We could then have made a contract
for the erection of some suitable n
ment. some permanent institution, and ave
settled down TO our daily duties with full
conviction that the occasion had been OBJ
served and celebrated as much as was neces-
sary. 1t was otherw Use ordained, however,
and the exposition il here. 500 acres of
ground, with buildings and decorations rep
resenting an outlay Of several millions OF
dollars. II Ia here to be seen and il is worth
seeing, albeit LESS amplitudinous' than
some Of its predecessors. 1t is quite as big
as any exposition ought to be.
Most Of those who visited Chicago and
ST. Louis and Paris and sundry other ex-
position places found them somewhat over
amplitudinous. A complete and careful
study OF those huge affairs demanded a
four years course, and while such an exper-
fence might rave been endlessly profitable
there are few of US who have either the
means or the inclination TO spend a life
time doing" expositions. There is doubt
less a large education in merely walking
slowly through miles and miles OF thronged
passageways, looking at shoes and sauce
pans. automobiles and crockery. guns,
monkey w~renches, awful oil paintings.
railroad spikes, furniture. harness. per-
fumery, kitchen ranges corsets and leather
betting. but few Of us care to spend the
brief span OF human life in that particular
occupation. The jamestown exposition Is
big enough. 1t will give all of that tired
feeling in both head and feet that is at all
necessary lneTe dtc Hiiics 10 Dc tfdNerseu'
indoors and out. and there il enough TO be
seen and heard to bewilder the average
visitor.
Just now the jamestown exposition is a
warm spot. To-day pa carries his coat
over his arm and perspires literally. Ma
fans herself vigorously. but still looks un-
comfortable. Lucy's. hair is moist n
wispy, to her evident discomfort. Johnny's
effort TO act az though hot weather did not
trouble him is very manifestly an effort.
1t il hot, and humanity knows II.
But cooler days will come, and with them
will come a larger number OF visitors. Per-
haps by cold weather the exhibits will all
he in place and the grounds show less re-
semblance to a very new and only half
baked suburban settlement.