The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-15

tute. The elimination OF ths
! naval parade, too, meant th'
! loss of splendid pretoria
feature. The bay unquestion
| * ably needed animation ant
| color. However, the splendoI
| OF Tamalpais contributed tc
! the feature unique
among cxpositions. The White
! City OF Chicago was marvel in its way; but this
Oriental city represented something in city
building and it was set in an unrivaed magni-
cence.
What seemed to be loss may yet manifest as
GAIN after the frequent habit of loss. At the start
the exposition out its own merits. The
coming of the President will give impetus
when the novelty OF the first few weeks have worn
off, And when the naval display does take place
! it will be further addition to interest. April will
see the exposition in perfect running orlcr. 1t is
inevitable that, in the beginning, it should look
somewhat disordercd The wonder is that it ap-
pears as we'll as it does. The director of works
showed kind OF genius in keeping his work up to
time in so far he could with his immediate CO.
operators; but there co-opcrators beyond his
reach some of them of distinction who could
not be whipped into line
iHcn, 100, an CSpOSitlOn Is somewhat nkc d
pipe 1t has to be seasoned. In every exposition
there exhibitors who, seemingly from delibcr-
ate purpose, make themselves late. They like
those people who always arrive late for engage
mcnts. They expect nothing to be on time and
they that nothing important will happen
till they get there.
when will be the best time to sec the expo
sition?" This question and questions like it have
been asked many times during the past few
months, often by people living in the East. They
arc not altogether easy to answer. But | should
think that two would be just about equally
attractive, the spring and the autumn, when the
climatic conditions certain to be ideal here. But
it is safe to say that the largest number OF people
will come during the vacation season, in midsum-
mcr. They will then verify for themselves report
they have often heard and for the most part never
believed, that San Francisco summer is free from
extreme heat In few weeks the grounds will
present magnificent garden blooming with spring
flowers. But in the autumn the display will be
just abundant and rich.
The exposition authorities have been more or
less criticised for the way they advertised the
fair throughout the world. They have relied
almost wholly on descriptive matter and on illus
tratonS which they have scattered broadcast Tor
free publication. In this way they have secured
a tremendous amount OF publicity at a minimum
OF cost. If they had gone directly into advertising
they would have been obliged to spend vast sums
of money and, in spite OF their great resources.
they were continually subjected to a heavy strain
and had to economic wherever they could
The interest OF the first few days very nat
uraly centcrcd in the palaces and the Zone. Later
the other buildings will receive due appreciation.
The Palace OF Horticulture, designed by local
architects IS indeed very remarkable example
Of There ar those
who consider it the most interesting and the most
successful OF all the buildings. 1t appeals par
ticufrly to lover; OF the deliberately ornate IN
architecture. And. architect remarked in my
hearing the other day. cit is French all over. 1t
consists almost wholly of glass with decorative
supports, surrounded by highly ornamental spires:
In its setting 1t docs not give the impression OF
vastncss. perhaps because it Is so light and grace
full; but it actually spreads over five acres and the
DOME which is its most striking feature. IS 100 fcct
high. The cost OF heating 1t will be ono OF tho
heaviest OF all the items OF running expense borne
by the exposition. In architecture and in its dress
OF green Ii is companion building to tho FESTIVAL
Hail. designed by Robert Farquhar OF Los Angeles,
very French in its OF domcs, large and small
and Of mnarCts and of statuary, the kind OF struc
turc one often finds used in France for thcatcrS
and opera houses. Its light green Is not so happy
as the deeper shade OF green used IN tho Palace
of Horticulture; but it hsrmonizrS with the color
of many Of the domcs, evidently great favorte
with Jules GucrIn.
California Building mighty in dimensions is a
great success Thomas II. i. Burditt OF San
Francisco, deserves the warncst praise for achiev
ing this splendid example OF old mission archi-
lecture. There those who consider it little
severe. With truth they say that. in the Mission
buildings OF California there was introduced an
element not perhaps OF gaiety but element sug-
costing joy that could come from life attuned TO
peace and to spirituality But. in studying the
California Building it seemed to me that the archi-
tect had reached effect of splendid picturesque
ness and noble dignity.
Among the foreign and State buildings Canada
stands out distnctivey for structure that is ono
of the architectural triumphs. New York has also
contributed building that is distinct ornament.
Visitors from Massachusetts, will be glad to see
somewhat diminished reproduction OF the Boston
State House; but they will also be little disap-
pointed, too. For the gilded dome and all that
goes with it cannot seem quite natural away from
its eminence the top OF Beacon Hill. Massa-
ckusetts, with its fine architectural resources,
might have done better by erecting a new build
ing with beauty of its own. However, the in.
terror is charming. 1t reminds of an idealized
colonial house, filled with pretty antique things
and with portraits OF the distinguished figures IN
and in literature that have given the