News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1915-09-08
BETTY Al THE FAIR
Letters of the Panama Pacific ExDO
sition by Florence livingston


fit it better The beautiful tower tina
dominates il, strikes the Keynote, glis
iening in the sun or flashing softly int
the bold eyes of inqnisitive searchlight
that appear when night has fallen. Il
its rich dress, that tower commands tn
allegiance of the entire Exposition, ant
all things follow where it leads. On,
could not imagine a more harmonious
( grouping of buildings or more grateful
courts and gardens.
l have been here now several weeks
but so far from growing tired, find tina
l cannot feast my eyes sufficiently upor
the artistic beauty of this wonder city by
the sea. 1t makes me sad to think thai
it will not last, that in few short months
IL will fold its sheeny wings and fit back
to the land of dreams from which il
sprang And when it leaves, what will
become of the paintings and statues, the
needlework and handicraft, the marvellous
machines and clever devices, the striking
products of nature and of man? Don't
say packing cases Not for worlds would
l see all these exhibits coldly consigned
to boxes and crates; prefer to believe
that when their time comes, they will
have the grace to vanish by innate power,
quietly and without notice.
1t took sure hand and clever brain
to lay out this big fair in way that
would be pleasing at first glance and
would be increasingly satisfying as time
goes on. Eight enormous palaces, head
ed by the tower of Jewels, constitute the
central group. They are separated from
ono another by wide avenues, small
courts, and by three large circular courts.
each one distinct in plan and significance,
but adorned with statuary, trees and
flowers, fountains and quiet pools.
ike best the Court of the Universe,
which is in the center. 1t has large
sunken garden, just now filled with rho
dodendrons, and is bounded on the south
by the Tower of Jewels, through the arch
of which one can see section of the
city; on the east by the Arch of the Ris-
ing Sun, surmounted by group repre-
senting the Nations of the Orient; OH the
west by the Arch of the Setting Sun. up
holding the Nations of the Occident;
and on the north by an avenue which
leads to the magnificent Column of
Progress and opens on the blue waters of
the bay.
These buildings are very exclusive.
They are enclosed by thoroughfares, but
interested in none. On the east, the Pal-
ace of Machinery interposes its hug
bulk between them and the Joy Zone; on
the south, Festival Hall and the Palace
of Horticulture stand sentinel on each
side of the main entrance, being separat- |
by beautiful gardens, broken by two la
goons and the splendid Fountain of Ener-
gy and blooming with acres of yellow !
flowers. Pansies opened the fair, followed |
by daffodi!s and then tulips, and now we
have pansies again. On the west, large |
lagoon, owned by stately swans and co ~
Portable ducks, lies in front of the Palace
of Fine Arts, long, crescent-shaped
structure; on the north are the Marina
and Yacht Harbor. Stretching away to
the west and northwest are the state and
foreign buildings.
Does not this mperfectdescriptioh bring
to your mind miniature city? And the
goes further, for system and
regulation are everywhere, working con-
but unobtrusively under the
surface. Think of the extensive electric
apparatus that is required to run this
place by day and make of it fairyland
by night! And yet there is not wire
overhead.
Then there are fire stations, hospital
with two white ambulances as servitors,
a completely organized administrative
department with headquarters in spec
al building, bank, a photographers
studio, checking booths, a hotel, numer-
BUR restaurants and cafeterias, to say
nothing of lunch counters. The grounds
Are under the immediate supervision of
guards, in brown uniforms and smart
puttees. They are courteous, well-in-
formed men, patiently resigned to an
,wering questions and directing the puz-
lied visitor. They have the power to ar
TEST any offender, take him to the gate
md turn him over to the authorities OF
the city, since there are no policemen at
the fair-at least, there have been none
10 far, although there are whispers OF re-
the guards and extending the
formal jurisdiction of the city officials.
A long train of tiny cars runs around
The north end of the grounds on narrow
rack that every child must want to take
up and install in his play room. Every
little while the engine and the track de-
tide to go their separate ways, and the
engineer uncrsmps himself from his con-
,tricted post and enters upon half-hour
IF persuasion. The passengers get out,
and such is the force of contrast that
hey appear to be of heroic size, almost
hiding the train. which looks less grown
up than ever.
There are also narrow white electric
Jars that take us from point to point.
hesitated to say tears" because that sug-