The Glasgow courier., 1915-12-10

provided. So the effect from the hills,
with the exposition's greenish domes,
and the yellowish towers and minar-
cts standing out in sharp contrast
against the travertine walls of the
palaces, was that of city of the Ori-
ent.
Advances in Illuminating methods
made possible plan of illumination
at San Francisco undreamed of at St.
Louis ten years ago. Thomas A. Edi-
son said that it marked new devel-
opment which he would describe as
art lighting. Theodore Roosevelt said
the illumination was "the most Won
derful in history and the greatest
glory of the exposition"
The indirect system of lighting pre-
vailed throughout. The grounds were
treated as if in reality they were a
huge stage and the trees, the shrub
berry and the palaces mere bits of
painted scenery. Lights illuminating
the buildings were shielded by trans
parent banners, decorated with Span
ish colors and designs, which reflect
ed the glow against the palace walls
and facades, and brought out the de-
tail in soft relief to the great salts
faction of the sculptor, the artist and
the architect and to the visitor. Upon
the principal pieces of statuary, domes
and minarets, searchlights, all hidden
from the direct view of the visitor,
pointed their rays.
Colored lighting was derived chief
ly from two sources; from giant
searchlights before which were placed
at different times screens of various
tones of color and from the incandes-
cent lights concealed in the recesses
of the columns and reflecting light
upon nearby walls.
Unusual pyrotechnic effects by the
use of searchlights were attained.
Luminous shafts of light were used
to picture Scotch plaids in the air.
"The birth of color" a "ghost Dance"
the flying serpent" the "spooks' pa
rade" and other spectacular effects
were produced by means of fireworks,
smoke bombs and the searchlights
with their colored lenses.
Even the fog drifting in at times
through the Golden Gate was dyed
in all the tints of the rainbow by the
searchlight shafts. From the hills of
the northern part Of San Francisco
it seemed that the rays of these
searchlights spread out like a great
fan with the exposition in the fore
ground. Twenty-four of these light
projectors have been sold to the Rus
sian government.
The idea carried out in the general
scheme of the palaces was the evolu-
tion of architecture from the Grecian
period to modern times. Roman,
Moorish, Spanish, Italian and French
renaissance ideas were portrayed in
the lines of the various buildings.
The most imposing building of all
in the belief of almost all visitors, was
the palace of fine arts. San Francisco
some weeks ago inaugurated a move
ment to preserve it as monument
to the exposition. To accomplish this
it will be necessary to get the per-
mission of the United States govern
ment, as the palace stands on the
Preside military reservation.
According to the exposition man.
agement there were about $4,000 diff
ferent exhibitors, the exhibits being
valued at approximately $3.50 600 900.
The total cost of the exposition in
round numbers was $5O,OO0,OOO. This
includes requirement of site, construc-
ton, administration, maintenance, re-
pairs and final removal Of the build
ings.
Thirty-nine foreign nations and
nearly all the states of the union par
ticipated officially. Notwithstanding
the war, several of the belligerents
took part, including France, Italy,
Japan and Turkey. Yhe other belll-
gerents were represented by exhibits
made by their citizens.
During the life Of the exposition
more than 800 congresses and conven-
tions were held at San Francisco and
he bay cities. These were meetings
of national and international organ
izations representing social, political,
fraternal, industrial, economic, relig-
ious, medical, agricultural, scientific
and various other associations.
Notable persons from all over the
world were among the exposition's
,!isitors.
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