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PLATE 97--THE MIDWAY, LOOKING WEST.
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PLATE 98--THE MIDWAY, FROM FERRIS WHEEL, LOOKING EAST.
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PLATE 99--ENTRANCE TO THE GERMAN VILLAGE, ON THE MIDWAY.
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PLATE 100--GERMAN VILLAGE--MIDWAY.
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PLATE 101--THE JOHORE BUNGALOW--ON THE MIDWAY.
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PLATE 102--IN THE TURKISH BAZAAR.
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PLATE 103--A MINARET IN THE CAIRO STREET--ON THE MIDWAY.
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PLATE 104--TURKISH LADIES IN TURKISH VILLAGE--ON THE MIDWAY.
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PLATE 105--FERRIS WHEEL--FROM THE WEST.
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PLATE 106--ENTRANCE TO OLD VIENNA--ON THE MIDWAY.
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PLATE 107--SAUSAGE VENDER--OLD VIENNA.
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PLATE 108--OLD VIENNA--ON THE MIDWAY.
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PLATE 109--EAST COURT IN OLD VIENNA.
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PLATE 110--DAHOMEY VILLAGE--ON THE MIDWAY.
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PLATE 111--THE LAPLAND VILLAGE--ON THE MIDWAY.
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PLATE 112--TYPES OF THE ARABIAN VILLAGE--ON THE MIDWAY.
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PLATE 113--SCENE AT ARABIAN VILLAGE--ON THE MIDWAY.
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PLATE 114--IN THE ARABIAN VILLAGE--ON THE MIDWAY.
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PLATE 115--COURT OF HONOR FROMADMINISTRATION BUILDING.
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End of OFFICIAL VIEWS OF THE WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION
Excerpt from "History of the United States".
CHAPTER V.THE WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITIONColumbian Celebration, New York, April 28, 1893.Parade passing Fifth Avenue Hotel.The thought of celebrating by a world's fair the third centennial ofColumbus's immortal deed anticipated the anniversary by several years.Congress organized the exposition so early as 1890, fixing Chicago asits seat. That city was commodious, central, typically American. ANational Commission was appointed; also an Executive Committee, a Boardof Reference and Control, a Chicago Local Board, and a Board of LadyManagers.The task of preparation was herculean. Jackson Park had to be changedfrom a dreary lakeside swamp into a lovely city, with roads, lawns,groves and flowers, canals, lagoons and bridges, a dozen palaces, andten score other edifices. An army of workmen, also fire, police,ambulance, hospital, and miscellaneous service was organized.Wednesday, October 21 (Old Style, October 12), 1892, was observed asColumbus Day, marking the four hundredth anniversary of Columbus'sdiscovery. A reception was held in the Chicago Auditorium, followed bydedication of the buildings and grounds at Jackson Park and an award ofmedals to artists and architects. Many cities held correspondingobservances. New York chose October 12th for the anniversary. On April26-28, 1893, again, the eastern metropolis was enlivened by grandparades honoring Columbus. In the naval display, April 22d, thirty-fivewar ships and more than 10,000 men of divers flags, took part.Pinta, Santa Maria, Nina,lying in the North River, New York.The caravels which crossed from Spainto be present at the World's Fair at Chicago.Between Columbus Day and the opening of the Exposition came thepresidential election of 1892. Ex-President Cleveland had been nominatedon the first ballot, in spite of the Hill delegation sent from his homeState to oppose. Harrison, too, had overcome Platt, Hill's Republicancounterpart in New York, and in Pennsylvania had preferred JohnWanamaker to Quay. But Harrison was not "magnetic" like Blaine. Withwhat politicians call the "boy" element of a party, he was especiallyweak. Stalwarts complained that he was ready to profit by theirservices, but abandoned them under fire. The circumstances connectedwith the civil service that so told against Cleveland four years before,now hurt Harrison equally. Though no doubt sincerely favoring reform, hehad, like his predecessor, succumbed to the machine in more than oneinstance.The campaign was conducted in good humor and without personalities.Owing to Australian voting and to a more sensitive public opinion, theelection was much purer than that of 1888. The Republicans defendedMcKinley protection, boasting of it as sure, among other things, totransfer the tin industry from Wales to America. Free sugar was alsomade prominent. Some cleavage was now manifest between East and Westupon the tariff issue. In the West "reciprocity" was the Republicanslogan; in the East, "protection." Near the Atlantic, Democratscontented themselves with advocacy of "freer raw materials "; those bythe Mississippi denounced "Republican protection" as fraud and robbery.If the platform gave color to the charge that Democrats wished "Britishfree trade," Mr. Cleveland's letter of acceptance was certainlyconservative.Populism, emphasizing State aid to industry, particularly in behalf ofthe agricultural class, made great gains in the election. General Weaverwas its presidential nominee. In Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, and Wyomingmost Democrats voted for him. Partial fusion of the sort prevailed alsoin North Dakota, Nevada, Minnesota, and Oregon. Weaver carried all theseStates save the two last named. In Louisiana and Alabama Republicansfused with Populists. The Tillman movement in South Carolina, nominallyDemocratic, was akin to Populism, but was complicated with the colorquestion, and later with novel liquor legislation. It was a revolt ofthe ordinary whites from the traditional dominance of the aristocracy.In Alabama a similar movement, led by Reuben F. Kolb, was defeated, ashe thought, by vicious manipulation of votes in the Black Belt.The Manufactures and liberal Arts Building, seen from the southwest.Of the total four hundred and forty-four electoral votes Clevelandreceived two hundred and seventy-seven, a plurality of one hundred andthirty-two. The Senate now held forty-four Democrats, thirty-sevenRepublicans, and four Populists; the House two hundred and sixteenDemocrats, one hundred and twenty-five Republicans, and elevenPopulists.Early on the opening day of the Exposition, May 1, 1893, the ChiefMagistrate of the nation sat beside Columbus's descendant, the Duke ofVeragua. Patient multitudes were waiting for the gates of Jackson Parkto swing. "It only remains for you, Mr. President," said theDirector-General, concluding his address, "if in your opinion theExposition here presented is commensurate in dignity with what the worldshould expect of our great country, to direct that it shall be opened tothe public. When you touch this magic key the ponderous machinery willstart in its revolutions and the activity of the Exposition will begin."After a brief response Mr. Cleveland laid his finger on the key. Atumult of applause mingled with the jubilant melody of Handel's"Hallelujah Chorus." Myriad wheels revolved, waters gushed and sparkled,bells pealed and artillery thundered, while flags and gonfalonsfluttered forth.The Exposition formed a huge quadrilateral upon the westerly shore ofLake Michigan, from whose waters one passed by the North Inlet into theNorth Pond, or by the South Inlet into the South Pond. These united withthe central Grand Basin in the peerless Court of Honor. The grounds andbuildings were of surpassing magnitude and splendor. Interesting butsimple features were the village of States, the Nations' tabernacles,lying almost under the guns of the facsimile battleship Illinois, andthe pigmy caravels, Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria, named and modelledafter those that bore Columbus to the New World. These, like theiroriginals, had fared from Spain across the Atlantic, and then had comeby the St, Lawrence and the Lakes, without portage, to their moorings atChicago.Horticultural Building, with Illinois Building in the background.Near the centre of the ground stood the Government Building, with aready-made look out of keeping with the other architecture. Criticsdeclared it the only discordant note in the symphony, Looking from theIllinois Building across the North pond, one saw the Art Palace, of pureIonic style, perfectly proportioned, restful to view, contesting withthe Administration Building for the architectural laurels of the Fair.South of the Illinois Building rose the Woman's Building, and nextHorticultural Hall, with dome high enough to shelter the tallest palms.The Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building, of magnificent proportions,did not tyrannize over its neighbors, though thrice the size of St.Peter's at Rome, and able easily to have sheltered the Vendome Column.It was severely classical, with a long perspective of arches, brokenonly at the corners and in the centre by portals fit to immortalizeAlexander's triumphs.The artistic jewel of the Exposition was the "Court of Honor." Down theGrand Basin you saw the noble statue of the Republic, in dazzling gold,with the peristyle beyond, a forest of columns surmounted by theColumbus quadriga. On the right hand stood the Agricultural Building,upon whose summit the "Diana" of Augustus St. Gaudens had alighted. Tothe left To the left stood the enormous Hall of Manufactures. Lookingfrom the peristyle the eye met the Administration Building, a rareexemplification of the French school, the dome resembling that of theHotel des lnvalides in Paris.A view toward the Peristyle from Machinery Hall.A most unique conception was the Cold Storage Building, where a hundredtons at ice were made daily. Save for the entrance, flanked by windows,and the fifth floor, designed for an ice skating rink, its walls wereblank. Four corner towers set off the fifth, which rose from the centresheer to a height of 225 feet.The cheering coolness of this building was destined not to last. Earlyin the afternoon of July 10th flames burst out from the top of thecentral tower. Delaying his departure until he had provided againstexplosion, the brave engineer barely saved his life. Firemen were soonon hand. Sixteen of them forthwith made their way to the balcony nearthe blazing summit. Suddenly their retreat was cut off by a burst offire from the base of the tower. The rope and hose parted andprecipitated a number who were sliding back to the roof. Others leapedfrom the colossal torch. In an instant, it seemed, the whole pyre wasswathed in flames. As it toppled, the last wretched form was seen topoise and plunge with it into the glowing abyss.The Fisheries Building received much attention. Its pillars were twinedwith processions of aquatic creatures and surmounted by capitalsquaintly resembling lobster-pots. Its balustrades were supported bysmall fishy caryatids.If wonder fatigued the visitor, he reached sequestered shade and quietupon the Wooded Island, where nearly every variety of American tree andshrub might be seen.The Government's displays were of extreme interest. The War Departmentexhibits showed our superiority in heavy ordnance, likewise that ofEurope in small arms. A first-class post-office was operated on thegrounds. A combination postal car, manned by the most expert sorters andoperators, interested vast crowds. Close by was an ancient mail coachonce actually captured by the Indians, with effigies of the pony expressformerly so familiar on the Western plains, of a mail sledge drawn bydogs, and of a mail carrier mounted on a bicycle. Models of a quaintlittle Mississippi mail steamer and of the ocean steamer Paris stoodside by side.The Administration Building, seen from the Agricultural Building.Swarms visited the Midway Plaisance, a long avenue out from the fairgrounds proper, lined with shows. Here were villages transported fromthe ends of the earth, animal shows, theatres, and bazaars. Cairo Streetboasted 2,250,000 visitors, and the Hagenbeck Circus over 2,000,000. Thechief feature was the Ferris Wheel, described in engineering terms as acantilever bridge wrought around two enormous bicycle wheels. The axle,supported upon steel pyramids, alone weighed more than a locomotive. Incars strung upon its periphery passengers were swung from the ground farabove the highest buildings.Midway Plaisance, World's Fair, Chicago.Facilitating passenger transportation to and from the Fair remarkablerailway achievements were made. One train from New York to Chicagocovered over 48 miles an hour, including stops. In preparation for theevent the Illinois Central raised its tracks for two and a half milesover thirteen city streets, built 300 special cars, and erected many newstations. These improvements cost over $2,000,000. The Fair increasedIllinois Central traffic over 200 per cent.Save the Art Building, the structures at the Fair were designed to betemporary, and they were superfluous when the occasion which called theminto being had passed. The question of disposing of them was summarilysolved. One day some boys playing near the Terminal Station saw asinister leer of flame inside. A high wind soon blew a conflagration,which enveloped the structures, leaving next day naught but ashes,tortured iron work, and here and there an arch, to tell of the regalWhite City that had been.Electricity Building. Mines and Mining Building.The Burning of the White City.The financial backers of the Fair showed no mercenary temper. Thearchitects, too, worked with public spirit and zeal which money nevercould have elicited. Notwithstanding the World's Fair was notfinancially a "success," this was rather to the credit of its unstintedmagnificence than to the want of public appreciation. The paidadmissions were over 21,000,000, a daily average of 120,000. The grossattendance exceeded by nearly a million the number at the ParisExposition of 1889 for the corresponding period, though rather more thanhalf a million below the total at the French capital. The monthlyaverage at Chicago increased from 1,000,000 at first to 7,000,000 inOctober.The crowd was typical of the best side of American life; orderly,good-natured, intelligent, sober. The grounds were clean, and there wasno ruffianism. Of the $32,988 worth of property reported stolen, $31,875was recovered and restored.