Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 August 1893 — SIGHTS IN A BIG TOWN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SIGHTS IN A BIG TOWN

PLACES OF INTEREST TO THE CHICAGO VISITOR. The Military Fo«t at Fort Sheridan, the New Art Institute and the Life-Saving Station All' Worthy a Visit from the Sight-Seer. The World's Fair City. Chicago correspondence: The World’s Fair visitor who has exhausted groups of attractions euoh as the parks, the theaters, the principal buildings and the like, need not look for other points interest, considered minor only as their scope is oonfined to some particular line of art, science, or popular utility. Among euoh is, notably, tno Art Institute of Chicago, and many hours, even a whole day, may be pleasantly and profitably spent under the roof of this great institution, which, scarcely completed, has thrown its doors open to all who love the beautiful in its most eloquent forms. It has become a spot of wide favor with citizens and strangers alike, and its accessibility, being located on

the lake front at the foot of Adams street, its rare architectural exterior, and its fine galleries combine to draw a throng and gratify the senses and enlighten the intelligence. Chicago counts a greater number of resident artists than any other metropolis in the West, according to the directory of 1892, and there are in the city numbers of very fine pictures. The Art Institute is a recent acquisition to the fraternity. The structure is the only building on the lake front as far south as the park extends, and occueis the original site of the Industrial position. It is massive in appearance, and divided, as to interior, so as to carry out perfection in convenience in behalf of the students and the publio. The average attendance of pupils is about four hundred. Its object is to maintain a school and museum of art, and the building will be found to contain a large and carefully selected collection of casts, sculpture, pictures, drawings, marbles and a library of works on fine art. There is abundant material for study, good models and life-like objects in profusion, and a practical idea of the details of art in conception and execution may be gleaned from a stroll through the im-

mense building, devoted to arts dear to the public heart. A pleasant visit begun at the Institute may be prolonged by a brief ride to the Vincennes Gallery of Fine Arts, a handsome structure nearer the World’s Fair. This institution is open at all times to visitors, without admission fee, and 'contains a large number of noted paintings and other works of art. The main gallery is claimed to be the finest west of New York. In a similar fieldj in a way, to both these institutions, is the Chicago Historical Society, temporarily occupying quarters at the corner of Dearborn avenue and Ontario street, precedent to the completion of its new magnificent home. Any person interested in local, State and national hisifcry may here observe relics connected with many notable events and persons of the past. The original collection of the society, including over 100,000 books, newspaper and manuscripts, was destroyed In the great fire of 1871, the original draft of the Lincoln emancipation proclamation being also lost, but the institution has partially recovered, and a vast aggregation of historio value is now on free exhibition, the paintings and Indian relics being particularly

fine, and worthy of clo6e and extended study. Fort Sheridan. A most Interesting point In the vicinity pf Chicago is the new military poet »t Fort Sheridan, recently adopted and Improved by the ‘Government, To those whs have only read of these homes of our regular soldiery, and are curious to see how they live, and to those as well who have visited other similar posts, Fort Sheridan will appeal strongly, for in beauty of situation, of grounds, and of buildings it has no equal in the United States, and no superior in the world. The extent and Bplendor of this post are augmented by the natural pipturesque&eee e{ the high bluffs lining the lake,

whlch rise from the pebbly beach tnd break into ravines and gorges spanned by rustic bridges. The site was chosen bioauso of the delightful and health* ful location, and just past the grounds runs the oelobrated Sheridan road, the great boulevard which, with its connecting highways, is the largest and broadest In the world, and which, when completed, will be eighteen miles in length, and dotted with palatial mansions and radiant gardens. Fort Sheridan is located within lwss than an hour’s ride from Chicago, on the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. It contains many buildings, many soldiers and a large landed area. Jt is well worth the time devoted to inspect the quarters and paraphernalia of the efimp, the evolutions of the soldiers being particularly Interesting. Ihe structures of the post aro Xn&ssive and of permanent stability. The barraoks and water tower building is 1,005 feet in length, the armory moss hall 176 feet. There are five fine edifices, resembling private residences, and used as quarters for the field officers, captains,* lieutenants, noncommissioned officers, and administration building. The cavalry drill hall and stables are, together, over 500 feel in inngth, and the chapel, guard-house, and pumping station, which is to have

an imposing tower in connection, are models of architectural beauty and utility. The Life-Saving; Station. The sight-seer on the way to Fort Sheridan or return may score a point in the way of pleasure and instruction by stopping off the train at Evanston,‘a suburb some ten miles north of Chicago. The model village of the section, Evanston is of itself worth being seen, with its palatial houses and magnificent university buildings, but it is also notable as being one of the principal life-saving stations along Lake Michigan. Those who wish to inspect the workings of the service nearer at home, however, may do so at the pier just beyond the Randolph street viaduct, whfero a similar life-saving crew is stationed. These men are a drilled, sturdy set of fellows, whose mission is fraught with peril and heroism, and the appearance of their home and environment is suggestive of many a famous nautical episode in history. The station includes buildings with a tower, from which with his fieldglass the lookout constantly scans the surface of the lake for any craft in distress. The finest lifeboats and every accessory are ready at hand—the rockets, the life-lines, baskets, beacons and the like, and, in the fiercest of storms, the orew sally forth to aid and rescue distressed mariners afloat. A visit to this station of the service involves only a brief walk, taking in a splendid view of the lake and harbor. Strangers preferring to see the one at Evanston may go thither by boat for a small fee, the trip consuming a few hours, and enabling a view of the fine residence frontage on the lake shore drive, the crib, the water-works and Lincoln Park.

ENTRANCE TO THE ART INSTITUTE.