Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1893 — AT THE FAIR. [ARTICLE]

AT THE FAIR.

EXHIBITS MADE BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. Remarkable Displays Made by the Various Departments-Big Trees of California—Colonial Relics. Certainly the Government has done what it could to make the World’s Columbian Exposition a success. The appropriation of the souvenir coins was an item of consideration made to those who manage the Fair. But the exhibit made by each department of the General Government is for the people. It is a magnificent display. Money was no object in its preparation. A very large building and a war ship model built in Lake Michigan on the same measurements as the war ship Illinois, a smaller structure erected to display the hospital service of the army, a system of electric buoys just off shore, the presence of one of the coast life-saving crews, giving daily exhibitions of their work constitute the general compass of the wonderful exhibit. As soon as a person enteis the Government Building he is at once attracted to the Central Court. This court is octagonal in shape. Its covering is a magnificent dome 150 ft. high. The decorations of this couit are beautiful. The double columns at each side of each of the four entrances to the court arc in imitation of rare marble. The capitals are Corinthian and are gilded. Each of these eight sides of the court is ornamented by a very large fresco symbolical of some of the arts that have made special progress among our people. In the centre of this court or rotunda stands a unique object. It proves of interest to everyone. It comes from the Sequoia Natural Park and is a part of one of the big trees of California. These mastodons of the vegetable kingdom are among some of nature’s marvels, not yet mementoes of an unknown period. The rude hand of man was fast destioying them until the Government took them under its protection, preferring to leave them to the fate kindly nature should decree. They are found only in small groves on the mountain. Their foliage closely resembles the cedar and the wood when green is very heavy. Indeed the parts of it nearest the ground will, when first cut, sink in water. But ouco seasoned it is quite light and dry and is suspectible of a very fine polish.. The tree from which was cut the part standing in the Government building was about 26 feet in diameter, 81 or 82 feet in circumference and fully 300 feet high.. This was not selected because it was a very large one, but rather because of its regularity. Others near it were higher and wider. The section exhibited consists of 40 separate pieces. It had to be thus cut before it could be transported. It took eleven cars to bring it to Chicago. It was hauled from its mountain home on specially built trucks by teams of 15 mules each. It had to be thus drawn some 60 miles before shipping. Hollowed, a winding stair mounts to the top of the section up which visitors are allowed to pass. Within the rotunda a display is made that would admit of many a letter. In cases set at each of the eight sides of the court the Board of Lady Managers make an exhibition of Colonial relics that is positively fascinating to anyone with the least bit of knowledge of our country’s history. One case is devoted to a collection of Washington relics. Such articles as his sword, his comtnis slon from Congress signed by John Hancock, various diaries, etc., etc., may be seen. One of the last named articles is opened where the hand of Washington traced the last words his pen ever wrote. The second’last item is dated Dee. 12th. It tells of “a circle around the moon” and notes that it ‘ ‘started to snow at ten o’clock.” Dec. 13th. Then tells of the continuance of the snow—its stopping during the morning—the visit of a friend. Then pomes those last words: “Mercury 28 degrees at night.” Verily, it was growing colder. The next day George Washington passed from earth. In another case I happened upon a lock of his hair which had been given by Mrs. Washington to Mrs. Asheton Bayard in December, 1799 —probably cut from the head of the dead man on the 14th day of that eventful December. The scarf with which the Marquis de la Fayette had bound up hie wound at the battle of Brandywine; a white silk vest from whose pockets flowers and grass seemed to grow and over whose front bees and June bugs were daintily scattered by the needle of the ill-fated Queen, poor Marie Antoinette, assisted ly Madame Genet, a Lady of the Bedchamber; a drum that had been beaten nt Bunker Hill; a gun, the property of a negro named John Salem, w o carried it at Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill, and with which he shot Major Pitcairn; a scarf that came over in the Mayflower—these were a few among hundreds of other objects equally interesting. I had to hasten. Then were a thousand other things to be seee and I went to the Treasury Department. Its history may lie read in the display it makes of the various issues of coins and paper money. The collection of coins, however, is by far the most unique part of all it shows. Some of these are from the dim long agp. One dainty bit not quite as large as a grain of corn is a counterpart of the little piece of money that has become famous liecause Our Lord commended the genuine charity of her who gave it. The Widow’s Mite is prominently placed and the sight-seer cannot miss it. Some coins shown are from the days of Seleucus I. He was Syria's first king and lived from 354 to 281 B. C. Indeed, these coins are a chronological history that reaches from such an early period to the latest bright bits the mints are turning out to-day. A splendid and very interesting display is made by the Postal Department. It began with an old mail coach. This particular coach has a history. It once carried the mail in Montana, from Helena to Bozeman. This was in 1863. Then it made the trip but once a week. Now, in these times, that same mail route is covered four times a day; the coach had the honor of carrying such distinguished people as President Garfield and President Arthur in 1883, and General Sherman in 1877. In contrast to the old mail coach is the model of a modern railway postal car. The model is open, and an idea of the interior of arrangement is readily obtained. Then this department presents a model of the “Pony Express,” and by its side a later day “special delivery” boy on a bicycle and dressed in the regulation uniform. Another life size model near, an Esquimaux, with his sled and dog team, carrying the mail in the snowy desert of the distant north. The Government has secured models of the mail carriers; methods of sorting the mails, etc., etc., from nearly all the nations of the World. I presume there is not a similar exhibit to be seen in any museum in the world. But one case in the postal department inevitably catches and holds the crowd. It is a collection of some of the curios that arc an-

chored In the Dead Letter Office and were never claimed. A person who stands before this case has many strange thoughts. It is a place where a poet might muse and a wit be in paradise. Think of a human ear being sent through the mail, or a skull, doll babies, relics of hair, mourning cards, whole cakes, axes, cartridges, boxes of candy, etc., etc. A shirt cuff that was left by some traveler who failed to pay his bill has been written on and rhymed on, and sent after the absconder. But he never got it; I wonder if some of tb« people who mailed some of the objects in that case have as yet seen and reoognited what they have lost and never knew whence it had gone? There, arc sad things, too—objects that meant ever so much to some poor heart or another. Verily, it is a strange collection. From here I went to the exhibit made by the Coast Geodetic Survey.

One of the most interesting objects here is a relief map of the United States and Alaska made on a one-millionth scale. It is consequently a section of a huge globe to view which the visitor is obliged to mount a platform about 10 feet high. In this relief the Rocky Mountains arc no higher than the thickness of the jiencil with which I write. In connection with the exhibit a globe is shown illustrating the distribution of the earth’s magnetism. When Columbus crossed the Atlantic he and his sailors were alike puzzled at the odd variations of the needle. Nowadays the earth is bo well known that a mariner at sea may know just at what point his needle will be due north, where it varies eastward, where westward. This is elucidated in the Government display by a large globe. Broad bands of buff and blue moving in curves and separated by a red line are painted over thia miuiature earth. These bands are unequal in size. The buff shows those parts of the earth where the needle is so acted on as to vary westward. The blue parts indicate an eastward variation. Where the strange powers producing these effects meet, they seem to neutralizs and the needle pointe directly north. The red lines indicate these places and are known as agonic lines. One place in eastern Asia has an odd oval spot in which the needle varies westward. Why or wherefore, who can tell?

Then come the light houses. The variety of lenses is very pleasing. Some revolve and thus produce flashing effects. Others are steady and so large that at a sufficient elevation they may be seen twenty miles away. It would astonish one who has never seen such an object to note the power to which a common lamp flame can be intensified by one of these lenses or rather system of lenses. No reflecting substance is used. A center lense is surrounded by a series of triangular prisms so arranged that they bend the rays of I'ght parallel to those that pass through the center lenr. Thus condensing the rays of the light, astonishing brilliancy may be given a common lamp. I next passed to tfie Hospital exhibit. Herein the cultivation of disease germs is being carried on. Quite a number are labeled, described and classified. An attendant is ready and willing to give all the necessary explanations one may wish. Indeed, this is one of the features of the Government exhibit—the even temper of its employees end their willingness to explain all connected with whatever they have in charge. The exhibit made by the War Department is particularly interesting. The process of the manufacture of firearms as well as the making of cartridges are illustrated by a set of the machines which are used in actual operation. Models of the various uniforms of the past and of today are displayed on life-size figures. The methods pursued by the army engineering corps are beautifully illustrated by means of the most perfect models, relief maps, etc. In one corner of this department a display of Greely’s Expedition is made. The moment selected is that of Lieut. Rockwood’s return from the farthest north. Greely is welcoming them home amidst the snow that glistens about. Upon a hill the fort is seen, the men apparently shouting their welcome to those that have just returned. It is a very realistic representation. But I could go on forever describing the splendid showing made by the Government. lean only refer to the Smithsonian Institute, and the National museum- It is worthy of the nation. The agricultural department makes a display worthy of the name. The naval exhibit on the battle ship Illinois has an educational value that to be appreciated must be seen. The Life Saving Station, the United States Weather Bureau, can only be mentioned. Indeed, it would be a happy thing if this exhibit alone could remain intact. It certainly is a museum of instruction as to the care with which all matters connected with the Government are regulated. Uncle Sam has done himself proud at the World’s Columbian Exposition.