People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 May 1893 — THE WORLD’S FAIR. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE WORLD’S FAIR.

▲ Fresh Grist of Gossip from the White City. The Question of Sunday Opening—Bad Weather for the Foreigners—Some of the Favorite Besorts of Visitors. (Special Chicago Correspondence.] There is at present much uneasiness in certain quarters about the Sunday opening of the fair. The directory promptly closed the gates on the first Sunday in obedience to the mandate of congress, and made no effort to open on the following Sunday, hut at one of its meetings, held a few days ago, that body came to the conclusion that con{press could exercise no authority over

•nything but the exhibits, and it was given out as the intention of the directory to open the grounds to visitors on Sunday and charge only twenty-five cents admission. This action on the part of the directory, or the intelligence that such action was contemplated, greatly annoyed the church people of the whole country, and steps were taken to prevent the opening if ipossible. It has been reported that pressure was brought to bear on the national commissioners in order to defeat the intentions of the directory. How true this is cannot be stated, but this much is certain, the commissioners have done nothing up to the present writing to thwart the wishes of the directory. The latest move on the part of the board was to amend the rules, which precluded Sunday opening, to read as follows:

“The exposition shall be open for the admission of visitors until October 80, 1898, on each day of the week, subject, however, to the following regulations for" the management and conduct of the exposition Sundays: On each and every Sunday the operation of the machinery in Machinery hall and elsewhere shall be suspended as far as practicable. Exhibitors and employes shall be relieved from duty except so far as their presence is essential and necessary for the protection of property and the public peace, but all employes whose Services are required Sunday shall be given one day of rest during the week. Religious services may be held each Sunday in Choral and Music halls at such hours as shall be designated and named by the council of administration, and said council shall have authority to arrange for such services. The fee of admission on Sunday is fixed at fifty cents.” The board also voted to return the partly retained gift of $2,500,000 to the government, and the decision was placed in the form of a rule to be forthwith submitted to the national commission. It is said that many of the commissioners are pleased with the board’s action and the chances for a seven days’ fair are increasing. « In the meantime the people flock out to the fair grounds on Sunday and poke about as if they entertained hopes of being by some special dispensation of •he fair officials permitted to enter. Finding the turnstiles immovable they wander off to the sideshows and scatter their small change among the one-horse vendors of creature comforts who ply their callings on Sunday as well as any other day. There are shows of various kinds in the neighborhood of the fair, merry-go-rounds, roller-coasters and the like, and these do a thriving business when the crowds rebound from the barred entrances of the fair.

The work in the grounds still goes on on Sunday, and the workmen are doubtless glad that the people are kept out one day in the week, so that they can work undisturbed for a few hours at a stretch. The exhibits are all rapidly nearing completion and in the course #f a few days the noise of the carpenters will have entirely ceased in most of the buildings. The restaurant question is not fully settled as yet, and the'lunch basket is still a popular institution with the people. They are bound to stick it out, and if things keep on as they are some of the restaurant keepers are going to be bankrupted. There has been a great reduction in prices in some of the eating houses, however, and with those who have made the reduction trade is petting better, and by the time tne summer crowd commences to pour in this trouble will be practically settled.

In consequence of the unheard-of weather we have been having there has been much discomfort among the for* eignere in Midway Plaisance. It does seem as if the elements had conspired to show the people of other lands what a perfectly insupportable climate we have in this part of the world. For a few days there was sunshine. Not the warm and comfortable kind they have in the sunny climes from which many of them came, but a weak and watery imitation of the real thing. This encouraged them to venture forth from the seclusion into which the cold and rain had driven them. But they would no sooner get abroad than a cold bank of clouds would cover up old Sol’s lukewarm* visage, and with a shive? and a shudder they would all put for their respective quarters, where they would cower over a handful of embers and in cold-storage accents give utterance to their several and private opinions of American weather. It is really a wonder that there have not been a great many deaths among the thinly-clad people of the Plaisance, so inhospitable and severe has been the spring season. Some of the people have been compelled to return to their native lands on account' of illness and 'homesickness brought on by bad weather. As the season advances the grounds take on fresh beauties in the region of the Horticultural building, and the wooded island in the center of the lagoon offers increased attractions. This island is a perfect beauty spot and is much sought by couples who prefer a quiet stroll apart from the thickly peopled walks of the grounds. It is about fifteen acres in extent and is the only vestige of natural ground remaining in the park. The lagoon separates it from the main land, from which it is approached by several beautiful bridges, all surmounted by fine pieces of statuary taken from the wild life of the forest The island is to present some fine work in the shape of landscape gardening, and flowers from all lands will soon be blooming in its beds. The crowning glory of the place is to be a rose garden, where fifty thousand plants of over two thousand varieties stand in graceful grouping. On this island are the Japanese temple, the New South Wales brush hut and the Roosevelt log cabin. Another favorite resort of visitors is the lake shore. The splendid promenade is a restful change from the somewhat difficult round of sight-seeing. Here one may stroll at leisure beside the blue waters of the lake and quaff the refreshing breezes, or, if not averse

to sitting on the stone embankment, take a squat and view the lake craft aa they come and go. This latter seems to be a favorite position with some, and it is no uncommon sight to see a spooning couple with their faces turned seaward drinking in the beauties of the scene. The lake pier is another much-sought point of vantage. From it may be obtained a splendid view of the fair buildings and the lake. In the warm days of summer, which we have every right to expect will come sooner or later, providing the weather bureau does not get up a comer on rainstorms and keep our ardor perpetually dampened, this pier will afford a cool retreat from the glare of the white buildings. Here the boats unload their passengers, and this also will furnish a very taking subject for contemplation. On this pier, which

extends about a block out into tbs lake, just south of the grand entrance to the lagoon, there is a movable sidewalk which takes people its entire length. This in itself is a unique feature, and one that will command a large patronage. Aside from the points named there are a number of other choice spots which will be much frequented by those who tire easily of the exhibite in the great buildings of the fair.

NEVER WEARY OF THE FAIR.

THE WOODED ISLE.

HASH-HOUSE HANGERS.