People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1893 — WHITE CITY GOSSIP. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WHITE CITY GOSSIP.

The Great Exposition on the Columbian Fourth of July. A Memorable Event Among AU Nation* at the Fair—Some Strange Feature of the Celebration—New Building* Opened. • (Special Chicago Correspondence I

F AL L the Fourth of July celebrations ever witnessed in Chicago that which has just transpired was far and away the most memorable. Jackson park was the head center of the festivities, but the whole city, including the countless hosts of foreigners and strangers in our

midst, seemed to partake of the spirit of revelry. For several days previous to the Fourth the interest in the coming event had been waxing greater and greater as the expected treat drew near, and the pent-up enthusiasm of the patriotic spirits burst forth and found momentary relief, in the surreptitious discharge of something with a bang to it, and the louder the bang the greater the relief. The hardy youngster of the street made himself exceedingly promiscuous by the din which he created whenever he found himself in a place apart from the presence of the bluecoated preservers of the city’s peace, and he kept it up so assiduously day and night that quietly-disposed people had a hard time of it trying to get more than three consecutive winks of sleep at a time. This is nothing new, of course, on the Fourth of July, but it did seem as though the firecrackers were better this year and went off with a louder bang, and the torpedoes were larger and more reliable and made twice the usual noise. The guns and cannons were on their good behavior also and fairly rent the atmosphere in their efforts to swell the volume of sound that was being poured forth in honor of American independence, Columbus and the world’s fair. As has been said, the grand attraction was Jackson park. There from morning till night no sound of guns or tireworks was heard, as the discharge of any such was in the interest of public peaoe and property strictly prohib-

Ited, bvtwhen night came there was racket and firewofks enough to satisfy the wishes of (the most hilarious celebrator on the grounds. The pyrotechnics were all in the charge of authorized persons who were skilled in tneir use, and they were confined to the water front where they were not likely to endanger the peeeious buildings of the White City. The pieces displayed were some of tihe finest creations which those skilled in pyrotechnics were capable of pitting together, and the crowd of people that witnessed the magnificent spectacle must have numbered nearly two hundred thousand. The exercises began with speechmaking, singing, etc., all of which attracted a goodly portion of the crowd, but the main centerW interest during the day was among the foreigners of Midway Plaisance. There everybody

was celebrating. Even the inky-skinned women warriors of Dahomey were doing their best to honor Uncle Sam. They were clothed, as far as it is their custom to be clothed, which at most is very sparingly, in the stars and stripes, and presented a very gorgeous appearance. They, like most of the dther nationalities on the Plaisance, gave special performaaees in honor of the occasion, an<! they seemed to partake fully of the prevailing spirit of revelry. The outpour from the city was something enormous and must been in the aggregate very near a half million. The admissions footed up considerably over a third of a million. But the vast number who daily come and go by the “underground" route would in all probability greasy augment the receipts were they tp fajve paid their passage

At the conclusion of the exercises, which lasted far into the night, a strange sight was presented in the out pouring of the multitude toward Ae gates. All the avenues were black with the slowly-moving masses of humanity. As far as the eye could reach in every direction they came swarming and surging through every opening. From all quarters to the exits the stream flowed on until the railway platforms were choked to a standstill As fast as the trains could load ano leave they lopped off the crowd, but others quickly took the places of the departed ones. Thus the exodus continued until far into the night, and many of the Fourth of July visitors did not reach their homes in distant part? of the city until well on toward morn ing. Thus Chicago has seen her Columbia? Fourth of July, and it is safe to saj that those who participated in the celebration thereof will not soon forget the day. Altogether it was a grand day and surprisingly free from acci-

dents. There were a few minor misfortumes, but nothing of a very serious nature occurred at the grounds. A world’s fair Sunday school building has just been completedin the environs of the fair grounds, which is attracting considerable interest among church people both here and abroad. It is a beautiful structure, built after the fashion of the fair buildings, and is a model of architectural excellence. It is located just across from the fair grounds on Stony Island avenue, on the western side, about midway of the park. The object <?f the building is to provide a meeting place for those interested in Sunday school work during the fair. The building .will be removed

after the close of the exposition. The lot on which the structure stands is ninety by one hundred and fifty feet. The lease for a year cost five thousand five hundred dollars. Arrangements have been made for different classes. The lower floor contains an auditorium proper, called the intermediate department Three wings reach out from this, in whieh are respectively the primary, junior and senior departments. A series of curtains makes it possible to throw all four rooms into one. From each there is a good view <®f the platform, which is situated in the rear of the building. Above is a gallery. The entire seating capacity will be twelve hundred. A library is in the front, whieh may be used as a reading room. It will be occupied by the American Bible society. A rare exhibit of Bibles, including tnany old manuscripts, will here be shown. The building was erected by contribution from Sunday school workers throughout the United States and Canada. The whole expense will be twenty thousand dollars, of whieh eighteen thousand dollars has been subscribed for. From time to time Sunday school conferences will here be held. Several foreign buildings have just been dedicated, among them being those of Ceylon, Venezuela and Costa Rica. That of Ceylon on the lake front to the north of Germany’s building is one of the most curious structures at the fair. It is constructed of material brought from Ceylon and in the doorways, steps and balustrades are some rare pieces of native carving. Among the exhibits are a great many odd articles formed of native woods and grasses, and among the valuables of the display are some very fine specimens of filigree work in silver and copper. The buildings of Venezuela and Costa Rica are both marvels of excellence architecturally and they both contain many articles of rare t interest The commissioners who have these buildings in charge are exceedingly affable and courteous and do their best to make all visitors thoroughly at home. A most interesting exhibit in the Illinois building is the farm scene on the northwest wall, showing the fields of grain, fences, barns, wagons, cattle and all the accessories of a well kept farm in the Prairie state, all done in grasses, seeds, grain and corn husks and stalks. It took fifteen girls four hundred and eighty days to complete it with th< frame, and it is said to cost 115,000 If is really a work of ark

WOMEN WARRIORS OF DAHOMEY.

MIDWAY PLAISANCE.

JAPANESE TEA GARDEN.