People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 September 1893 — ODD ENTERTAINMENTS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ODD ENTERTAINMENTS.

Borne of the Singular Sights Which Greet World's Fair Visitors. International Boat and Swimming Races, Processions and Teles—A Curious Mingling of Many Strange Races of People. [Special Chicago Correspondence.]

VERY taking feature of the daily programme at the world’s fa r of late has been the boating and swi mmin g match es between the different races of the Plaisance. To pro vide some diversion for visi to rs who

had seen the sights and whose interest in the exhibits was flagging the management contrived these meetings between the people of all nations in tests of aquatic skill; and that their efforts have been appreciated has been satisfactorily demonstrated by the large and eager crowds which have been present at these unique entertainments. Such bouts were hardly ever before witnessed as have taken place in the lagoon of the White City since the novel idea was first introduced, a few. days ago. There have been entered in these remarkable contests representatives of almost every race under the sun, excepting the Chinese. John is not a lover of notoriety and prefers the retirement of his own quiet quarters and the seductive fumes of his peculiar pipe to the noise and excitement of a public gathering. Besides he is not much given to sports, beyond an occasional hand at his favorite fan-tan, bung-100 or some other game of chance which does not call for much physical exertion.

The course followed in the canoe and swimming races is through the court of honor before the Administration building and north to the wooded island, and while the races are going on the piers and bridges along the line are a solid mass of people. Prizes ranging in value according to the difficulty of the feat to be performed are awarded to the successful competitor in each bout, and it is highly amusing to witness the efforts of the different nationalities to carry off the prize. Each representative has a following of his countrymen who urge him to his utmost exertion by encouraging

shouts in their native tongues. This raises a perfect babel at times, and to the American observer of timorous tendencies there seems to be imminent danger of bloodshed, so demonstrative do the participants in the turmoil become. The contests are amicably settled, however, and the victorious party departs in high glee, leaving the defeated ones to retire gloomily to their quarters. The occasional parades of the nations are great attractions. The people of the Plaisance all turn out in gala attire and with them take their musical instruments and processional paraphernalia, of which they appear to be very proud. On these occasions there is usually a large representation from Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show, just outaide the fair grounds, which is considerable of a world’s fair itself, the oow-

boys and Indians from the borderlands fittingly typifying the American in his original state and adding greatly to the character and picturesqueness of the cavalcade. In these picturesque processions the children of the desert on their camels are quite prominent. There is a group of Egyptians from the streets of Cairo that cuts quite a figure with its donkeys, camels and a performing monkey of prodigious size. The wild people from Dahomey, South Africa, also are a drawing card, carrying out as they do the manners of their native jungles, which for picturesque savagery surpass anything to be seen at the fair.

Within the last few days several fete days have been enjoy ably celebrated. Several of the states have held their days, as have also the negroes, the grocers and butchers and several benevolent associations. On these occasions the crowd attains to mammoth proportions and the grounds present a holiday appearance. Each fete day is marked by some special order of exercises, and the members of the association or fraternity so honored lay aside all business cares and flock to the fair grounds for a day of general jollity and

recreation. It is safe to say that no world’s fair in all the history of nations has ever been so fully given over to the people as is this of our Columbian year. The daily attendance has reached an average of nearly two hundred thousand and there is a promise of a large increase during the remaining two months of the fair. A payment of ten per cent on the bonds has just been ordered and it begins to look as though there would be some profit in world's fair stock in spite of the opinion of certain knowing ones to the contrary. Retrenchment has been the order in the management of late and many large salaries have been reduced or entirely cut off, and in other ways the expenses have been reduced, all of which goes to show that our great exposition is in a fair way to prove a financial success.

The history of 'the Sunday closing at the world’s fair has been interesting and highly amusing. First, the officials declared, in private session, that the gates must be opened on Sunday because they “could not afford to waste the day;" and in public they pleaded the cause of the poor workingman, who had no other day to come to the fair. Religious exercises were arranged within the grounds and the gates opened, but somehow the Chicago workingman did not realize his advantages, or. found that a day of sightseeing was the poorest possible preparation for a week of toil. He did not need the Bible to counsel a day of rest. Experience became an individual and potent teacher. The small crowds that did come on Sunday were far more likely to make their way to the theaters, dancing halls and beer gardens of the Plaisance, than to the Art gallery or Horticultural hall, and few appreciate the advantage of paying fifty cents to go to church on the fair grounds when far more attractive paeaching is offered free of cost outside the gates. The majority of state buildings, all the exhibits of Great Britain and her colonies and hundreds of others were closed on Sunday, and the attendance slowly diminished. Then the authorities discovered that the “poor workingman" inside the grounds needed a day of rest, and, on account of this and other deduction*, decided to c«o*e the great gate*

STREETS OF CAIRO.

PEOPLE OF CAIRO.

A FEATURE OF THE PARADE.