Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1893 — THE WORLD’S FAIR. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE WORLD’S FAIR.

A Wonderful Structure—The MexiiiL can Exhibit —A Remarkable Painting:. THE TREASURY MODEL. There is no financial stringency in the rotunda of the Administration ouilding, for there stands the Treasury building literally made of money. It is composed of souvenir coins and is an exact reproduction of the Treasury building at Washington. Several days ago a stranger, evidently from Colorado, stopped, smiled, rubbed his hands, and gleefully remarked: “That’s it! That’s it! Free silver it is! Put it up everywhere.* Build houses out of it. Pave streets with it. Scatter it around everywhere. Let’s have free silver. Just to remember this visit I guess I’ll take one of them coins.” And the man was handed a souvenir half-dollar, which is worth twice its face in value. He started to walk away, when the young lady who was selling the coins remarked that he owed her 11. “Eh!’ ; exclaimed the gentleman from Colorado. “A dollar for this here! Well—um —er —ah—” And he put his hand in his pocket and drew forth a dpllar bill and handed it to the young lady without remarking any further about silver. The structure is an attractive affair and draws admiring crowds. It is really an exhibit, the object being to advertise more extensively the souvenir coins the Exposition has for sale. The building was designed by Architect W. B. Mundle, and is 18 feet long, 11} feet wide and 43 inches high, and is covered with bright, shining, Columbian half-dol-lars. THE MEXICAN EXHIBIT. No stronger contrast is offered by the whole Fair than that which Mex-

ice presents. Here, in forestry, is displayed the wealth of Mexican opportunity, the field of a great commercial future. A hundred feet distant, in ethnology, are the evidences of the civilization which was Mexico’s when the Spaniards came. To the American the beginning of all was the coming of Columbus. To the Mexican that event was only the close of an epoch. Four reconstructions of parts of the City of Mexico are among the most notable things in the collection. One of these nearly 10 feet square, is the great temple of Huizilnpochtli, as it stood when Cortes came. It is true the priests of the people who worshiped in that temple offered human sacrifices, cutting off heads on a great sacrificial stone, and letting the blood run through a little gutter hewn in the surface. But the immense temple and its finish show that these people had ideas about architecture.

In another representation one looks down upon the entry of Cortes into the city. There are the buildings, of imposing proportions, the wide, paved avenue, the Spanish army marching in, with Cortes at the head, and the native army drawn up with military precision to receive with formal honor the guests whose real character and purpose had not then been revealed. It is a scene and a pageant which would do credit to the close of the nineteenth century, and yet America had been “discovered” only a few years before.

The capture of Cuauhtemec, when the Spaniards had thrown off all disguise, and had begun the subjugation by sword, comes next. Then fell the empire. There is a fourth scene, and it represents the captured Cuauhtemec, the last of the native Emperors, asking Cortes |o put an end to him with the dagger, rather than let him live a prisoner. The pathetic story is told without words, in the midst of all the glorification of “The Discovery of America." A REMARKABLE PAINTING. In the Manufacture’s building is a painting. It cannot be spoken of too often. It is in “Nuremberg,” on the lagoon side of the building, about half way down from the clock tower and the north end of the building. The painting covers one full end of the section, and to of the city of Nuremberg, and is said to represent the city as it was in the fifteenth century. It is, however, an exact reproduction of the old place as it is to-day, with the exception of the old-time costumes. It shows a market place. The grim, gray old stone walls and buildings are brightened up by carts of flowers and vegetables and gay skirts and tunics in the foreground. It is painted by William Ritter. It seems as if the artist must have studied every old tower on the feudal walls and every gateway. Nuremberg is one of the few cities of Europe that has retained almost in its entirety the mediaeval appearance. The streets are narrow and **£.,«■»,■ -r- 7 , i - .....

decidedly crooked,, and ydt every' where is that substantial look that means once and for all time. As you walk towards the picture it seems as if the streets lengthen out and new buildings came in sight. It is a wonderful picture in atmospheric effect, and with all due respect to the exhibitors from Nuremberg who have it in their section, it

is a great pity it is not out somewhere in more space. COMFORT AT THE FAIR. Cincinnati Tribune. Nothing but praise can be spoken of the attention to public comfort. Entrance gates are everywhere to be found, so that nobody is jostled or crowded in entering or leaving the grounds. Delicious, cool, clear water, piped more than a hundred miles from the vicinity of Waukesha, Wis., is to be had in all parts of the grounds by the simple magic of dropping a penny in the slot and lifting the sparkling liquid to the lips. Fountains of free water are also abundant, but they are less palatable than the penny fountains. Seats are to be found in all parts of the ground for weary visitors, Diversions are there in the form of steam' and electric launches and gondolas that constantly traverse the lagoon,

which winds in and out among the great buildings. You are made acquainted with all these conveniences not by having your ears assailed by shouting boys, but through the medium of the eye. The World’s Fair is thoroughly dignified in all its behavior. Its visitors are its guests, and in the hospitable spirit in which other guests are treated they are made to feel that the entire Fair is theirs while they are within the grounds. There is no official machinery visible save

the patient and polite, and, it must be added, agreeably intelligent, Columbian guards. Restraint is reduced to the minipium. Visitors are practically the proprietors of the great Exposition.

PERSIANS FROM THE BOWERY. _ Henry Watterson, The Midway Plaisance has no right to be connected in any way with such a wonderful show as the World’s Fair. There is nothing of interest there to me’eideept the types of people. The so-called shows are frauds and “fakes.” Those that are advertised as being obscene and vulgar, are weak and vapid. There is nothing terrible about them at all, and the mysterious whispered comments upon their broadness are unnecessary. There is no vulgi rity about them. They are insipid. One woman, who pdbes as a Persian, was asked by a friend of mine what she was doing. No answer was expected as we didn't suppose a Persian could understand English. To our surprise, she looked at us, and in good Bowery patios saidr “I am knitting. What do you suppose lam doing?” Then with a downward, hocizonal potion of her hand she inquired if lye saw.

MARINE CAFE, FISHERIES AND SWEDISH BUILDINGS.

MODEL OF TREASURY BUILDING.

THE IZAAK WALTON COTTAGE.