The Athens Messenger, September 21, 1893, p. 6.

Interesting World's Fair Letter Chicago, Ill., Sept. 17, 1893

Editor Athens Messenger: - According to promise I drop you a few lines. So many Athenians have seen the Fair, each looking through his own eyes, that I approach the task of writing out an impression with a sense of hesitation, realizing that I am inviting criticism from those who looked at things through spectacles different from mine. However, I shall give you a few notes taken from a list of wonderful things I saw at the Fair.

The Electricity building was intensely interesting. We noticed a large crowd in the upper gallery and made our way around the find the center of attention, which was an electric oven, where they were roasting meat and baking biscuits. There was not the least sign of a stove or a spark of fire, and yet the cooking was going on all the same. A little wire that leads into the oven does the whole business. Another feature in this entertaining building was the sweet strains of music coming by telephone seven miles away in the heart of the city. It was amusing to see people trying to locate the source.

The Children's building is a beautiful structure, decorated in blue and gold. Here we met crowds of people. It was only after patient waiting that I succeeded in wedging my way up to the big windows where men and women of all sizes and complexions stood peering through the glass. What did I see? Only a row of dainty white cribs and swinging cradles and babies -- that were being cared for by trained nurses in white caps. the little children seemed to be behaving very well indeed.

We took a leisurely walk through the Transportation building and saw the family carriages of President Polk and Daniel Webster, together with the little boat in which Grace Darling made her marvelous rescues.

We spent a delightful hour in Horticulture hall amidst the lovely flowers and products of every clime. The palms and ferns are simply immense, attracting crowds of visitors interested in plant culture.

Passing down the middle aisle of the Liberal Arts building we saw the glittering obelisk composed of Columbian half-dollars. At the German exhibit we saw more rare jewels, the personal property of Emperor William and the Empress. I noticed a beautiful fan of German point lace, with shell sticks set with diamonds.

The most wonderful dress, perhaps, is the one made of spun glass, expressly for Eulalia. The fine work on this dress is simply beyond my description.

We took a walk through the streets of Cairo and witnessed an Egyptian wedding, which began with a wild dance and ended with a sword fight. We also saw a woman take a comfortable ride on a camel, and I have no doubt she saw more of Cairo than she could have seen afoot.

The remainder of the day was spent in the Art Gallery, and after a good look at the "discovery of America," we joined the thousands of people who had formed along the lake front to enjoy the refreshing breeze and listen to the strains of sweet music.

Our view of the White City from the lake by night was the most magnificent spectacle of all and can never be forgotten.

I cam to see and not to write, and it would be as uninteresting to your readers, as I am finding myself in this vast conglomeration of nations and things. Having lost myself no less than five times in that many hours.

Return to letters section.

Return to frontpage

The Athens Messenger, September 21, 1893, p. 6.

Interesting World's Fair Letter, Continued. Chicago, Ill., Sept. 18, 1893

Ed. Messenger:- Taking up where I left off in my last, I found the French exhibit most interesting. The display of silks was considered handsome. And the French dresses! was there ever such a sight for the ladies to gaze upon. The one that took the cake, and bakery thrown in, was an ivory toned satin, embroidered all over with pearls. They were not for Athens country ladies. Some of these elegant affairs were valued at seventy-five thousand dollars. The laces were not so much in my sight. But you may imagine there was a good deal of staring at one piece, marked ten thousand dollars a yard.

At the Tiffany exhibit we saw large diamonds and also saw them cut and polish these precious stones.

On my way, I passed the King of Denmark's room. The furniture is solid gold, and the draperies brocade velvet, flounced with gold and silver. I was much pleased with some of the foreign exhibits. It is probably a lack of taste on my part, but I do not take much stock in gorgeous and fierce looking colors.

I enjoyed glimpses of foreign life very well, except the Exquimaux village, which I considered more filthy than the alleys of Athens. They have their villages surrounded with fences and are living just as they live in their own country.

Watching the Venetian workmen moulding beautiful forms in glass was a novel sight. They do not seem to have any patterns but work entirely by eye.

I had time for no more than a leisurely walk amid the clattering machines of Machinery Hall; but I did not forget the immense boilers and engines that set all the machines in motion.

Perhaps it will be interesting for you to know that the most beautiful state building on the exposition grounds is that of Ohio, in my opinion. True, it is not so large as some others, nor so brilliant as California's; but to one who tires of the flashy and is fond of the tranquil, is to step into Ohio and rest the eyes.

I have only given a few dashes of the glories you may experience by going to the Fair.

Return to letters section.

Return to frontpage

1893 Athena Yearbook, pp. 119-120.

Debate.

"Should the World's Fair be Opened on Sunday."

Bob Roberts, Affirmative.

J.L. Miller, Negative.

[Note: the editors of the yearbook chose to excerpt only the final arguments of the debate.]

I have listened with a good deal of patience to the gen'l'm'n on my right. He seems to have forgot the teachin's of history. Wh'y, Uncle Sam, she would never have won the battle on the second day's fight at Bull's Run, if she had done that way. But there are some good people who think you oughtn't to do anything on Sunday. W'y, the first battle of Chickamauga was fought on Sunday. If Napoleon Bonaparte had every a called back his pickets on Sunday, e'e'd a never become a mistress of the commerce on the sea. (Cheers.) Uncle Same, she'd never - (Thunderous cheers.)

But back to these good people who ought to be shut up. Let 'em come over with us, an' swear a little, an' drink a little beer, -- an' -- an' enjoy 'emselves. (Cheers while the electric lights give the closing signal, three deliberate breaks of circuit.) I don't [120] know whether you are tryin' to Joner me, or not -- a monkeyin' with the lights. (Lights go out and Bob sits down amid deafening applause.)

(The gas lamps being lighted, Miller took up the gauntlet as follows:)

I know that the country have a great many vices which are a vice to the country. One of the fellers on the affirmative was talkin' about the laborin' man who lives around Chicago. This laborin' man, instead of restin' on Sunday, will go to the World's Fair. That leaves it open that there have been a moral detriment. And if the World's Fair are a moral detriment, it ought not to be held at all.

I don't mean that the World's Fair in full are a moral detriment. There will be very few people who will see the World's Fair at all. There is no provision for them at the World's Fair. So on that point, there is little to be credited.

And as for the educational advantages of the World's Fair, I don't think it will help one bit. For to receive an educational benefit, it must make a study of things seen. There will be few people who will take in the World's Fair while full.

(Decision for the Negative)

Return to letters section.

Return to frontpage
[andy sig]