Chicago by day and night

by Harold R. Vynne

A person of imaginative temperament can easily picture to himself the attractions that may be found in this locality. The “Bazaar of All Nations” is a mammoth structure in which will be representatives of almost every clime under the sun, grouped in their native habitations and presenting to the visitor exactly the same appearance as that which characterizes their home routine of life. Their manufactures, occupations and pleasures will be graphically pictured. The “Street in Cairo” is to be exactly what its name implies. A street in that sleepy and quaint old Egyptian city will be deftly reproduced, in passing down which the visitor may see sights exactly similar to those that would greet his vision if he were touring in far-off Cairo itself instead of in Chicago—the famous city that finds everything possible, even to the reproduction of an entire Egyptian city, to say nothing of a single street from such. The Moorish Palace will be a splendid structure and within its gorgeous recesses one may wander and try to imagine how Othello felt when he paced his vaulted halls a prey to the demon jealousy.

According to recent plans fully 150 restaurants and cafes will be in operation in the various buildings and about the grounds. These will be conveniently distributed and will have an estimated aggregate seating capacity of 6,000 to 8,000. It is intended to have in the Fisheries building a restaurant devoted as far as possible to the exclusive serving of fish. Fish dinners and fish, fresh and salt, served in every edible style, it is believed, will be a popular feature. In view of the present outlook it doesn’t seem as though any visitor need go hungry at the fair.

In line with the special features, perhaps, is the announcement recently made that a silversmith in Monterey, Mexico, is engaged on a work in silver which when completed will be an exact reproduction of the Agricultural building now in process of completion at the exposition grounds. It will be eight feet wide, will contain a quality of silver valued as bullion at $10,000, and when finished will be valued at $20,000. The Connecticut members of the Board of Lady Managers have undertaken to raise by contribution a fund with which to pay for a fine bust of Harriet Beecher Stowe. This will be their contribution toward the adornment of the walls of the Woman’s building. Copies of Mrs. Stowe’s literary works will also be contributed.

The President of Ecuador has decreed that the governors of each state of the Republic shall collect and forward to Quito, the capital, exhibits of all kinds illustrating the riches and productions of their several states. The Archbishop of Ecuador has issued an order to the bishops and priests throughout the Republic directing them to do the same, and also collect and forward everything which may be in their keeping illustrative of the history of the country suitable to exhibit at Chicago. The Consul-General of the United States at Quito has directed the consuls and vice-consuls and consular agents at different points in Ecuador to assist the governors of states in every way possible in the matter of collection of articles relating to commerce with exterior countries. The entire exhibit so collected will be forwarded intact to Chicago.

Lieut. Baker, head of the marine section of the department of transportation, has secured a promise from the Detroit Dry-dock Company for an exhibit of a perfect model in stucco of the entire ship-building plant of that company, both at its Detroit and Wyandotte yards.

A bill has recently been introduced in Congress carrying an appropriation of $18,000 “to procure, prepare, compile for publication and publish statistics of the moral, intellectual and industrial progress of the colored people of the United States from January 1, 1863, the date of the emancipation proclamation, to January 1, 1893, as a part of the government exhibit, the same to illustrate the growth of liberty, morality and humanity of the United States.”

The women of England, it is understood, are actively preparing for their participation in the exposition. At a meeting of the Woman’s Committee in London, March 3, of the present year, it was announced that Queen Victoria had promised specimens of her own work in spinning and knitting, done when she was a girl; also some of her embroidering, fine drawing and water-color painting. Princess Louise will contribute some clay modelling, Princess Beatrice several paintings and Princess Christian some embroidery.

It is probable that the visitors to the exposition will have an opportunity to see a more extensive and finer exhibition of ancient Greek art than it has heretofore been possible to contemplate outside of Greece. Mr. P. Canreading, director-general of Grecian antiquities, has accepted the invitation to participate in the exposition, with the understanding that it will be represented only by memorials of its antiquities. Charles Walstein, director of the American school of classic studies at Athens, states that the Grecian government has agreed to make and send to the exposition casts of the principal works of ancient art now in Greece, together with maps, diagrams and photographs. To these will probably be added casts and perhaps some of the original specimens of classic Greek art which are now distributed throughout Europe.