Glancing at the beautiful orchids, roses, carnations, sweet peas, dianthus, asters, phlox, gladiolus, zinnias, and many other fragrant flowers, we experienced infinitely more subtle modulations of delight than can be easily described. The features of the horticultural displays were so striking that their memory is immortalized:—
"For this picture in my brain
Only fades to come again."
In fact, we had witnessed multifarious sublime spectacles during that day's sojourn in the White City.
Returning to the pier where the "Marguerite" lay moored, we were greatly amazed as we caught sight of Lake Michigan—to find its waters lashed into fury by a northeast gale, of which we had felt nothing while in the pleasantly tempered Horticultural Building.
Since it was impossible to stay where we were, on account of the exposed situation, there was no help for it—but to put out for our usual anchorage, inside the breakwater at Chicago. For my own part, I decided to remain on deck. Perhaps, had I realized more fully what we had to encounter, I should have sought my stateroom, with the rest. But I can truly say: for three-quarters of an hour, my whole energies were employed to keep my place.
During our entire journey from Schenectady, N.Y., to the White City, we had not experienced anything like it. Everything of a movable character had to be secured; and it was an intense relief to all, when after an extraordinary upheaval—the last effort of the uncontrolled waves upon our stanch craft—she passed into the peaceful waters behind the breakwater; completely sheltered from the raging elements, which broke with ceaseless roar upon the concrete mass.
The following morning as the rest of the party decided to remain in Chicago for the purpose of viewing the renowned play "America" in the Auditorium, I visited Jackson Park alone, spending many hours in the Liberal Arts Building, which inclosed (besides multitudinous magnificent displays illustrating the department of Liberal Arts) the object of my special interest, viz. the educational exhibits. They comprised not only contributions from every State in the Union but also from Germany, Great Britain, France, Mexico, Canada, Russia, New South Wales, Spain, Belgium, and Japan.
The general character of them was represented by models and appliances for teaching, text-books, diagrams, examples, specimens of the school work on the various scientific subjects, and illustrations of the methods employed in instruction by the teachers of the different States and Nations.
By means of the ingenious arrangement of these displays, manifesting the great achievements made in the development of pedagogy, I augmented my professional learning during the hours of that day to such an extent as would otherwise require months of careful study. The means of obtaining these results of so great interest and profit to me as a teacher, were much facilitated by my knowledge of several of the languages spoken by the nations represented there. For, I readily understood the reports, statistics, and text-books sent from the educational institutions of the leading countries. Furthermore, the commissioners of the respective sections, whom I addressed in their native tongue, complaisantly gave me all the additional information I desired.
As I inspected, among the manifold exhibits contributed by the State of New York, the specimen work from the best pupils of the Art Students' League, some sketches from life and drawings from the antique attracted my special attention. They bore the signature of a young gentleman from Schenectady—Walter M. Clute—a name which, I am certain, will be widely known in future years as that of a prominent artist of this country.