They had down on the list for this day a trip to Chicago; but had asked to have the date of their tickets for the coach changed when they saw the sky was gloomy and overcast. Instead of going into the city, therefore, they resolved to give their morning to the Agricultural and the Machinery Buildings. They walked first to the Manufactures Building to get letters, and took a launch back again. While waiting for the boat they had some conversation with the man at the landing, and were surprised to learn that each of the launches cost more than three thousand dollars—the high price being paid mainly for the machinery.
THE AGRICULTURAL BUILDING—TOWARD EVENING.
Landing at the Agricultural Building, they were glad to escape the rain—a thunderstorm—by entering at the main door. The exhibits seemed to be arranged according to nationalities, the first one they came upon being that of Porto Rico; and the boys were really surprised, upon exploring their minds, to find out how little they knew about Porto Rico. Mr. Douglass knew a little more: he told them it was an island—one of the Greater Antilles—and belonged to Spain; but there he came to a sudden stop, and directed the boys’ attention to a miniature fort in which bottles of wine served as guns. Having to that extent improved their knowledge of Porto Rico, they moved on a few steps, and seemed to have walked into a cigar-box. The odor was explained when they saw before them Cuba’s display, which was not unlike that of a prosperous tobacconist. British Guiana did not repel them, though a woman cried out, “Oh, alligators and snakes!” as she turned hastily away. She was followed by two more of the less timid sort, one of whom said resolutely, “Come in. I want to see this alligator. I never saw one in my life”; to which her companion replied, “Well, gaze on him; there he is!”
“You might think, boys,” said Mr. Douglass, as the boys smiled at this dialogue, “that such people got no good from coming to the Fair. But I think such a conclusion would be a mistake. The foolish chatter we hear has little to do with what people are really thinking. They cannot help picking up clearer ideas of the world and its inhabitants as they go through these buildings. Where one sees fruits and grains, it means that this or the other country has orchards and farms. We thus get rid of many a foolish mental picture. We cease to imagine that all the Chinese are continually flying kites and smoking opium, or that all Spaniards are eternally strumming guitars in the sunshine. You may not think you have such foolish ideas, but you will probably find yourself entertaining notions quite as absurd. I only say this because we hear so much trivial chatter that you might be misled by it.”
“Well, Mr. Douglass,” Harry answered, “I have seen plenty of men, and women too, who are taking the Fair almost too seriously. And even the most foolish must find a great deal that makes him think. I know I do. Now, for instance, look at that figure”; and Harry pointed to the model of a negro workman that made part of the exhibit labeled “British Guiana.”
“I saw him,” said Mr. Douglass, “and I noticed how his leather sandals have absurd twirls and coils of leather thongs about them. The rest of his dress is very ordinary.”
“Those are just what I mean,” said Harry. “I said to myself, at first glance, that those twisted rolls of leather were silly ornaments, and showed that the man was a savage in civilized clothes. Then I wondered whether they hadn’t some use, and—”
AGRICULTURAL BUILDING, NORTH FRONT, SEEN FROM THE GRAND BASIN.