Harry and Mr. Douglass were at the other end of the grounds; for Harry, in view of his father’s letter, felt that he ought to go through the little convent, and Mr. Douglass found that end of the Fair full of interest.
It was oppressively warm in the Fisheries Building, and Philip, often over-prudent, had carried his overcoat with him. He had heard so much before coming to Chicago of the “cold breezes from the lake,” that he hardly dared to enter the grounds without some protection. At first the coat was light enough, but as time went on it seemed that each moment dropped a leaden bullet into one of the pockets, and his arms ached though he changed the burden continually from one to the other. His camera he made use of as a desk, fastening his note-book to the top of it by putting a rubber band around one end, but the coat became a great nuisance before the tour was finished.
In one tank he saw a queer turtle whose flippers were so broad that they reminded Philip of four fans on the ends of a frog’s “arms” and legs. The sand-pike, the golden ide (“A queer way to spell it!” said an old lady), and the Missouri catfish occupied more tanks, and claimed Philip’s attention in their order. The last tank of the outside row was filled with minnows,—such as boys call “shiners,”—and reminded him of a big bait-box.
Then came salt-water fish, and the change in the color and clearness of the water was very noticeable. It was much harder to see the fish, and when they scooted off to the other side of the tank, they were lost to view. The lobsters had a sort of pile of rocks to which they clung fast, and the crabs also seemed disinclined to move about. When he came to a tank labeled “sea-robins,” it was some time before Philip could see why the queer little fish were so called. At last, when one came near, he noticed a red spot beside its head, and concluded that this accounted for the name. One of the oddest specimens he saw was called the “paddle-fish.” It had a long flat nose extending out flat forward—probably it was used by the fish as a sort of shovel to stir up the sandy or muddy ground where its food was found.
MODEL OF A GROUP OF INDIAN METAL-WORKERS, IN THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING.
Philip wondered what the fish thought of their queer situation. Instead of having the whole ocean to roam through, they found themselves in narrow quarters around which great animals with staring eyes pressed continually. They did not seem at all frightened, and had probably given up their situation as a problem the solution of which was not meant for them to know. At least they must have found some satisfaction in the absence of the enemies who usually chased them about without regard for Sundays or holidays. Philip, who was of a speculative turn of mind, wondered how it would seem to men if lions and tigers might at any moment come around the corner to devour them. He hoped that the fish were less sensitive, or he was sure their lives in the ocean would be so unbearable that they would commit suicide by leaping out on shore.
MODEL OF AN INDIAN WARRIOR: GOVERNMENT BUILDING.
“Them’s catfish.”