“Where did you go, Mr. Douglass?” Philip asked.
“I went to the other end of the grounds, to the Anthropological Building. I heard there was a set of apparatus for measuring nerve-force, mental-power, and so on, which would be applied to a visitor. I went through the process, and found it very interesting, though it took a long time.”
“Did you notice the Hunters’ Camp and the Australian Bark Hut near the bridge we came over?” Harry asked.
THE FIRE-BOAT “FIRE QUEEN.”
“Yes; and went into both,” said Mr. Douglass. “How well they contrast with these enormous, complex show-buildings, reminding us how much that is shown here is not necessary to life or happiness! After lunch I’ll go back with you to the main building, and we’ll ride up to the roof.”
Walking back, they noticed on the railings of the bridge a life-preserver and line, hung ready to be thrown at once to any one who might fall in. They also saw the “Fire Queen,” a steamboat fire-engine, lying ready for service by the same bridge. “That shows,” Mr. Douglass said, “how carefully everything here has been thought out.”
Returning to the big building, they went through the silversmiths’ and jewelers’ exhibits, which were rich and elegant without being gaudy or tiresome. There were great crowds here—and they saw only a few of the pieces of silverware and jewelry. The Tiffany Glass Company’s beautiful chapel they pronounced one of the successes of the Fair, and just opposite they stopped to examine many watches, watch-movements, and the machines that made them.
Coming to the elevators, they bought tickets and entered, without particular thought about the trip. The door was closed, and the elevator began its upward journey. Until it was near the top Harry didn’t look down. All at once he turned his head and saw the awful depth, where tiny figures moved noiselessly about. He was not an over-sensitive boy, but for the minute the sensation was one of appalled horror. It was not fear—he had no dread that the elevator would fall; he only felt the terrible height. It was an instinctive human shrinking before the immensity of space.
He turned away, and did not recover for several minutes. He had no inclination to joke, and, indeed, for a while he could hardly summon courage to step upon the board walk that led out upon the roof. Perhaps Mr. Douglass and Philip had somewhat similar feelings, for all three sat down upon a bench outside, and did not attempt to walk around the roof.