SINCE our last article on this, to the Pacific Coast, great enterprise, the Exposition has been opened, and the attendance for the first ten days has been about two-thirds as great as that of the Chicago Fair during the same time, very much larger in proportion to the cost and extent of the Exposition. But while the Midwinter Fair is much smaller than that of Chicago, it will have many attractions which the Chicago Fair did not have. In fact, one of the greatest attractions of the Midwinter Fair to the people in the East will be that it is held right at a time when the East is slumbering under the snow, and there are thousands of people who will be only too glad to leave the frost for a time and view the beauties of California—
"Where the leaf never fades in the still blooming bowers,
And the bee banquets on through the whole year of flowers."
Those who have already come from the East state that there are thousands who will visit California this year, and the railways have extended the time limit of excursion from the East to thirty days.
It would be impossible to speak of the many attractions which the managers of the Midwinter Fair present before the public. One of the most horrible conceptions and "attractions," if such it may be called, is the representation of Dante's "Inferno," or the infernal regions. The entrance to this horrible place is a great dragon's head, fifteen feet in height, with bat-like wings protruding from either side, and the entire front is gilded to look like burnished gold. Out of the center of the lower part of this monster head, so to speak, projects a long red tongue, like that of a dragon, and onto this the ones must step who care to venture in, and step on the teeth in the dragon's lower jaw into the subterranean regions. The interior arrangement of these "infernal regions" is rendered remarkably effective by the highly colored stalactites which hang from the walls, and which seem to extend for miles, almost, away in the distance. This perspective is produced by means of mirrors on every hand, and never before has there been a better utilization of the looking-glass for illusionary purposes. Hidden lights are made use of to add to the effects of the scene, and intricacies of passage are also brought into play. Although it is said there is much that is grotesque and uncanny in every part of this arrangement, there is nothing that is disgusting or terrifying. Of course the whole thing is based on the old traditional ideas of what hell is, and, while it may serve to take away the impress of the tradition from people's minds, it will hardly have the effect of leading them to the truth.
The Firth wheel is another concession of interest. It is 120 feet in diameter, and from the upper part of the wheel one is fully 150 feet from the lowest levels of the ground, and gets a very good bird's-eye view of the Exposition. It is of safe construction and easy motion. Another thing which will attract many, and which will indeed be of interest, is the Hawaiian Cyclorama of Kilauea, or the burning volcano. It is said to be a very realistic picture, and has been much improved since it was shown in Chicago. Another very interesting feature, at least to many of the younger generation, will be the '49 Mining Camp, which will give the people of the present day something of an idea of how men lived back in the early days of California, although it is questionable as to its moral influence. But among the most interesting things to Eastern visitors will be the displays of fruits and flowers by the various counties of California. One of the great exhibits within the Exposition was opened on January 20; this was the Northern California citrus fair. It is held in a special building erected by the northern and central counties of California. In it may be seen the citrus fruits, such as oranges and lemons, in clusters, in jars, in heaps and piles, in the construction of buildings and various designs on every hand. It was opened thus early because the orange growers say this is the time to show their fruit to the best advantage. The orange growers in the southern part of the State, however, believe that their exhibit will show better later on in the season; and the citrus fair of Southern California will not be opened until the middle of February.
FINE ARTS BUILDING.
The management of the Fair have gotten out one of the finest views of the ground on paper ever placed before the public in an enterprise of this kind. It has been posted at every railway station in the United States, and in many other places, in order that the public who may never have the opportunity of visiting the great Exposition may get an idea of what it is like. It is a lithograph from the painting by Charles Graham, the noted artist who made the picture of the World's Columbian Exposition. There is this difference, however, Mr. Graham made that picture from the plans and ideas of the projectors, but this was sketched on the grounds after nearly all the buildings were in progress of erection, and when the location of every building had been positively settled. This bird's-eye view will give an accurate picture of the Midwinter Fair. Its five main buildings are grouped around the grand central court, 1,000 feet in length, in the midst of the 200 acres of the Golden Gate Park. From the center of the court rises the electric tower, 272 feet in height, and one from the top can see 76 different concessional structures, several of which really inclose half a dozen buildings each.
The Exposition at Chicago was variously called "The White City" and the "Dream City." The name of this has not yet been decided upon, the two leading terms thus far being the "Palm City" and the "Sunset City." The latter name, however, seems to have the greatest favor.
On the opening day 72,248 passed through the turnstiles into the grounds. The grand stand, erected for the occasion, seated 7,000 people, and tens of thousands more gathered on the greensward in front of the speaker's platform. The president of the day, James D. Phelan, made his address. Rev. Wm. Ford Nichols, D.D., bishop of the Episcopal Church, offered prayer. The Governor of California, Hon. H. H. Markham, made the address and welcomed the visitors. W. H. L. Barnes, the orator of the Pacific Coast, made the speech of the day, and Mrs. M. H. De Young, wife of the director of the Fair, pressed the electric button which set the machinery in motion. The day was warm and beautiful, many taking off their overcoats and using them as cushions for their seats.
Since the opening day there has been an average attendance of over 8,000. Renewed efforts have again been put forth to close the Fair on Sunday, but the Sunday attendance thus far has been the best. It will, however, have this effect, the pressure which the Sunday people bring to bear will no doubt be the means of covering some of the exhibits; but as to closing the Fair, it is probably questionable. On the whole, the Midwinter Fair will doubtless be a grand success from a worldly standpoint. It contains many things which will be of interest and instruction to all who may be able to attend it, and it is for that purpose that our readers may wish to avail themselves, doubtless, of the privilege. It will also have elements of evil; in fact, it is a miniature world. We hope that all our readers who may be able to attend it may be able to shun the evil.
