NEW YORK WORLD FAIR

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 132, 1 December 1939, Page 11

NEW YORK WORLD FAIR

ADDRESS BY MRS. DOCTOR

VIVID DESCRIPTION

A very enjoyable occasion was the final meeting for the year of the Arts and Crafts Circle of the Pioneer Club, which was held yesterday afternoon at the club rooms. Miss A. Boyd, vicepresident, welcomed the guest of honour, Mrs. J. A. Doctor, who gave a most interesting address on her impressions of the New York World Fair, at which she and Dr. Doctor spent four long days while in New York.

An outstanding and central feature of the World Fair was the illuminated pylon, 700 feet high, said Mrs. Doctor, and another remarkable conception was the largest sphere ever made. It was 200 feet in diameter, painted white, and appeared to be suspended in air, but this illusion was caused by mirrorcovered supports arising from the water over which it was situated. This sphere was known as "The Gateway of Tomorrow," and within the centre of it was the conception in large scale of a model city of 1960, with modern skyscraper buildings, dockyards, airports, and reflected lighting, and with the residental areas some distance away from the business city. The dome of the sphere represented the heavens, the whole indicating an advanced and wonderful future.

Mrs. Doctor grave a graphic description of the general plan of the Fair, which was attractively laid out with many shrubs, lagoons, lawns, fountains, and beautiful statuary representing youth, age, and famous compatriots. A PATHETIC SIGHT. All countries were represented except China, Germany, and Spain. She found the Czecho-Slovakian pavilion a pathetic sight, for, begun "before the trouble began" (as the Czechs refer to the invasion of their country by the Germans), the pavilion was unable tc be completed owing to the money being required in their own country. The Polish pavilion was very beautiful with a high modern square tower covered with gold leaf. In the French pavilion were many marvellous exhibits and fascinating jewellery, but the Russian pavilion was the most impressive. It was so very modern and handsome in design with an immense pillar, on top of which was the figure of a man 79 feet in height. The theme throughout the Russian pavilion was the physical well-being of the people. Valur able and beautiful carvings and marbles used on the building were to be returned to Russia at the conclusion of the Fair. SCENES IN A FOUNTAIN. Of the industrial exhibits, that of General Motors was one of the best, and the Ford exhibit was also a very large and popular one. The area of the amusement park alone was as large as the Paris Exposition of 1937. Numerous entertaining novelties, shows, and amusements were vividly described by, Mrs. Doctor. One of the most spectacular features, she said, was a unique fountain. At night it gave a display of a dramatised scene, pictured in a| symphony of water, light, music, and | fire, a new scene being shown each week. . .

The British pavilion was impressive and of great historical interest, andj New Zealand was also represented but in a very small way. The speaker was interested to find that the hostess in charge of the New Zealand Court was Miss Bathie Stewart, well known in New Zealand. . Mrs. Doctor was thanked for her interesting address by Miss Boyd. Miss Amy Kane, president of the Pioneer Club, congratulated the members of the Arts and Crafts Circle on the year's work, of which representative specimens were to be seen at the Centennial Exhibition. After afternoon tea had been served, each member received a Christinas gift. Floral posies, made by Mrs. K. M. McDonald, were presented to the guest of honour, Mrs. J. A. Doctor, to Miss Boyd, and to Miss V. Dawson, hon. secretary. Among others "present were Mesdames F. Martin, W. Denton, C. Street, C. Batten (life members), Mrs. W. Hay-Mackenzie and Miss Boyd (vicepresidents), and Mesdames H. Will, J. Wylie, A, Sinclair, R. Pope, W. Foster, B.\Haines, H. Sansen, J. Carr, Martyn Williams, M.' Taylor, Ochenden, F: Knight. Gower, Nichol, Turksma, Tamblyn, J. Montgomerie, J. B. Findlay, and K. M. McDonald.