THE WORLD'S FAIR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2057, 27 July 1893, Page 3

THE WORLD'S FAIR.

A MONTH'S HAPPENINGS. (Feom Oue Special Cobbespondbnt.) ■ Chicago, June 17. THE SUNDAY CLOSING QUESTION. No finality has yet been reached in relation to the question of the Sunday closing of the exposition, although it is just possible a decision by the United States Appeal Court may be given before I close my letter, seeing ttiat at this present moment the court is busy hearing argument. The history of the situation has not been uninteresting. First came the application to the Illinois State Court resulting in an injunction being granted restraining the directors from closing the fair on Sundays. There wM'joy in the camp of all concerned, but 'twas of shoit duration, for the Puritanical section East— people who doubtless will never see the inside of Jackson Park— cried aloud, and ' [ their wail received some measure of support from a few local representatives of the cloth, who mayhap feared the dwindling away of their congregations if worship of creation's beauties were permitted in the park on Sundays. They like not opposition, these gentlemen. And then there was the law— the pound of flesh which they were screaming to the Government to come and appropriate in the shape of the fulfilment of the bond. They had not cried out when the Government walked through the act of Parliament and its stipulations, but now they were threatened, and felt, oh, so good on the subject. 'Twas a situation that recalled vividly the experience of the Englishman who, visiting the Land o' Cakes, in veritable spirit of adoration (the day being bright) commenced inadvertently to whistle, and waß told, after expostulation on the part of his listener, followed by investigation on his own part as to the whys and wherefores, "It's the Sawbath, me mon ; an' ye may get drank on the Sawbath, but ye mauna whustle." So, so; these leaders of Christian thought, kindly spirited gentlemen who would do much for their suffering brethren, and who could go any day of the week to the fair, would prefer to see the labouring man, who is held enchained by toil for 6ix*days, seek his recreation on the seventh in a drinking saloon, a gambling hell, or a theatre rather than let him edify himself , whilst doing 'no harm to anyone, by visiting the greatest educational institution the world has ever seen. Consequent on all this, following the first Sunday, the United States Counsel brought action in the Federal Court to close the gates. In parentheses, be it here remarked that the* attendance numbered 116,179 persons and that the /greatest order was observed. When the matter came before the Federal Court, two judges of the three held that Government, like the kings of old, could do no wrong, that it had a right to fence and do as it liked after the passing of the act, and that the gates must be closed. It was a staggerer to the sanguine directors who all along believed that they must win ; but there was yet one more chance, an appeal to the Appeal Court consisting of the Chief Justice aud two judges who had not sat in the matter. They seized on to this, and, not a little

curious to narrate, the Chief Justice had to get rid of the fair stock which he held in order to sib on the case. Now, those who are supposed to be in the know say his Chief Justiceship holds very strong views on the subject of the liberty of the people even over the heads of a Government. He does not believe that a people are provided solely to find something, that takes the form of an excuse for work, to occupy the attention of a Government, but that such institutions are of the people and for the people. Rather a rarity this even in this country of liberty and equality, for usually the impression found to be abroad seems to be that a people are a wise provision of providence to furnish the wherewithal for sundry organisations and their leaders' to grow 'fat and prosper upon. This much aside, however, there is a gener rally widespread opinion, based on the pertinent questions with which ■ the Chief Justice belaboured the United States. Counsel during argument, that thp verdict Js very likely to go as undoubtedly the majority of the people desire.it should go— open gates on Sundays. It certainly affords a, peculiar position, even should the Federal Court order closure, for on one hand the Illinois State Court says, " Close at your peril," and on the other the Federal Court, '•• Open not on pain of direful anger." Now one of these must be disobeyed ; but I think one of the directors the other evening, when questioned in my presence as to his' choice of evils, fairly represented the feeling of his brothers when he said, " Wall, I guess I would risk Judge Stein" (the Illinois State Judge). WORLD'S FAIR CONGRESSES. Those who have read the last Christmas number of the "Review of Reviews" will recollect^ the author's dream, respecting the form of the international congresses which his prophecy of the future gave. I said dream, for the realisation of the -congress business, so far as it, has gone, has been very tame. Widescattered seeds of thought must bear something of a harvest, but in the main the interminable "talkee-talkee," the riding to death of hobbyhorses, has been a bit wearisome. Bright, refreshing incidents of course occurred, but they have been like unto the oasis in the desert. There 'have been gatherings of women, temperance advocates, newspaper men, and commercial travellers, but so far as the general public" has been concerned they might as well have' never been held. The aim aud object sought was an admirable one, but a week spent in -discussing some of the points which have cropped up, and on which everybody had something to say— well 'twas tiring to the average mind, though, perhaps, not wearisome to the faddist. There are others to follow, but individually I've sworn off udMI the whistplayers' and chess congresses. What blissful rest will these offer ! I like congresses^ where the paper reading and severe criticism is limited, and in these two I think I will secure my ideal. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS. The Duke of Veragua sojourned with us a brief spell, and then Chicago society, World's Fair Commissioners, and the public generally were thrown into a whirl of excitement, and anticipation anent thewisit of the Infanta of Spain, Princess Eulalia. The Duke faded out of everybody's mind ;' itr was no longer " Did you receive introduction to the Duke of Veragua?" but ','Are you going to any of the receptions?" There had been hearfc-burnings enough before — even the Board of Lady Managers had fallen out over a supposed slight in that their president didn't introduce them all around, for despite their assumed indifference to titles and the weight thereof, there undoubtedly exists no keener tuft-hunter than the monied American. All the ethics so loudly proclaimed of liberty and equality go to the winds when the American gets his chance to do a little boot-licking. Talk about poor John Bull ! Why, he isn't in it. You don't find him rushiog around to snatch up crushed flowers that have strewn a princess's path— that is, on an ordinary reception, and that was all it was in the case of'Eulalia's visit. Representative truly of the country that gave birth to Columbus, but only j a princess "on a foreign tour — no more ; yet that was whatoccurred. Well, naturally there were great doings. A Spanish Day -at the fair, and a big fireworks display at the end. More receptions during a brief stay, and the princess departed. Somehow, although at first , she "was a dear little thing; so sweet," &c, &c, before she was well clear of the city the press I was outcrying against her for asserting her Individuality and doing as she pleased. O Qe or two nicely arranged receptions, fixed up, without doubt, to strengthen the '/position" of certain of Chicago's ilite t didn't* come off, because, forsooth, the Princess preferred to visit the fair incog, and enjoy herself- All question of liberty, that is so far as the word applied \x>% Princess's actions, faded away beautifully— in fact, had douotlesß been scored by the censor out of the dictionary used for these occasions. Eulalia has gone and we are resting, not knowing who next there will happen along to fill the- gap. Of course the standard now is pretty high. Oh this subject, and even since I penned the fpregoing* I learn that Lord Mayor Stuart Knill, of v - London, is coming v along. Local people think this will tend to increase English interest in the fair, but I doubt if it can remove some of the first impressions of unfair treatment of the public which arose at the opening, aud though greatly , modified since then yet is a kind of j error not easily forgotten by a travelling public. It- takes .a big vote from home consumption funds to -sec the fair even though you live in the States, and from abroad I don't look for a big-influrf' as rates now stand. Facilis descensus. From Eulalia to Knill is a big drop, even though he* be a Lord Mayor, and one noted for his religions peculiarities at that ! r ' NATIONAL OBSERVANCES. „ There have been special days in not a few of the - various national commission buildings. THe birthday of • the reigning monarch seems to be'a favourite selection. In the case of her Gracious Majesty the Empress and Queen (May 24 ; the which date, by-the-bye, is always more ceremonißed- by Englishmen abroad than at home), the British Commissioner held a receptipn, followed by a banquet in the evening. It was a quiet affair, and bore out the saying anent our countrymen takiDg their pleasures sadly. On May 28T-CoronationDay— the loyal subjects of the Czar banqueted the other commissioners in the Auditorium Hall— one of^the chief hotels in the" city. There were also religious exercises in the local Greek church. June 5 - was J.set' apart for the Danish oelebration.- The great celebration day, -however, was (that of Thursday, June 15, birthday of . the Kaiser Wilhelm, when the Germans and German- Americans turned out in strong force. Over 40,000 participated in the grand march through the city, and at the Exposition— outside the German buildingthere was a huge gathering to witness and partioipate in the proceedings. In the evening the grandest display of fireworks and illumination of. .the buildings tgok place. We have nothing more just immediately at' hand, but there is little -.doubt that on July 4—lndependence Day— Uncle Sam will pull up his socks and present to the foreign visitor suoh a celebration as' will even surprise those accuj-lomed to these joyful gatherings.

MUSICAL. In matters musical the month haa' brought oce or two striking'features. Musical Director Thomas is now firmly established, and will, I doubt not, hold on until the curtain is rung down in October. Toward the close of last month a programme which drew a very large attendance in the Choral Hall was the appear- - - ance of the Apollo Club, supported by the Exposition Orchestra, in the,oratorio " Elijah." The musical club named has a vocal strength of 4-00 voices, and had as soloists Nordica, * Neilson-Dreir, Whitney, Mockridge, and Greene. The last-named was the nn- ' doubted star, and he gave an unexceptional rendering of those gems "LordGodoF-Abra- 1. ham" and '• It is enough." - The attendance numbered 1500. The Columbian Choir, a looal , organisation, which dates its inception from the forming of a choir to sing the numbers on dedication day, has also' performed Haydn's master' ' piece, "Creation." Raff's seventy 'first birthday received observation in the form of a concert devoted exclusively to 'his compositions.' The selections were : Overture, " A safe stronghold . our God is still"; concerto for piano in C minor; symphony, "Im Walde." Mr H. Sherwood, a good performer, 'was the soloist on this occasion. The Thomas -Orchestra have given very good proof thus far of their superiority. Among other instrumental soloists not mentioned, opportunity has been -afforded to acquaint oneself with the rcapabili ties of Loeffer and Brodsky (violinists) and Schroedo ('cellist;. The Lineff Russian Choir, held the . Music Hall for some four days.- , Then followed a Schumann concert on the 9th." Schumann was born on June 8, 1810. June 10 introduced Edward Lloyd, over whose performance the local press has literally run wild in the matter ' of praise of the great tenor. Not a little has been evoked by the single rate admission to the concerts and musical entertainments that are not free— a dollar. Perhaps before half their season has expired the, directors will recognise that they are practically debarring many from participating. The popular concerts, which are free, are certainly very appro* priately named, and now that the acoustic properties of the hall have been corrected and made satisfactory it is very pleasant to be present at these. The open air concerts' like* wise are well attended.