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 C. J. CHRISTOPHER 
 
 1904 
 
NOV. 21 \^'u4 
 
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 SS 
 
 Entered for Copyright 
 
 IQOJ. 
 
 By C.J. CHRISTOPHER 
 Bloomington, III. 
 
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 Senior Law Student 
 
 Illt7iots WesUyan University 
 
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THE SIGNS OF 
 OUR TIMES "THE COMMERCIAL AGE" 
 
 As appeared in THE METEOR, 
 a College Journal 
 
The Signs of Our Times, The ^^ Commercial Age.'' 
 
 By C. J. CHRISTOPHER. 
 
 "In the darkness as in daylight, 
 
 On the water as on land, 
 God's eye is watching o'er us, 
 
 And beneath us is his hand; 
 Death will find us soon or later. 
 
 On the deck or in the cot. 
 And we cannot meet Him better. 
 
 Than in working out our lot." 
 
 The conditions of our civilized life seem to grow more 
 difficult year by year. More young people are forced out 
 each year to earn their living, but this really is no hardship, 
 for labor means new knowledge and added power day by 
 day. To be working for a living is the best fate that can 
 overtake one, unless that labor degenerates into grinding toil 
 or drudgery. Without the fruits of labor there can be no 
 happiness, and without happiness life is an aching void. 
 
 "Labor is good for a man, bracing up his energies to conquest, 
 And without it life is dull, the man perceiving himself to be useless, 
 For wearily the body groaneth, like a door on rusty hinges." 
 
 "The age is extraordinary; the spirit that actuates it is 
 peculiar and marked ; and our own relation to the times we 
 live in, and to the questions which interest them, is equally 
 marked and peculiar. We are placed, by our good fortune 
 and the wisdom and valor of our ancestors, in a condition 
 where we can act no obscure part. Be it for honor or dis- 
 
honor, whatever we do is not likely to escape the observation 
 of the world/' 
 
 The barriers of race distinction, and denominationalism 
 in religion are fast breaking down as the swift flight of 
 years sweeps by. Men are becoming more broadened, in gen- 
 eral better educated, and as an inevitable consequence a 
 higher degree of civilization is being attained. 
 
 In this, the beginning of the 20th century, woman is en- 
 joying the most distinguished position she has yet realized 
 in human society. All the way down the course of ages her 
 name is mentioned only in a few instances. In modern times 
 it remained for our land of the free, to elevate her to almost 
 an equality with her brother. In nearly every avenue of the 
 commercial world she is working side by side with her 
 brother. In the arts and sciences she is no amateur. Every 
 field she has entered she has enobled it and come forth the 
 same fair creature as of yore. 
 
 Philanthropists are giving their millions to the better- 
 ment of struggling humanity. Andrew Carnegie, a great 
 benefactor, has given and is still giving many libraries and 
 educational facilities to the people. All these great advan- 
 tages are being given to the younger generation by such God- 
 fearing, humanity loving men, that the youth of the present, 
 as well as posterity, may be better able to fight the battle of 
 life. Is not this a hopeful feature of our times? 
 
 Another encouraging aspect of these later days, is the 
 willingness of modern people to have differences arising be- 
 tween capital and labor, and the disputes between nations, to 
 be submitted to arbitration, instead of being decided by the 
 sword as in ancient times. This is another result of a higher 
 standard of civilization. 
 
We, the younger generation ought not to fold our arms 
 and say, 'Svhat's the use?" Our fathers have not accom- 
 pHshed it all, our land is only about half developed ; there is 
 golden treasure in store for us, if we will deny ourselves to 
 go in and take possession. So let us fit and prepare our minds 
 for the great field of the future. There are foes yet uncon- 
 quered, there are problems yet to solve, there are honorable 
 attainments yet to be reached, if we but strive to attain them. 
 
 The Anglo-Saxon race is fast becoming the predominent 
 race of the world. It is a privilege to be one of such an ag- 
 gressive people, and we ought to be thankful that we have 
 the opportunity of living in the most prosperous age of our 
 country. But, if we will observe that it does not suffice to 
 depend on ancestry to a very great extent, for every man of 
 whatsoever race or color is the architect of his own fortune. 
 The biographies of men of affairs prove, that those who are 
 most successful are so by virtue of their own push, energy, 
 and ambition. 
 
 With the increase of prosperity, we note a greater desire 
 for luxury, and luxury seems to breed dissipation. Young 
 men and women of today have many temptations confront- 
 ing them to drag them down and make them freaks of hu- 
 manity; but, there is a premium placed on good character 
 more than ever before, and for those who will control them- 
 selves, there is promise of great reward. A great majority 
 of the world's business is being done by the young men and 
 women, and never before in the history of the world has skill 
 and character been so highly rewarded. It is an undeniable 
 fact, that competition is sharper than in former years, but 
 for those who maintain good character and industrious 
 habits, and are specialists in their particular profession, 
 there is a sure promise of competent remuneration. 
 
We further note the wonderful advancement in the arts 
 and sciences. Perhaps the greatest achievements have been 
 wrought in electricity. The human voice is reproduced 
 with the phonograph. Electric lighting and electric power 
 are fast coming into universal use. The possibilities of this 
 mysterious power are probably not half developed. 
 
 The modern printing press and linotype machine have 
 revolutionized the art of printing; so that now, ''he who 
 runs may read/' or if he can't run and get his reading 
 matter, the postman or the news boy will place the daily 
 paper in his hands. 
 
 Our railways are the great commercial agents of the 
 world. A complete network of roads center in every metrop- 
 olis. Fast mails fly with the swiftness of a carrier-pigeon. 
 Space is annihilated. In an instant a message can be flashed 
 around the world. By wireless telegraphy, stations and 
 trains may be kept in constant communication with each 
 other, thereby avoiding almost every possibility of danger. 
 
 The marine service has been developed far beyond the 
 dreams of our fathers. American invention has been the 
 wonder of the world. Submarine navigation is a success, 
 making it possible to explore the unknown deep. 
 
 The automobile is a common vehicle in our cities, doing 
 away with much of the clatter and dirt of our streets. The 
 flying machine also is gradually becoming a reality. 
 
 The use of steel has revolutionized the art of building 
 in our cities, so that now it is no uncommon sight to see an 
 office building mounting skyward to a height of twenty 
 stories, fitted with all the modern conveniences, a veritable 
 village under one roof. 
 
 To the casual. observer it would appear, that all classes 
 
are madly rushing and shortening life that they may procure 
 the almighty dollar. The one great aim seems to be to 
 acquire wealth, and men seem to believe that there is nothing 
 impossible under the sun. 
 
 But, ''let our age be the age of improvement. In a 
 day of peace, let us advance the arts of peace and the works 
 of peace. Let us develop the resources of our land, call forth 
 its powers, and see whether we also, in our day and genera- 
 tion, may not perform something worthy to be remembered.'' 
 
THE LIQUOR QUESTION. 
 
 The Prohibition Cause is Gaining Ground. Public Sentiment 
 is Against the Saloon. 
 
The Liquor ^estion. 
 
 The subject of Temperance is one about which much 
 has been said, and I feel that as great men have dehberated 
 on this great subject, what I may say may only be a reitera- 
 tion of what has been said. However, there is no subject 
 about which American people need to be agitated on more 
 than the liquor c[uestion. 
 
 So much has been said on this line, that those who take 
 up the subject and agitate the question, are dubbed cranks, 
 fanatics, etc. We will observe that the great reformers, 
 while they were called cranks, among certain classes of peo- 
 ple, did something of lasting benefit to humanity. 
 
 I might mention Neal Dow, the man who won the state 
 of Maine for temperance. Francis E. Willard, an untiring 
 disciple of temperance and renowned leader of the 
 W. C. T. U. — her name will go down in history as the 
 greatest woman temperance reformer. Still another great 
 enthusiast, John B. Gough, he also did a great work for the 
 cause, and died on the forum making his last memorable 
 speech. It is an honor to be called a crank, especially the 
 kind of crank that turns the world upside down for good. 
 
 Some might say, ''What do you know about the liquor 
 question?" I am prepared to say this, that any one who is 
 at all observing, cannot help seeing the degradation and 
 shame this liquor business is bringing on humanity. 
 
 It is a sad, sad, sight to see a young man that might be 
 a power for good in the world, yielding himself up to drink 
 
and reeling about our streets, making himself the laughing 
 stock of the community. These things alone are enough to 
 make my blood boil against these devilish institutions that 
 are degrading humanity. 
 
 Shame on the young man who will not frown on this 
 evil, and keep himself away from these infernal rendezvous. 
 No man can hope to succeed who drinks any kind of intox- 
 icants. We Americans are proud of the distinction we hold 
 among the nations, and yet we will allow a little country 
 like New Zealand to outstrip us in systems of society. New 
 Zealand has no public saloons. Why do we have them ? Be- 
 cause the people, the law abiding and enforcing power, allow 
 them to exist. This great evil will never be remedied until 
 Christian and temperance people unite their forces against 
 this great foe of humanity. Let us use the ballot and place 
 men of integrity in office who will enforce our laws. 
 
 Public sentiment is steadily growing, and may it still 
 continue to grow, until our beautiful cities may be ridden 
 of the accursed nuisance, the public saloon. 
 
 May the example, the life, and the teachings of our great 
 temperance reformers cause public sentiment to grow and 
 multiply with unprecedented volume and rapidity, until the 
 accursed rum traffic be destroyed ; until that great army of 
 victims of America and the world's greatest foe be halted 
 in their rapid march to death and destruction, and faced 
 upon a new line of march, strewn with roses and lilies, and 
 garlands of precious blessings, which we are confident would 
 result from such a course ; when no door-way will be dark- 
 ened, and no home blighted by strong drink and its inevitable 
 consequences, when we may point to the world and say, 
 ''Here is the true type of manhood ; here is the true system 
 of society.'' 
 
The most fitting monument the American people could 
 erect to the memory of our great temperance reformers 
 would be to place on the statute books laws prohibiting the 
 manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors of every kind, 
 and the people see to it that these laws are enforced. 
 
 There is enough law on our statute books in the State of 
 Illinois today to drive every saloon man out of business, if 
 it were executed. Let us arouse ourselves and have our laws 
 enforced. Such laws would forever solve the labor question 
 in the twinkling of an eye ; this would wipe the money ques- 
 tion out of existence; this would rob insane asylums of 
 one-half or two-thirds of its future inmates ; this would turn 
 one-half the jails into store-houses and one-half the peniten- 
 tiaries into manufacturing concerns; this would stop the 
 flow of millions of dollars annually over the bar of gilded 
 dens, and exchange that amount for the necessities of life 
 and productions of labor. 
 
 Charitable institutions would be converted into institu- 
 tions of learning ; the child would be taken from the factory 
 and placed in school and the wail of thousands for bread 
 would be changed into sweet songs of praise. 
 
 Then, oh! then, could we say, ^'Beat thy swords into 
 plow-shares and thy spears into pruning-hooks, for there 
 shall be no more war or strife." 
 
MISCEIylrANEOUS ESSAYS, ETC. 
 
 POEM 
 
 DESTRUCTION OF ST. PIERRE, ISLE OF MARTINIQUE, 
 
 MAY 8, 1902. 
 
 As appeared in THE TELEGRAPH, February, 1Q03. 
 • City of Dixotiy Illinois. 
 
 This poem was recognized by President 
 
 Roosevelt, in a letter dated 
 
 January 6, 1904. 
 
Destruction of St. Pierre^ Isle of Martinique ^ May <?, igo2. 
 
 By C. J. CHRISTOPHER. 
 
 On the Isle of Martinique, where the blue waters deep, 
 
 Laved its shores in the sun's bright ray, 
 Dwelt a people most blessed, where the weary might rest 
 
 From the world's busy cares far away. 
 Flowers perennial grow, like an Eden below. 
 
 While the fruit laden trees wave above, 
 And Mt. Pelee so high, raised her thoughts to the sky, 
 
 Where there dwelleth a Father of Love. 
 
 Where the Amarinth grow and the soft zephyrs blow, 
 
 The perfume of flowers rich and rare. 
 Stood Mt. Pelee alone with its turret and dome, 
 
 Like a sentinel guarding with care. 
 The mountains below and the valleys where grow, 
 
 The rich fruits with which none can compare, 
 While on St. Pierre shore harbored vessels which bore. 
 
 Their vast wealth for their nations to share. 
 
 From the high mountain's crest, like the birds from their nest 
 
 Came maidens with fruit laden crown. 
 Which were seen day by day, softly singing some lay, 
 
 Gladly bearing their fruit burden down. 
 Happy children of God, whose bare feet oft have trod, 
 
 These worn paths with their fruit laden store. 
 Swept away by one breath, of Mt. Pelee in death, 
 
 And were buried to rise never more. 
 
 On the eighth day of May, while the mild breezes play, 
 
 And the sky looked so blue and serene. 
 From Mt. Pelee's bold height, burst forth clouds black as night, 
 
 And the sulphurous fire there was seen. 
 Thirty thousand at Pierre, and ten thousand near the sea, 
 
 Lay in death — Oh ! was it thus to be. 
 Some who struggled life to save, were swept on by the tidal wave, 
 
 All have gone to eternity. 
 
 CHORUS. 
 
 In the hollow of his hand, holds the destiny of man. 
 
 And the Isles of the sea are his own, 
 On that great and final day, when we all have passed away. 
 
 He will greet all his children at home. 
 
 (Set to music by M. W. Lankton. 
 
 I beg to acknowledge the valuable assistance of Mr. M. W. Lankton 
 on this poem. C. J. C. 
 
ZOROASTRIANISM and BUDDHISM COMPARED, 
 
 This is rather an unusual subject, but some may find it in- 
 teresting* to note the many moral principals inculcated in 
 
 these two of most ancient relig-ions. 
 
 C. J. C. 
 
Zoroastrianism and Buddhism Compared. 
 
 Zoroastrianism, or Parsi-ism is a monotheistic form of 
 religion, not a polytheistic one, as some people would have it. 
 There is but one God under different names, Mazda, xA^hure, 
 and Ahura Mazda. He manifested himself to a Bactrian or 
 Median philosopher or reformer, Zoroaster, who is consid- 
 ered to have constituted a religious doctrine, set forth in the 
 sacred books of Avesta. According to Herodotus, the Per- 
 sians had no image of the gods, no temples, no altars and 
 they consider the use of them folly. The modern Parsis 
 are of the same opinion as their forefathers and repudiate 
 any representation of the Deity. 
 
 Zoroaster's speculative philosophy teaches us that the 
 world is the work of two hostile principles, Spenta-Maynu, 
 the good principle, and Angra-Maynu, the evil principle, 
 both serving under one God — the first being the author of 
 whatever is bright and shining and useful; the second of 
 what is dark and noxious. The conflict will end in the tri- 
 umph of the good principle. 
 
 Dr. Haug observes that the moral philosophy of Zoroaster 
 is moving in the triad of thought, word and deed. These 
 three words form the pivot upon which the moral structure 
 of Zoroastrianism turns. 
 
 But in the company of holy souls will be the reward of 
 the pure; the wicked will go to the house of impurity and 
 utter darkness. But, at the end of the world (which is to be 
 synchronous with the end of the present cycle) there will be 
 
general purification and regeneration. All souls will be fur- 
 nished with new bodies and commence a life of bliss. Then 
 the Messiah of the Parsis shall restore the world, which will 
 thenceforth never grow old and die, never decaying and 
 never rotting, ever increasing, and master of its wish, when 
 the dead will rise, when life and immortality v/ill come, and 
 the w^orld will be restored at God's wish. 
 
 Zoroastrian worship consists of oral recitations of por- 
 tions of the sacred words, or such recitations combined and 
 accompanied with the performance of the ritual. The offer- 
 ings are fruit, flowers, milk, incense, especially the juice of 
 the Heome plant. The offices are few ; they are performed 
 by the priests, who constitute a distinct class apart from the 
 rest; no layman can become a priest; no priest can marry 
 a daughter of a layman. In the priestly class, all youths now 
 do not pass through the Navar and Martab ceremonies which 
 make them priests. Their duties are numerous; they have 
 to attend to the service of the temples and keep the fire con- 
 stantly burning there. The ancient Iranians always regarded 
 this element as a symbol of divinity and, as such, worthy of 
 respect; but they never professed themselves worshipers 
 of the fire. The modern Parsis consider fire as an emblem 
 of refulgence, glory and light, as the most perfect symbol of 
 God and as the best and noblest representation of his divinity. 
 
 As to death and funeral ritual, the ceremonies are most 
 antique. The mode of disposing of the dead is on high walls 
 or stone platforms, termed Tow^ers of Silence, is purely 
 avestic. A remarkable featvire of the modern Parseism is the 
 repugnance of the whole community either to proselytism or 
 conversion. 
 
 The only manner of promulgation of their religion is by 
 
intermarriage among their own class. They seem to be very 
 proHfic, as they constitute a goodly number of the population 
 of Indis. 
 
 They recognize no class distinction, and are always eager 
 to better themselves. 
 
 They were among the first to take advantage of education 
 given by the first missionaries, and have been ambassadors 
 to the English in their dealings with India. They therefore 
 have become a rich and prosperous class. They are enthu- 
 siastic for their country, and have built schools and furnished 
 many noted scholars, professors, and editors to their people. 
 
 Buddhism. *^ ^^ 
 
 - A/ 
 
 The Veda is the bible of the Buddhists. Tlie Veda, the 
 name signifying "knowing" or "wisdom" the sacred song 
 of the Aryas who were scattered along the banks of the 
 Indus, is a collection of about a thousand hymns, and dating 
 back to a venerable antiquity. The Veda has been called the 
 oldest of the bibles, and it has been termed historical, on 
 account of the realism of the picture it gives of the Aryas 
 after their descent into India. From it, therefore, may be 
 gained a very clear idea of the earliest manifestations of the 
 religious sentiment. These primitive worshipers seem to 
 have recognized life as a desirable possession, to have been 
 continually influenced by implicit trust in the Unseen, and 
 by childlike awe of his inscrutable power ; to have regarded 
 men as equal, and between whom the discrimination of caste 
 should not be tolerated; to have never countenanced the 
 
horrid practice of burning wives with their husbands and 
 never to have built temples, venerated idols, honored priest- 
 hoods, or to have admitted human sacrifices in their relig- 
 ious rites, no implicit mention being made of such bloody 
 offerings in the Rig- Veda. They adored the light, beholding 
 in its manifold manifestation from the spark that expires on 
 the earth to the sun which flashes in the heavens, '^an all pro- 
 ductive cosmic energy." 
 
 The reader of the ^'Light of Asia" will be struck by the 
 almost total absence of reference to a Supreme Being. This 
 is one of the distinguishing features of Buddhism. 
 
 The Rig- Veda was followed by three other books, known 
 as the Sama-Veda^ the Yajur-Veda and the Atharva-Veda, 
 and they make up the four parts of the Hindu scriptures. 
 
 The apparent atheism of the Buddhists, in substance, 
 opposition to the idea of the external God, limited and indi- 
 vidual, acting in imperfect human ways. The Temples of 
 Napal afford proof that the belief in supreme, all-seeing 
 Buddha, represented by two eyes as symbols of intelligence, 
 was current at least as early as the beginning of the Chris- 
 tian era. 
 
 Buddhism claims for its followers more than all the 
 Christians and Brahmans put together. Their missionaries 
 are abroad even in this country. Perhaps a greater portion 
 of the Chinese population are Buddhists. 
 
LABOR AND LEARNING. 
 
 Kflowledg-e Is Power. — Bacon. 
 
Labor and Learning. 
 
 The conditions of our civilized life seem to grow more 
 difficult. More young people are forced out into the world 
 to earn their living every year. But this is not really a hard- 
 ship, for labor means development, new knowledge, and 
 added power, year by year. To work for his living, is the 
 best fate that can overtake one, unless the labor degenerates 
 into drudgery and grinding toil. There are many who have 
 all the necessaries of life, but labor and devote their time to 
 the noble cause of bettering the toiler's condition, or for the 
 good of others; while others toil like slaves to accumulate 
 greater wealth to add to their already vast fortunes. 
 
 But these are exceptions and not the common order of 
 things. The rich as a class have given the world few intel- 
 lects, but it is from the ranks of toil that have arisen the in- 
 tellectual giants who have attained disinction. Every one 
 has an intuition that there is a certain kind of work in which 
 he can excel. The occupation may be a humble one in the 
 world's eye, but no matter ; Carlyle says : ''All work is sa- 
 cred; the true dignity of the work is in the worker.'' 
 
 Ignorance destroys the usefulness of man. ''It is the 
 darkness of night in which man slumbers away an unprofit- 
 able and miserable life, — a darkness which the rays of knowl- 
 edge must disperse, ere he will awake to exercise and rise 
 into improvement." Knowledge constitutes the whole differ- 
 ence between savage and civilized society, for to the improve- 
 ment of the mind, all nations have owed the improvement of 
 their condition. Look at the people of our nation^ and espe- 
 
cially the working class. It is the most efificient in the world. 
 Of course^ many criminals and paupers are sent here from 
 foreign countries but more often it happens, they are the in- 
 dustrious, energetic men coming voluntarily to better their 
 own condition, and who, bringing their trades with them, 
 accomplish much toward enlivening our industry. Nothing 
 great or good can be accomplished without toil, and what is 
 our duty to do, we must do because it is right, not because 
 any one can demand it of us. 
 
 Without labor w^hat is there? Without it there were no 
 world itself. ^Whatever we see or perceive in heaven or on 
 earth is the product of labor. The ground beneath, the air 
 we breath, the sun, the moon, the stars, what are they?— The 
 product of labor. They are the labor of the Omnipotent and 
 all our labors are but a continuance of His." As time ad- 
 vances, it is hoped that every man will appreciate the benefits 
 of learning, the folly of idleness, and — *'feel that life is wisest 
 spent, — where the working hand makes strong the working 
 brain.'' 
 
 Epaminondas, a great Greek general, when chosen public 
 scavenger by his enemies, accepted the office, declaring that : 
 '^the place did not confer dignity on the man, but the man on 
 the place.'' It is principle, not position, which makes the man. 
 Among the vast number of men capable of rising to eminence 
 in art, science, or literature, how few confer upon their gen- 
 eration any lasting benefit by their works. The principal 
 cause of their failure is the want of perseverance, or in other 
 words indolence and irresolution. '^Success is the result of 
 application and perseverance." To be successful, we should 
 never be idle. Not content with mere reading or aimless rev- 
 eries, but emiploying the knowledge we have gained, and 
 applying the rules we have learned to some useful end. ''The 
 
hand is almost valueless at one end of the arm unless there is 
 a brain at the other end." Our first object is to obtain knowl- 
 edge ; our second, to make a proper application of it. Hence, 
 the mind like the body must be cultivated by exercise. Noth- 
 ing impairs its strength so much as idleness; nothing in- 
 creases it so much as well directed labor. 
 
 This is a nation of institutions of learning, and the won- 
 derful advancement in the art of printing has made it possible 
 for the most humble and poor to read. He who will not avail 
 himself of opportunities must as a matter of fact suffer the 
 consequences of his neglect. 
 
 And yet, many who have been given splendid educations 
 by kind and generous fathers and mothers, have never used 
 their talents, but are ruining the possibilities of the future 
 by the reading of impure and obscene literature. There are 
 too many books of unquestionable character for any one to 
 resort to reading of trash. 
 
 Of that grand old man, Gladstone, it is said that one rule 
 of his life was never to be idle ; if he tired of one work or 
 study he rested by taking up another. What man was there 
 in all the world, who acquired more profound wisdom and 
 knowledge. 
 
 The body and mind must each have its proportion of exer- 
 cise in order to retain a healthful state of soundness. Thus 
 it becomes apparent that we dare not neglect a wise training 
 
 of either. 
 
 ''Deep subtle wits, 
 
 In truth are master spirits of the world, 
 The brave man's courage, the student's lore, 
 Are but tools his secret ends to work. 
 Who has skill to use them." 
 
 Joaquin Miller says, ''Knowledge is brought only with a 
 weary care, and wisdom means a world of pain." Experience 
 proves that if one is to do or to be, he must toil on to eternity. 
 
A Description of a Two Days' Visit to the World's Fair, 
 
 Chicago, 1893. 
 
 Expositions are the time-keepers of progress. 
 
 '^McKinley. 
 
A Description of a Two Days' Visit to the JV or Id's 
 
 Fair^ Chicago. 
 
 Chicago, in 1903, contained the world in a nutshell, and 
 every man, woman and child, who lived within a hundred 
 miles radius of Chicago, wanted to go. 
 
 Upon hearing of the wonderful sights that were to be 
 seen at the fair, father and I concluded we would go. 
 
 On arriving in Chicago on the 21st of August, we spent 
 the remaining portion of that day in looking about the city, 
 which we found as interesting as the fair itself. 
 
 When evening came we were not a little surprised to find 
 some of our neighbor friends, who had made arrangements 
 to visit the fair at the same time as ourselves, and were stop- 
 ping at the same hotel. 
 
 The weather was fine during the entire week. We passed 
 to the east side of Chicago on Tuesday morning, and took 
 the Illinois Central to the fair grounds, which were about 
 eight miles south of the city. 
 
 On entering the fair grounds one was half blinded by the 
 whiteness of everything. From the snowy whiteness the fair 
 was rightfully known as the ''White City.'' 
 
 This was Illinois day and naturally enough we were in- 
 terested in the doings and proceedings of our own state. The 
 Illinois Building was a very pretty building, intended for a 
 fac-simile of the state house at Springfield. The interior 
 of this building was indeed beautiful. In the center of the 
 building on the ground floor was a very pretty waterfall, in 
 
the pool at the foot of the fall were many small fish. A little 
 to the west of this was an exhibit of the wonderful variety of 
 grains that our great state is capable of producing On the 
 upper floor at the east end was an exhibition showing forth 
 the wonderful work of the deaf and dumb asylum at Jack- 
 sonville. The blind would also read as fast as I am reading, 
 by touching raised letters. Well, we cannot dwell here for 
 there is a procession of foreigners, dressed in their native 
 costumes, going by, and we must hasten down to see them. 
 But when they did arrive it was hard to keep from getting 
 lost, the crowd was so thick and there were so many people 
 taller than I, that it was utterly impossible for me to see any- 
 thing. 
 
 Now our path lay down a pretty street, each side of 
 which was lined with beautiful state buildings. As time 
 would not permit us, we entered none of these buildings It 
 was about noon, when we seated ourselves in a shady spot 
 near the lake, and ate the dinner we had brought with us. 
 
 The lake was a thing of interest to me, because I had 
 never seen as large a body of water before. The grounds 
 were intersected by little waterways, lagoons and channels, 
 which were filled with all manner of boats. 
 
 We passed on down the lake shore to the south a little 
 way, until we came to the German Building. The forepart 
 of this building, was about twelve feet higher than the main 
 or back part. We walked in and were gazing about of 
 course, for that was our business at this time, until finally I 
 began to despair of seeing anything. 
 
 When suddenly our eyes fell upon the Crucifix of our 
 Saviour, in wax work, it was so perfect that a person was 
 amazed and astounded at the sight before him. All around 
 
on either side on the walls were wax angels, and kneeling at 
 the foot of the cross were Mary the mother of Christ and 
 Mary Magdalene, weeping over the death of their beloved 
 Saviour. I had read the life of Christ, but here was, it 
 seemed, an almost human picture. The scene so impressed 
 me that I think I shall never forget it. 
 
 We passed on down the lake a little farther, until we 
 came upon the ships that Christopher Columbus was sup- 
 posed to have sailed across the ocean in, in 1492. We went 
 on board and examined the old relics, and instruments used 
 in that age of the world. These boats no doubt were very old, 
 but I can hardly persuade myself that they were the exact 
 boats in which Christopher sailed. 
 
 Well we walked on until we came to Transportation 
 Building, this building covered forty acres of ground, the 
 largest structure of its kind ever constructed. It would take 
 me a week to name all that could be seen in here, so I will 
 only speak of that which drew my attention the most, the 
 steam engine. I always admire an engine, for it seems to 
 me that the modern passenger engine, is the most perfect 
 piece of mechanism that man has ever constructed. In this 
 building could be seen the engines that were first used^ and 
 the engines of modern times. On one side was Her 
 Majesty's train, and on the other was Uncle Sam's. 
 
 Upon leaving this place, it was our privilege to hear Gil- 
 more's band, but only a few minutes for it was getting late, 
 and we hastened on down to the beach to take our passage 
 on the Whale Back, for the city. In a short time we w^ere 
 back to the hotel for the night. 
 
 The next morning we went to the lake shore and boarded 
 the Central for the fair grounds, and as the train runs at the 
 
rate of a mile a minute, we soon found ourselves within the 
 limits of Jackson Park. 
 
 Our friend, Mr. Davenport, was with us this time, and 
 as he had been working on the buildings, knew where to see 
 the best sights. 
 
 Upon our arrival at the Park the first building we entered 
 was the Liberal Arts Hall. Here we saw the masterpieces 
 of the best artists of the world. We took particular notice of 
 one picture, which was valued at one hundred thousand 
 dollars. It was a painting representing the "Foreclosure 
 of the Mortgage on the Old Homestead," and the characters 
 presented were very natural indeed. 
 
 A person could let his mind wander over the beautiful 
 production of art and dream of all things beautiful. 
 
 We next entered the Electrical Hall, and the first thing 
 we noticed were powerful dynamos running at a terrific 
 speed, and beautiful lights of all colors imaginable were 
 strung about the ceiling. 
 
 We now enter the Mining Hall, where we see all the 
 minerals that the world has ever produced. In one quarter 
 of the hall, we see a powerful machine grinding quartz. The 
 stone is ground in water, and flows from the crusher through 
 a little canal of clear water, which reveals the small particle 
 of gold. 
 
 It would be an easy matter to reach down into this little 
 canal and pick out a nudget, but there is a man standing by 
 who says ''hands off''. 
 
 After leaving this hall, we notice the Illinois State Militia 
 coming our way. They were on dress parade, and presented 
 a very pretty and inspiring sight. 
 
 We now walk down to the lake shore, and enter the 
 
Krupp building. This is a neat structure, containing the 
 works of a Steel foundry in Germany, representing a firm 
 known as the Krupp Foundry Co., and here was the wonder- 
 ful gun that was given to the United States as a present 
 from Germany. It threw a shell weighing a thousand 
 pounds, and was guaranteed to sink an ordinary vessel ten 
 miles distant. We also took notice of solid steel shaft lOO 
 feet long and two feet in thickness. At one end was a very 
 large steel water wheel, this was a propellor for a modern 
 steamship. 
 
 We next get on board the Whale Back and are soon 
 back in the city of Chicago. We saw even more than we 
 have mentioned in this description, but when we returned 
 home we could tell of but a few sights we had seen. 
 
 I believe all who visited the World's Fair were glad they 
 did so, for to me it was an education in itself.