CHAPTER V.

THE CHILDREN'S BUILDING.

The Prettiest Playhouse and Nursery Ever Constructed— Panels Containing the "Sleeping Beauty in the
Wood"— "Silverhair and the Bears"— Rosy Cherubs and Opalescent Clouds— Sweet and Wise
Sayings on the Walls— "Come, Let Us With Our Children Live"— What a Columbian Guard
Found in the Manufactures Building— A Little Girl Baby in the Corner— Mrs. Oliphant Chant's
Plan for the Children and the Children's Building.

N outgrowth of Woman's work was that structure known
as the Children's Building — an afterthought, so to speak.
"Oughtn't we to have a place where the children can
be taken care of while their mothers may go their way and
enjoy an hour or more without uneasiness?" asked Mrs. Rue,
of California, one day. "What an idea!" exclaimed Mrs.
Palmer; "I'll see Mr. Burnham about this at once. The chil-
dren shall have a pavilion, and it shall be the biggest play-
house in the world. They shall have panoramas of the Sleeping
Beauty in the Wood, and dear little, curious, naughty Silver-
hair tasting the porridge of the Three Bears; and we'll have a picture of
the Prince putting the glass slipper on the foot of Cinderella." All this
was carried out, and more too; for the building then dreamed of was com-
pleted in May, and from that time on it became a joy to tens of thousands of
children of a tender age. These legends were placed in panels 10x4 feet wide,in pairs,
in three of the four corners of the large assembly room, the space in the fourth corner
being pretty well taken up by doors. Then along the south and east sides of the
room, between the long windows, were medallions representing various occupations
of children, alternating with others in which child figures represented the signs of
the zodiac. For instance a dimpled little maid with a lion did duty for Leo, a baby
teasing a crab for Cancer, and a very small archer with a big bow for Sagittarius.
These medallions were not painted realistically like the pictures of fairy tales or of
occupations, but were monochromos, paintings, or rather drawings in a single color,
which in this instance was a dull pink. Both the circular and the long panels
were framed in a conventional border of laurel leaves which had grayish-blue
shadows, and the whole series was connected by a wide band of gold color. These
ran all around the room as a species of frieze, with a stenciled border on both sides
connecting the various panels. Its yellow color with the pink of the zodiac medal-
lions and the dull blue for the leaves, represented, in a way, the three primary colors
ot which all other colors are modifications.

194

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR.

MEDALLION.
DECORATION ON CHILDREN'S BUILDING.

On the side of the room where there
were no windows the places between the
round panels were filled by imitation mar-
ble tablets, inscribed with some of the
sweet and wise things that have been said
about little children, as: "Little children
love one another," "The hope of the
future lies in the children," "And babes
shall rule over men," "Trailing clouds of
glory do we come from God," "And a lit-
tle child shall lead them," "Deep meaning
often in the child's play lieth," "Come, let
us with our children live." At the north
end of the room two of the most charm-
ing of all panels were "Dawn" and "Twi-
light," as personified by rosy cherubs
amid opalescent clouds. In the library a
beautiful ceiling was designed of cherub

Pleiades, "like a swarm of fireflies tangled in a silver braid." This was a circular

panel ten feet in diameter, surrounded by a border of conventionalized ivy

suggested possibly by "the casements' mild shade" from which the poet watched

the stars.

The building, like that of the Woman's, is a plain and substantial structure.

It is 150 by 90 feet, two-storied, with a roof garden, which in reality is a playground

for the little ones. It is inclosed with a strong wire netting to insure safety, and is

made attractive by vines and flowers.

Toys of all nations, from the rude bone

playthings of the Eskimo children to the

wonderful mechanical and instructive toys

of modern times, are exhibited under

cover in the garden, and all are used to

entertain children. Trustworthy nurses

are in charge of the garden, as well as of

the department of public comfort in the

building, and no hesitancy was ever felt

in leaving children in their care. Of

course a small fee was exacted, but the

mother had the satisfaction of knowing

that every want of her little one was being

provided for. The educational exhibit is a

perfect one, and begins with the earliest

training of children. Miss Maria M. Love,

of Buffalo, N. Y., a member of the Board

of Lady Managers, carries on a modern

BOTANY.
DECORATION ON CHILDREN'S BUILDING.

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR.

195

creche, to which a large, airy room is devoted. In this is demonstrated all that is
rational and comfortable in caring for and dressing children. Lectures are de-
livered upon food, clothing and sleeping arrangements, and in the creche is also in-
cluded an exhibition of the clothing of infants and of cradles used in all times and
by all nations.

Succeeding the creche are the kindergarten and kinderkitchen. Everyone
knows what the kindergarden means. Not so many are acquainted with the kitchen-
garden, of which Miss Emily Huntingdon, of New York, was the founder, and which
is designed to teach classes of little folks, especially the children of the poor, the
arts of housekeeping, all in so interesting a way that sweeping, cleaning, dusting,

and cooking become a de-
light and not a task. Phy-
sical development is il-
lustrated by the North
America Turner Bund,
with the hope of inspiring
children with a desire to
seek physical perfection.
An assembly-room is pro-
vided where rows of chairs
and a platform, from
which are delivered stere-
opticon lectures on the
subjects of foreign coun-
tries, their languages,
manners and customs, as
well as the most import-
ant facts in their history.
There is also a children's
library, under the charge
of Mrs. Clara Doty Bates,
chairman of the commit-
tee of literature for chil-
dren of the congress auxiliary. Generous responses were made to the request
sent out by the Board of Lady Managers for contributions to the library from for-
eign countries, as well as our own, and many autographic manuscripts of contrib-
utors to St. Nicholas and other children's magazines are to be seen.

Pennsylvania has a department showing the wonderful progress made in
teaching the deaf and dumb. Miss Mary Garrett has charge of this department,
and daily demonstrations are made.

The government contributed the Ramona Indian school, the living testimonial
•which stands to the memory of Helen Hunt Jackson in Santa Fe, N. M.

No appropriation was made by the Exposition authorities for the Children's
Building. The Board of Lady Managers assumed the entire responsibility of

CHILDREN'S BUILDING.

196 HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR.

raising the money for its erection, and Mrs. Potter Palmer and the Friday Club
raised the necessary funds for its equipment and maintenance. The money
employed in its erection was contributed by the different States.

And while on this subject of children, the author is reminded that at 8:30
o:clock on the evening of May 3rd there was born to the Exposition a baby — a girl.
To be sure, she was a foundling, but her welcome was as warm as though she had
come clothed in purple instead of a coarse gray wrap. This baby's coming was highly
romantic. She was found in the northeast corner of the Manufactures Building by
Guard John O' Herns while he was going his rounds. He said that while he was
passing the exhibit of a firm of French perfumers he heard what he thought sounded
. strangely like the crying of a child. He made a search with his lantern and discovered
that he was correct. He found the baby wrapped in a gray blanket shawl. He
called one of a number of scrub women who was at work near by and she took charge
of the child. An attempt was made by the guard to call the ambulance, but Mrs.
Martha Bauerman, the forewoman of the scrubbers, said the women would take care
of the baby. After a whispered conversation the women gave the child to a Mrs.
Reichster, who was working with them. They said she had just lost an infant child
by death, and was willing to take charge of the foundling. Mrs. Reichster
was allowed to go to her home at once by the forewoman. The guards detailed in
the big building were jubilant over the discovery and raised a purse of several
dollars forthebaby onthe spot. The babe was apparently about two months old. It
is a girl with very light hair and brown eyes, dressed in coarse garments, and there
was nothing to lead to identification.

The author spent many a delightful hour in the Children's Building watching
the babies, and the boys and girls who preferred the fun of the pavilion to the Court
of Honor, Transportation Building, Palace of Fine Arts, or anything else. But the
babies! He has seen two hundred at a time — fat, thin, crying, laughing, quiet, kick-
ing, healthy, sickly, black, white and copper-colored ones. It was the prettiest,
jolliest and noblest nursery in the world, and better than Barnum & Bailey's four
ringed circus at its best.

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR.

197

MR S. CHANTS PLEA FOR THE CHILDREN AND

D REN'S BUILDING.

THE CHIL-

LEFT London witn all of its poverty and attendant misery
and came to the progressive and most American of cities
— Chicago. Here I found myself, where all visitors go, in
a veritable earthly Paradise, as I visited your World's Fair.
And yet, in all that grandest architectural display the world
has ever known, was there anything that touched my heart
as did the building dedicated to the Children, for that
touches the "high water mark" of igth Century progress,
for its effect is to be felt not only on our own generation,
but upon succeeding ones.

We are just becoming aware of the fact that this is the
most glorious age that childhood has known, for while we
have wasted our brain-fibre for generations in inventions by which to shorten the
hours of labor and to lengthen those of pleasure for grown people, yet it has been
reserved for this generation to make even a picture book for a child where the fox
un-labeled would not be mistaken for the dog! And yet at the World's Fair may
be found a happy home arranged entirely for children with every known means of
diversion and entertainment that thoughtfulness can suggest, with motherly ma-
trons and kind attendants in charge of it. Think of the mothers who are thus left
free during the whole day to enjoy the beauty of that grand architectural display sur-
rounding them on every side, or to wander at pleasure among the rare works of art,
and of the effect on the happy children who are refreshed by the change from the over-
fatigued mother to the care of restful attendants and charmed by the new and novel
diversions on every side. Enough cannot be said in praise of your work, and we
are behind the women of America in our work on the Eastern shores of the At-
lantic in our means of benefiting humanity by making the world a happier place
to live in.

In my own philanthropical work I have discovered that I can always be sure
of prompt and efficient material aid from benevolent women whenever I speak or
write on the subject of Reform, be it what it may, but when I make a plea for the
"Home" that we have instituted near London, simply for the purpose of making
brighter and happier the lives of the miserable and poor, society at once takes
alarm and I am met with repeated cries of dismay, and the fear is expressed that I
may change the color of the social fabric by introducing an element hitherto un-
known within its sacred precincts.

When our "Home" was first opened, I took with me from London twenty-
five ballet girls — be not shocked! — for an artificial life, lived out under the glare of

IQ8

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR.

lime lights, tinsel dresses and spangles, is not soul satisfying, even to a ballet girl
as three weeks of pure air and sunshine with wholesome home influences proved
in its effect on these girls who returned to London sun-burnt and happier than they
had ever been in their lives before. I wish that you all might have heard their ex-
pressions of gratitude and their promises to help others who had not shared with
them their luxurious holiday.

Surely the noblest result of this age of progress has been the establishment
of these institutions for making children happy, for even wte, the "Children of a
larger growth" are always good when we are happy, then life becomes a most in-
teresting and enjoyable affair, yet we forget that a happy childhood is the grand-
est foundation for future greatness in man or woman, so I make a further plea for
the furtherance of "Fresh-air Excursions" and Sanitariums for children.

Do you realize that the tendency of city life is toward artificiality, that only
in solitude is character deepened and the soul developed? Take a child from some
alley home, give it sunshine, birds, flowers and trees and study the effect, then I
need not talk or write, for the American only needs the suggestion. When I hear
that the Children's Building was made possible as the result of noble charitable
enterprises on the part of your noble women, and see the successful result of your
work in the number of children you have already made happy by your experiment,
I look beyond and see a power for doing good among you that should not be con-
tent with present results, but still further the movement already made by new insti-
tutions that will give the highest reward possible to any life, that of making the
world a happier place to live in after we have left it.

'SP-ISSLA

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR.

199

THE WORlfD AWD THE WORUUS FAIR.

AN ARTICLE BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL.

T was my recent privilege and duty, as a servant of the United
States Government, to appear before the Committee on the
World's Columbian Exposition of the House of Representa-
tives at Washington, for official consideration of the further
financial needs of the World's Fair of 1893, at Chicago. I
& jKr there undertook,by the detailed view of the popular interest in

BP\ our Exposition, to indicate the propriety of further govern-
mental support, and in that detailed view, I was enabled,
through the generosity and enterprise of the American states,
to complete a splendid catalogue — a roster of unexampled
pride, magnanimity, enterprise, progress and hope. Appeal-
ing to the statesmanship of my country, I thus made plain that
all classes, all colors and all nationalities of citizens under our flag are anxious for
an opportunity to make known to the world their love for our nation, and their ma-
terial and intellectual advancement under our free institutions.

Yet, with all the particularity which was needed to express the doings of
half-a-hundred states and nearly seventy millions of free people, I had but entered
under the lintels of the World's Columbian Exposition. The world itself was still
to be touched upon. How had that Elder World received the tidings of our grati-
tude to Christopher Columbus, and, through him, to the ages and the eons that
have brought mankind to the Nineteenth Century? Such was the thought which
was presented to Congress. And let my thought serve as a text of this article.

Before our law-givers was unrolled the scroll of the nations, where feeling
and purpose among peoples and races became as one language of peace and fra-
ternity. Here let me begin:

The home of the sturdy Norseman, the land of history and courage and song,
not larger in population than some of our States — this kingdom of Norway and Swed-
en has set aside a sum of more than $110,000, and little Denmark $67,000 more. These
people are among us by the million, and they rank with our most intelligent and
patriotic citizens. They take great pride in what the home government is doing
for the Exposition, and the former citizens of those nations now with us are raising
large amounts here for the purpose of properly entertaining and greeting the rep-
resentatives of their home governments.

France, our sister republic, proua, courageous and progressive; historic,
wealthy France, with golden threads of sacrifice, woven and interwoven through

200 HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR.

the mantle of our national history — France has accepted our invitation, and has ap-
pointed on her commission such men as Berger, the distinguished Director-General
of the Paris Exposition, and Proust, the government art director, and placed at
their disposal $631,000 to properly participate in our Exposition, as requested by
this government

And by the side of France stands the great empire of Germany. Millions of
ner industrious, scholarly and philanthropic sons are among the best and bravest
citizens of this nation. It is said that the emperor has interested himself regarding
the place which his people shall take in the great civic trial of advancement and
progress to be witnessed at Jackson Park in 1893. Every foot of space that could
be allotted to this powerful nation was accepted long ago by German exhibitors.
Their commissioner, Herr Wermuth, has visited us; they have the plan of the build-
ing and of the site and the space they are to occupy and their preparations are ad-
vanced. To show the friendship and interest of Germany, over $800,000 have been
appropriated by the Empire for the proper acceptance of America's invitation.

Nor has Austria-Hungary failed in these civilities and comities of the Great
Powers. The government at Vienna has appointed a commission, consisting of the
emperor's brother, the minister of commerce, and other representatives and illus-
trious leaders of that nation. Millions of her sons are today citizens of this country,
and they are looking forward with a pardonable pride to the great preparations
now being made in fatherland for the Fair. Austria-Hungary has placed 150,000
florins, as a preliminary appropriation, at the disposal of her commission.

The government of Russia has assumed the entire charge of the exhibit from
that country. Her messengers have been sent to all parts of that wonderful domain
to gather the richest and finest of her products. The expense of the collection and
the transportation to the Fair and return, the care of the exhibits and all expenses
are provided for under the direct charge of the officers of the government. This
nation, with continents for her domain, with 1 10,000,000 of people to do her bidding,
with history and wealth and ambition and friendship to inspire her action, will pre-
sent an exhibit which will not probably cost less than $1,000,000 to display,

Recent debates in parliament have shown that the pride of Great Britain is at
stake, and that her leaders, governors and statesmen are thoroughly alive to the
situation. The appropriation has been increased by the cabinet, and the charges
for space have been wholly or partly withdrawn. The awakening of interest and
good will at London has once more evidenced the strength of racial ties. Consti-
tutional government began on the river Thames. Its victories will be gloriously
celebrated by British men on Lake Michigan. The corner-stone for the British
Pavilion was laid at Jackson Park, on Saturday, May 21, 1802, with special cere-
monies conducted in the name of the Royal Commission.

The Irish people of Great Britain are making liberal arrangements fora com-
prehensive exhibit of the resources, manufactures and history of this gallant race,
and the women, also, under the direction of Lady Aberdeen, who has visited us, are
alive to the situation.

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR. 201

The Principality of Wales is thoroughly aroused to the importance of mak-
ing a characteristic exhibit at the World's Fair. Their people have arranged to
have their grand festival or eisted fodd, at Jackson Park, in 1893, and the tens of
thousands of the former sons of this music-loving and God-fearing people now citi-
zens in this country have subscribed large amounts for prizes to be awarded at this
festival.

The sturdy Scots will be with us, and receive the generous hospitality of the
thousands of leading fellow-clansmen who form a class so influential in our body
politic.

From all of the British colonies will they come; and, as preliminary to their
coming, the following appropriations have been made: By Great Britain, $300,000;
Canada, $100,000; Honduras, $7,000; Cape Colony, $25,000; Trinidad, $25,000;
Jamaica, $20,000; Ceylon, $40,000; and probably one million and a half of dollars
will not exceed the amount this nation and its dependencies, as governments, will
expend in their preparation to comply with America's invitation to participate in
this Fair.

The Royal Commissioner of Spain has already presented his credentials
and has applied for the space his nation expects to require to display the exhibits
of the land whose generous queen gave aid to speed the great discovery in his
search for a continent.

Historic and classic Greece has appointed its commissioner and appropriated
$60,000 for the suberb exhibit, to be displayed at Jackson Park.

The commissioner from Portugal has already arrived in Washington, and is
soon to be with us to arrange for an exhibit.

The representatives of the governments of Belgium, Turkey, Switzerland
and Egypt have visited the grounds and made their preliminary arrangements for
exhibits.

Brazil, possessed of all the wealth of products incident to her perfect clime, has
set aside $600,000 with which to display the exhibits and resources of that young
and growing republic.

Costa Rica, with less than half a million of population, has appropriated
$150,000, or in excess of 30 cents per capita, to comply with our invitation to be
present and participate in the Fair. Little Ecuador has overtopped her lofty
Chimborazo and Cotopaxi with her appropriation of $125,000, and Guatemala, with
one million of inhabitants, has appropriated 20 cents per capita, or $200,000, to
comply with the invitation of this country to participate.

Mexico, our next-door neighbor at the south — the nation that nutured the
enterprise of Columbus -has appointed its leading governmental officer to take
charge of the several departments, and will eclipse any former effort in the exhi-
bition of her wonderful resources; and, as a preliminary, has appropriated $50,000.

Japan, the Great Britain of Asia, that with every new day is making some
new stride toward the western spirit of enterprise and civilization, almost staggers
us with her appropriation of nearly $700,000, to conform with the invitation of
the United States of America to participate in the great Fair.

202 HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR.

I might go on, step by step, over the nations of the world. Suffice it to say,
the civilized people of this earth have in a hearty and substantial manner accepted
our invitation in good faith and have already appropriated over $5,000,000 to carry
out, in an appropriate manner, their part in this great international exposition
which we have inaugurated. Theiracceptances of our invitation are on file in the De-
partment of State, at Washington. Therefore I said to Congress, and I repeat:
Cannot this government, the richest on the face of the earth, in the zenith of its
power and prosperity, with an unprecedented balance sheet in its favor in its deal-
ing with foreign nations; this government of whom a distinguished English state-
man recently said that the "center of the power of the world was in the United
States"; can it not appropriate the value of a single cruiser in the celebration of the
arts of peace? I believe it can and will. "Peace hath her victories no less renowned
than war"

Properly and economically administered, the people will cheerfully approve
the appropriation. The constituents of our Congressmen — the states, territories
and citizens — desire it; the nations of the earth — this government's constituency —
desire it. And what is it all for? Civilization. Contemplate the glorious harvest
of our Exposition; all creeds and tongues and peoples are invited and expected to be
present at this universal banquet — a banquet of peace and brotherly love. Its
natural effect will be the cementing of the bonds of national fraternity, the destruc-
tion of national jealousy and the collecting together as one of the great family of
mankind to unitedly celebrate the opening of a hemisphere for the benefit of
humanity, for the progress of civilization and the advancement of the Christian
religion.

This was and is my plea. I beg the good will and aid of my fellow-Ameri-
cans. The astonishing growth of the country, as reflected in the necessary triple
enlargement of the World's Columbian Exposition, has placed the officers of the
Fair in a position of responsibility not to be lightly assumed nor honorably aban-
doned.

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