CHAPTER XVI.
"Papa, I wish we might go back to the Fair directly after supper and spendthe evening there," Lucilla said, as again they stood on the _Dolphin's_deck. "I want so much to see the lighting up of the Court of Honor, thengo to the wooded island to see it with the lamps lighted; after that tothe Ferris Wheel again, to have the view from it by moonlight."
"Anything more, my child?" returned the captain, with his pleasant smile.
"I think it likely that may do for one evening, sir," she replied; "unlessmy father wants to take me somewhere else."
"I think we will then come back through the Court of Honor and go to ourbeds," he said; "that is, should we make the visits proposed, which willdepend at least somewhat upon the wishes of others. Violet, my dear, howdoes that programme suit you?"
"I really do not know of any way of spending the evening that I shouldenjoy more," answered Violet. "Indeed Lu and I were talking together ofour desire to see those sights, not longer ago than yesterday. And you,mother, would like it, would you not?" she asked, turning to GrandmaElsie.
"Very much!" was the reply. "The tired little ones will be left in theirbed of course?"
"Yes, indeed! they will be ready for that as soon as they have had theirsupper," Violet replied, with a loving look into each weary little face."Come, dears, we will go to our state-room, wash hands and faces, andsmooth your hair, and by that time supper will be on the table."
Every one of the company approved of Lucilla's plan for the spending ofthe evening, and before the sun had quite set they were again in the Courtof Honor. They were in season to secure seats from which they could get agood view of the lighting up.
They found there were thousands of people who seemed as anxious asthemselves to witness the sudden change from deepening twilight to thegrand illumination that made fairyland of the Court of Honor. But theywere there for some minutes, sitting silently in the growing darkness,finding the buildings taking on a new beauty by the dim, uncertain light,and feeling it pleasant just to rest, listen to the subdued hum of thethousands of voices of the multitude thronging about the white railingguarding the fountains, the doorways, the stone steps leading down to thewater, and every place where a human creature could find room to sit downand rest while waiting for a sight of the expected lighting up.
There seemed no ill-humor among the great throng, no loud, angry talk, buta subdued buzz like many telephone messages coming over the wire at thesame time.
Our friends sat where they could see both the Administration Dome and theGolden Statue at the other end of the lagoon. They had sat in silencethere for some minutes, the darkness deepening, when suddenly there was ablare of music, the fountains threw up a few thin columns of spray, thefront of a dark building was instantly illumined with a thousandjewel-like lights, then another and another blazed out in the same mannertill all were alight with tiny jets of flame; three rows, the first orhighest following the cornices all round the court: these were of a goldenhue; while some distance lower down was a second silver-colored row, thenthe last, ranged just under the parapet of the lagoon, were golden likethe first. The mingled light of all three shone on the dark waters of thelagoon, the gondolas skimming silently to and fro, and the electriclaunches gliding swiftly onward.
And the great dome of the Administration Building looked grandly beautifulwith its line of flaming torches about its base, its triumphal arches ofglittering fire above, and the golden crown sparkling on its summit. Greatsearch-lights were flaming out from the ends of the Main Building, makingvisible the lovely seated Liberty in the MacMonnie's fountain which wasfoaming and rustling; and suddenly the two electric fountains sent up tallcolumns of water which changed from white to yellow, from that to purple,then to crimson, and from that to emerald green.
"Oh, it is just too beautiful!" exclaimed Rosie, "too lovely for anything.I feel as if I could never weary of gazing upon it."
"No, nor I," murmured Evelyn in low, moved tones. "I never imaginedanything so grandly beautiful!"
"No, nor did I; and yet it cannot be anything to compare to heaven," saidGrandma Elsie; "'for eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have enteredinto the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them thatlove him!'"
They sat for some time gazing upon the enchanting scene, then rose, andstill keeping together, wandered on till they reached the wooded island.
The scene there was lovelier than in the daylight. Little glass cups ofvarious colors held tiny lights of wick in oil, giving a charmingappearance to the scene, and there were thousands of visitors moving hereand there among them.
So did our party from the _Dolphin_, for a half hour or more; then theyreturned to Midway Plaisance, and finding that the moon had risen, soughtthe Ferris Wheel, and ascending in it had a beautiful view of the WhiteCity, the lake beyond, and the surrounding country. They made the circuitseveral times, then leaving the wheel, wandered slowly through thefairylike scene that lay between them and the Peristyle, where the youngmen who lodged on shore bade good-night and the others entered theirwaiting boat and returned for the night to their floating home. All wereweary with the day's sight-seeing and soon retired to their state-rooms;but Lucilla, noticing that her father had remained on deck, hastened backagain for the bit of private chat with him of which she was so fond, yetin these days could so seldom get. He welcomed her with a smile, anddrawing her into his arms added a tender caress.
"And what has my little girl, my dear eldest daughter, to say to herfather to-night?" he asked.
"Oh, not very much of anything, papa," she replied, "but I'm hungry for alittle petting and a chance to hug and kiss my dear father; withoutanybody by to criticise," she concluded, with a low, happy laugh.
"Very well, my darling, you have my full permission to do all you care toin that line," he said, patting her cheek and pressing his lips to itagain and again. "I haven't lost the first place in my little girl's heartyet?"
"No, indeed, papa; and you need not have the least bit of fear that youever will."
"That is good news; if something I have heard so many times can beproperly called news."
"Are you tired hearing it, father, dear?" she asked half entreatingly,half incredulously.
"Indeed no, my darling," he returned, holding her close. "I can hardlybear to think there will ever be a time when I shall have to relinquishthe very first place in your heart; though I do not believe the time willever come when your love for me will fail entirely or even be very small."
"I can't believe there is the very least danger of that, my own dear, dearfather," she returned earnestly, "and oh, it would break my heart to thinkthat you would ever love me any less than you do now."
"It would take a great deal to lessen my love for you, dear one," hereplied, repeating his caresses. "Has this been a happy and enjoyable dayto you, daughter?"
"Oh, very, papa! what a delightful time we are having!"
"You will be almost sorry when the time comes for returning home?"
"Oh, no, indeed, sir! we have such a sweet home that I am always glad tobe back to it when we have been away for a few weeks."
"But then playtime will be over and studies must be renewed."
"And that, with such a cross, cross teacher whom nobody loves," shereturned sportively, and laying her head on his shoulder, for he had satdown, drawing her to his side and putting an arm about her waist.
"Ah, indeed! I had thought it was your father who was to teach you."
"And you didn't know how cross and tyrannical he was?" she laughed.
"So cross and tyrannical that he says now that it is time his eldestdaughter was in her bed."
"Oh, please don't say I must go just yet, papa!" she begged. "There are somany of us here that I can hardly ever get a word with you in private, andit is so--so pleasant to get you all to myself for a few minutes."
"Well," he said, taking out his watch, "you may have five----"
"Oh, papa," she interrupted eagerly, "say ten, please do! a
nd I'll try tobe ever so good to-morrow," she concluded, with a merry look and smile.
"Ten then, but not another one unless you want me to say you must stayhere and rest all day to-morrow."
"Oh, no, sir, please don't! That would be worse than being sent to bedimmediately. I'll go without a word of objection, whenever you tell me to.But oh, papa, wasn't it lovely to see the Court of Honor light upto-night? and what could have been more beautiful than the view from theFerris Wheel?"
"They were fine sights, and I am glad you enjoyed them," he returned."To-morrow we will, I think, go into the Manufactures Building, andperhaps make some purchases. Would you like to do so?"
"Oh, yes, sir! yes, indeed! I want to get some gifts for Christine andAlma, and the servants at home."
"I highly approve of that," he said, "and have no doubt we will be able tofind something for each which will be acceptable. Now the ten minutes areup, daughter; so bid me good-night and go to your room and get to bed asquickly as you can."
"Good-night and pleasant dreams to you, my own dear, dear father," shereturned, hugging him tightly for an instant, then hastened to do hisbidding.
"I presume you will all be ready to start out early, as usual?" thecaptain said at the breakfast table the next morning, adding with a quickglance about from one to another, "I am happy to see that everyone islooking well and bright."
"As we are feeling," said Mr. Dinsmore, "and it is certainly a cause forgratitude to the Giver of all good. What have you to propose in regard toour movements for the day, captain?"
"It makes but little difference to me where we go, so that all arecontent," replied Captain Raymond; "but if no one else cares to decide thequestion, I propose that our first visit be to the Manufactures Building.We have been there before, but there are thousands of things well worthour attention which we have not yet looked at."
"Oh, yes; let us go there first," responded several voices, and so it wasdecided.
They set out, as usual, shortly after leaving the table; found their younggentlemen friends waiting for them in the Peristyle, and all proceeded atonce to the Manufactures Building.
It was easy to spend a long time there, and they did; visiting one sectionafter another, admiring all that was worthy of admiration in thearchitecture and exhibits--the German pavilion with its towers, domes, andarches, its Ionic pillars upholding golden eagles, the fountains at thebase, the Germania group in hammered copper surmounting the highestpedestal, and, most beautiful and impressive of all, the greatwrought-iron gates that form its main entrance, and were considered thefinest and most remarkable specimens of that kind of work ever yet seen inour country.
The pavilion of France next challenged their attention, being close athand. In front of its arched entrance stood two blue and green vases whichthey learned were from the national porcelain factories of Sevres, bothvery handsome. That factory had sent about two thousand pieces of itsbeautiful and costly china. Most of them had been already sold, but thecaptain and his party secured a few.
Germany, France, and Great Britain occupied three great squares groupedaround the central circle of the immense building. On the fourth squarewere the exhibits of the United States. Three New York firms had acceptedthe task of making for their country's section such a pavilion as shouldmaintain her dignity and reputation, and had succeeded in so doing. Itwas of the Doric order of architecture and enriched with a pale color anda profusion of gold, while from the centre of the facade rose a column toa height of one hundred feet, having a ball and eagle on the top.
"Oh, let us go in and look at the exhibits here! those of our owncountry," exclaimed Lucilla, after some moments had been spent by theirparty in an admiring examination of the outside.
Such seemed to be the inclination of the others also, and they passedquietly in and about.
The exhibit of jewelry there was the one which seemed to have the greatestattraction for the young girls of the party, Lucilla especially; and herfather presented her with a pin and ring which gave her great delight; norwas he less liberal to his wife or Grace.
"Ah, ha! um, hum! ah, ha! I see, captain, that you believe in encouraginghome industries," laughed Mr. Lilburn.
"Yes, sir; especially when they are the best," returned the captaingood-humoredly. "I have been examining jewelry in the various foreignexhibits and find none to excel, few to compare with, those of theseUnited States."
"Yes," said Harold; "some of our country-men excel in those things, asthey do in the art of the silversmith. Look at those translucent enamelsworked on silver fret-work--there in the Gorham exhibit; and those finepitchers and vases made of silver worked into open engraved designs,having pieces of colored glass blown into it; and those of Rockwoodpottery and silver."
"And yonder is Tiffany's exhibit," said Evelyn. "He is one of our finestjewelers, so let us go and look at it."
There was no objection raised, but all followed her as she led the way tothe pavilion of which she had spoken. They found it well worthexamination, for none of them had ever seen a finer display, or greatervariety of precious stones in costly and beautiful settings.
Our friends lingered some time longer in what the young people called "oursection." There were other fine collections from other cities andcountries, too numerous to mention, and far too many to be seen andexamined in one day, or even in several.
After a time, however the little ones grew very weary and indeed all wereready to enjoy a rest. So an electric boat on the lagoon was entered, andquite a while spent upon the water.
After that they had luncheon at a restaurant, then went to see the Spanishcaravels.
"What are caravels, papa?" asked Elsie, as they went on their way.
"You'll see presently," he replied. "You have heard the story of thediscovery of America. These little vessels which we are going to see aremade as nearly as possible like those he came over in; the men who builtthem looking up old pictures and descriptions and making these vessels asexact copies of the old ones as they could."
"Was it in Spain they made them, papa?"
"Yes; they sailed from Palos in Spain, about a year ago, and exactly fourhundred years from the time when Columbus sailed from there to look forthe land he felt sure was here, on this side of the ocean. They took, asnearly as they could, just the course he did, and finally came on to NewYork, where they had a part in the international review of April, 1893."
"That's the name of this year isn't it, papa?"
"Yes; that review took place last April; and after it they sailed for theSt. Lawrence River, came round the lakes as we did, and here into thisharbor."
"How many are there, papa?"
"Three: the _Santa Maria_--in which Columbus himself sailed--the _Nina_,and the _Pinta_. There they are, daughter," as at that moment they came insight of the three small vessels.
"Why, how little they are!" she exclaimed; "not nearly so big as the_Illinois_ that we see all the time from our deck."
"You are quite right about that," her father said, with a smile.
"But what does anybody want with such little bits of ships?" she asked.
"Only to show people with what little vessels Columbus accomplished hisgreat work of discovering America."
"I'm glad he discovered it," Elsie said, with satisfaction; "because, ifhe hadn't, we couldn't have been here living in it."
"Unless somebody else had discovered it between that time and this,Elsie," laughed her uncle Walter, overhearing her last remark.
All were interested in looking at the little vessels, but their curiositywas soon satisfied and they returned to the Court of Honor for a time,then to the _Dolphin_.