The Adventures of Uncle Jeremiah and Family at the Great Fair | Page 6

EVERY TIME I LOOK
OUT."]
"These confounded people won't let a fellow have his meals only at
their own convenience, and the feelin' of earthquakes keeps a growing
on me every time I look down out of that window. I've got to quit it."
Aunt Sarah shared the same feeling, but John and Fanny decided that it
was not half as high as they wanted to go before they left Chicago.
[Illustration: "Say, Mister, I've paid fare once on this tarnal machine."]
In due time the city awoke, with a rush and a roar, to the business of the
day. Uncle found the office of the boarding house syndicate a few
doors away, and the family were soon safely housed in more congenial
quarters.
"The Fair, Father, the Fair! When will we ever get to see the Fair? I just
heard a man say that it's ten o'clock, and here we are a-fussing about in
the rooms and missin' the sights."
Johnny was impatient, but not long after, the family hailed a passing
street car and were on their way at last.
"Twenty cents is the fare for four of you."

The conductor rang the fares and passed on. The new scenes of the city
absorbed their attention, but Uncle soon began shifting in his seat, and
at last whispered to Aunt Sarah: "Say, I noticed that we went clear
'round a hull lot of blocks, and it 'pears ter me that we air goin' right
backards to where we ought to go, or else this 'ere town has got two
parts a blamed sight alike."
"Fare, please!"
"Say, Mister, I've paid fare once on this tarnal machine. How often do
you have to pay--every once in a while?"
"Are you riding around for your health, or do you want to go
somewhere?"
"That's it, Mister, exactly. I wish you'd drive this riding machine at
once to the World's Fair. You've got it pasted on the front of your
engine, and yet you're takin' us right back past where we got on."
"Sure, old man, you're all right, only you got on a car going the wrong
way, and so went on around the loop. But you're all right now. I'll land
you at the grounds; but twenty cents, please."
Twenty cents were forthcoming, and shortly the family found
themselves in a maze of booths, people, streets and vehicles. It was not
difficult to follow the crowd, and in a few minutes the amazed family
were walking the streets of the great White City.
"Guides, World's Fair Guides!"
Uncle stopped a moment as a boy planted himself in front of him, thus
calling him from the amazement of the wonderful city down to the
realities of the earth.
[Illustration]
"Guides, Mister, only twenty-five cents. This little book contains all
you want to know about yonder lovely city--for the price of one small

quarter you have a key to all the doors of the Fair--with this book no
Columbian guard can call you down--you are free and independent of
everybody with this book in your hands--it's only a quarter, remember,
only twenty-five cents! Illustrated, tells you everything."
"That's it Sarah, let's buy one of these books and go home. It tells us
every thing and it is illustrated. What's the use of wearing our eyes out
and our feet off when we can learn it all out of this feller's book. I feel
all done up on the first sight. It's too big a job fer me to undertake. I
didn't calculate on such a big show."
"No, my boy. I wish I could accommodate ye but you see I ain't got no
time on the grounds for reading or I'd a brought the Scriptures along. I
judge it prophesied this when it spoke of signs and wonders appearing."
"Only a quarter, sir."
Uncle shook his head, but Fanny produced a quarter and took one of
the books.
Near by was a booth where camp stools were to be leased.
"That is what Sarah and I will need. These young ones can walk all
day." Directly Johnny had a folded camp chair in each hand and they
went on following the crowd toward the Administration building. They
did not go inside as most of the people did but continued on around till
the basin between the Peristyle and the Administration building
appeared in view. Through the columns of the Peristyle at the far end of
the basin they could see the blue lake meeting the summer clouds;
above them rose the dome of the Administration building till it seemed
almost to pierce the clouds. They were looking upon a scene never
before excelled in grandeur by the art of man. The basin was filled with
gondolas gracefully plied by Venetians, launches moving both