It would probably not have been so
great, so tine, or so beautiful, had it
come to New York, aud its effect upon
the country at large would not have
been a tithe of what it will produce
with Chicago as a center. Its influ
ence upon Chicago itself will bo in
calculable. Every stranger has been
profoundly impressed by the contrast
as of daylight with darkness, between
the “White City” by the lake, aud the
huge black city whose child it is. It
has been said, half in jest, that the
best lesson which the fair could teach
the people of Chicago would be to
burn their city over again aud then let
the builders of the fair reconstruct it.
There is indeed something appalling to
eastern eyes in the smoke, the dirt,
the soot, aud the crude aspect which
the city as a whole presents. Aud,
while it would be hardly advisable to
buru the city again—unless by install
ments—at least it should be practicable
to give it a thorough scrubbing!
Much of the fair will abide perma
-1 neutlj r with Chicago—something visi
i Dly, in the shape of a few of the
1 liuest buildings, and very much in the
1 way of lasting effect. After this brief
experience of something approaching
i an earthly paradise, or at least a “Uto
jpia,” Chicago can never more rest
j content with her smoke and her dirt.
