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Yes, that must be the Tower of Jewels, said Rob, and I should call it pretty well named in the bargain. Theyve certainly chosen a splendid spot for the Fair, fronting, as it does, on the bay, with its wide sweep of water, and with the city rising up on tiers of terraces back of it.
That must be the Zone over there, Andy continued, eagerly; because you can see a monster seesaw, with one arm away up hundreds of feet in the air, and what looks like a car on it full of folks. Yes, I remember it now; it is called the Aëroscope.
Just what it is, Andy, said Rob, and when we get up there for a look over the harbor, the Exposition grounds and the city, well find ourselves just three hundred and twenty-five feet off the earth high enough to make you dizzy.
Huh! seems like they do things on a big scale out this way, grunted Hiram.
I reckon our Coney Island would hardly be in the swim with this show, Andy declared, as they paid their way at the gate and entered the grounds.
Colossal buildings could be seen on all sides, most of them dazzling in the sunlight. Rob had studied the arrangement of these buildings so well that he appeared to recognize them now as though entirely familiar with his surroundings. It was evident that the little party would not have much use for a guide as long as Rob was along to serve them in that capacity.
I calculate that this is the Panama-Pacific Court of the Universe, he told his chums, and that building over there is the Palace of Agriculture, while this other must be the Palace of Transportation; then theres the Palace of Horticulture where you can see that huge glass dome. Over there is the Column of Progress, more than a hundred and fifty feet high, and overlooking the Marino.
The boys surveyed these sights with more or less awe.
I suppose, ventured Hiram, after weve nosed around here for a week or two well feel as much to hum with these big buildings as if we were in Hampton, and lookin at our Odd Fellows Temple. But what a heap of things they must all of em hold. Itll keep us hustlin to see the hull lot, workin ten hours a day for weeks.
Oh! well, none of us expect to see everything thats on exhibit here, said Rob. Our tastes are not wholly alike, either. I may want to spend most of my time in a certain quarter that wouldnt interest you other fellows to any great extent; and on your part Ive no doubt there are certain things that will hold you spellbound, yet which we may only care to take
one good look at.
At that Andy started to chuckle.
I warrant you I can guess where Hiram will be found pretty much all his time at the show, he remarked, pointedly; and of course the other scout felt impelled to take him up on that positive assertion.
Say where, then, if you know so much, Mr. Smarty, he asked Andy.
Just as soon as he gets the locations down pat, began the other, youll never see him a great way off from the quarter where the inventions are being exhibited. Hes daffy on mechanics and such things; and hell be worse than any sticking plaster you ever saw, once he gets planted in front of the booths, or finds out where the aëroplanes are going up every little while.
Oh! well, I own up thats mostly what I wanted to come all the way out here for, said Hiram, frankly. But its a toss-up, Andy, that once you get in that amusement park they call the Zone, a place of moren sixty acres, I read, youll spend most of your time watching the Fiji Islanders dance, or riding around on that observation car to view the wonders of Yellowstone Park, or mebbe the Great Colorado Canyon.
I cant get there any too soon, Im telling you, boys, Andy confessed. Both of you have come out here on business as well as sight-seeing; but its different in my case. Im carefree, and bound to enjoy myself to the limit. In good time Ill wander all over every building in the grounds; but first I want to be amused so as to forget the troubles of our long trip here.
Its very evident, began Rob, that well have to settle on some particular place as a sort of general round-up. If each one is going to start off on his own hook, now and then, unless we fix it that way, we might wander all day long through the enormous buildings, and the grounds covered by this Fair, and never meet.
Well thought of, Rob! cried Andy. Let me suggest that we take this queer-looking tobacconist shop as our rendezvous. We can make an arrangement with the owner for a couple of dollars or so, to take messages, and hold the same for the rest of the bunch.
The sooner thats arranged the better itll suit me, I guess, said Hiram, who was plainly on needles and pins while being kept from hunting up the building in which he would find myriads of remarkable devices illustrating the inventive genius of the world, and particularly of those from the American nation.
Of course Im going at once to the exhibit in which Professor McEwen is interested, said Rob, after they had arranged with the proprietor of the Oriental tobacco booth, because Ill not feel easy until Ive done my part of the contract, and delivered the stuff he intrusted to our charge.