THE FRENCH COLONIES BUILDING.—Situated well over toward the southeast corner of the grounds and out of the great tide of movement, the French Colonies Building at the Exposition did not attract the attention it merited, though it attained a degree of popularity toward the close, as the interesting nature of its contents became known. Its locality was sometimes referred to as “the back yard of the Fair,” though it contained many curious and beautiful displays, not the least among which were in the structure mentioned. Here were products and works of skill and art from both North African and Asiatic provinces, Tonquin, Annam and Algiers contributing, the articles displayed being of a nature to be found in no other buildings. What such countries as Annam, for instance, could do in the way of manufacture was a surprise to many people, and the showing made proved essentially educational. Near the building, as shown in the illustration, were many other objects of interest. The queer old Dutch windmill appearing to the left was a reproduction of one famous in Holland. It was called Blooker’s Cocoa Wind-mill, and, inside, Holland girls sold cocoa to visitors in a quaint cafe decorated with much tiling. To the right a glimpse is had of the South Pond, in which lay the famous old whaling ship, “Progress,” and where, at night, were moored the steam launches which plied on the watercourses of the grounds and out into the lake during the day. A number of them not in use are shown in the illustration. Beyond, and forming the background to the picture, is the rear of the Agriculture Building.
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