This gracious comment about the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition comes a Connecticut man visiting the Fair in early May. [reprinted from “Noted by a Meriden Man: Jottings at the Big World’s Fair” Meriden (CT) Daily Republican May 6, 1893]

The number, area and styles of the buildings on Jackson Park are astonishing and a credit to Chicago’s wonderful pluck and executive ability. New York would never have poured out the millions to erect the mammoth white structures that her lively western rival has so well done. You can forgive the Chicagoans for the way they so persistently boom their town when once you get a glimpse of the fair.