THE LAGOON IN FRONT OF THE ART PALACE.—It was not a very big sheet of water which lay just south of the Art Palace in the Exposition grounds. It was not imposing in dimensions, though it was by no means small, and it was not such a thoroughfare for launches and gondolas as were other lagoons and connecting straits, but it is doubtful if ever a sheet of water anywhere afforded fairer spectacles or if ever upon one of the same size occurred more pretty incidents of more importance. Here, under the shadow of the most beautiful of structures, was the water resting-place of the Fair. Here, too, was the scene of many various and interesting exploits. From the little platform seen extending out in the right foreground of the picture, were made the tests of the fly throwers among the champion fishermen of the world. Here were made other tests of interest pertaining to the water, and interesting to the world. This lagoon was just aside from the general water thoroughfare between the Grand Basin and the lake, and the drift of travel it caught was but a trifle. Undisturbed by the wayfarer, but most interesting, was the North Lagoon. The photograph reproduced is an almost perfect one. The Illinois Building appears inverted in the water; the flag from the Art Palace dips beneath the waves. The view to the westward is rounded out and complete. Squarely at the west end of the lagoon stands the Indiana Building, and over the wing of the California Building beyond it, in the far distance, looms up the Ferris Wheel, that haunting monster of the Fair.