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| THE GERMAN CASTLE - This faithful specimen of South
German architecture stood in the German Village, on Midway Plaisance,
and was surrounded by a small foss and a moat. It led many Americans
to wonder why, when the Germans came to America in millions, they did
not import some of their tasteful ideas of building, rather than to
accept the inane and uniform cottages of Chicago and all western
cities. This is an example of the methods which are enriched in the
German House, on the lake shore, where the Imperial Commissioners had
their offices. It was used as a museum for a large collection of
antique armor, to behold which an extra fee of admission was charged.
It was one of many buildings in the village, and testified that the
word "Castle" goes for less in Germany, where there are castles, than
in America, where there were none except on Midway Plaisance.
Visitors entered a free gate (until late in the season) and came on a
village green, with sports such as a horse-shoe-shaped bowling alley,
and other contrivances. There was beer for sale, and anon the Castle
invited the curious. Beyond was the real attraction, a bandstand,
with musicians from the principal regiments of Berlin, and an
orchestra that kept its hold on Germans until the close of the Fair.
The restaurant employed a French chef, and was praised early in the
season. The engraving shows the progress of construction, late in
April, 1893. |
