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| GUATEMALA'S BUILDING - Many visitors might, at
first, blame the architects of the Exposition that they did not give
to the foreign nations far more conspicuous stations in Jackson Park,
but it must be recalled that the success of the Fair, both
objectively and subjectively, was not attained with a single stroke,
but was a gradual growth. At first, the foreign nations wanted
little or nothing of it. Even in the end, Italy and Austria came
near to a total default. In this manner, and for this reason of
delay, when the Central and South American nations found it advisable
to move in the matter, the ground was all taken, and the spaces had
to be assigned off the grand avenues and among the shade trees that
had been spared to mitigate the summer's heat. The building of the
Republic of Guatemala was situated on the southern shore of the north
pond, between Costa Rica and Brazil. Like Spanish houses in
general,the architect looked to the open interior court, with its
rustic fountain and pyramid of tropical plants, for his main effects
of the senses, and this spot, in the hot months, was one of the
pleasantest in Chicago, clearly demonstrating the lack of summer
architecture in northern climes. Here, again, the red and green
plumage of birds was the chief spectacle, and coffee was the staple
exhibit. The house was one hundred and eleven feet square, and in an
artistic inclosure near by, the Guatemalans sold coffee by the cup
and dispensed good music. Cost of building, $40,000. |
