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Show VISIIORS TO THE FAIR. Tho newspapers, the magazines, and the special publications aro filled with long -and often well illustrated articles on the great Exposition at St. Louis. All of these are of Interest. Many aro great In their showings of artistic beauty, beau-ty, and most of them havd accounts "of exhibits that are well worth seeing. But few of them havo anything- to say on what is of most interest to thoso who arc planning to go to the Fair some timo during the season. Wo refer to the lodgings and accommodations accom-modations which a stranger may want for his needs and his comfort- It is true that there arc many fine hotels In St, Louis, and some famous ones. But it can be tnken for granted that these will not be available to the average or casual ca-sual visitor; they will be packed full all the time, and will bo sealed to all except ex-cept those who have acquaintance or Influence to get them in, or aro so that they can wire or write and make definite defi-nite dates for being taken caro of. But what shall the average, ordinary citizen do, who may tako a sudden desire de-sire or want to avail himself of an unexpected un-expected opportunity to go and see tho Exposition? He has to take desperate chances on getting accommodations of the right sort. What the public needs now Is not elaborate descriptions of the Fair, or notes or pictures of Its beauties; beau-ties; all these the visitor can get after he arrives there. The question is, where, how, and when can ho bo lodged and fed. There are no doubt plenty of places where this can be done; but the thing desired is to bring the man and the place together. A fow of tho articles published tell of tho arrangements made by various associations, clubs, and, above all, the hotels and boarding-houses, to take care of visitors. But nowhere is there a connecting link which will assure the visitor before he leaves home that he can find any of these agencies on his arrival at some unearthly hour, promptly and without extra cost and trouble. . An article In the Review of Reviews notes these difficulties, and says: "There will be many people who will como to St. Louis having made no arrangements, arrange-ments, many arriving- at night, and they will go at once to some of the noted hotels of which they have heard. Of course, they will find these hotels full, and they will not get themselves unpacked in a pleasant room without spending- that night nnd part of the next day uncomfortably. Effort Is being be-ing made to save even the careless people peo-ple from discomfort." And he proceeds to give a list of agencies that will busy themselves In this matter. But nowhero la there 'the slightest cluo whereby the visitors can got In touch with any one of those agencies. Right thero Is the troublor and unless that can be remedied, multitudes of peoplo who might go to the Fair If they could get their accommodations absolutely abso-lutely secured before they left home, no matter at what hour In the day or night they may arrive In St. Louis, wlir, falling that assurance, stay at home. |
