1, 1894.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
459 
A CEYLON PLANTER AT CHICAGO 
EXHIBITION : 
HIS LAST LETTER FROM CHICAGO. 
BOUND FOE CALIFORNIA, 
Chicago, Nov. 5, 
" The Editor, Ceylon Observer," 
Dear Mr. Editor, —This is probably the lat^t letter 
I will trouble you and your numerous readers with 
from Chicago. The Fair is 
A THING OF THE PAST 
and its glory is departed. 
We have had a very busy month, and as you 
would learn from telegrams and papers, the crowds 
have been enormous during the month of October. 
CEYLON AND CEYLON TEA 
were ever in the front, and we did a large busines^s, 
although the purchasing powers of the vast crowds 
were not so great in proportion to numbers, as in 
some previous months. 
The number of cups served during October was 
12.5,000, and packets of tea sold numbered 31,000, 
which is a very large thing indeed. Ceylon shut 
down serving tea on Saturday afternoon at 2-80 p.m, 
the 4th Nov. (being the last to go), in 
THE women's building PAVILION 
the last cup being poured out by the writer and 
handed to a charming young lady by Mr. Bierach, 
the fair recipient being on this occasion the guest 
of the Ceylon Commissioner. 
THE THKEE REMAINING CEYLON COURTS 
are to be sold by auction on Saturday, the 11th inst., 
at 11 o'clock, Wr. Foster and self having already 
bought one for San Francisco. This looks like the 
beginning of the end. 
I fear my letter will be tinged by sorrow and 
sadness; for, to one who has seen the bustle, ani- 
mation, life, grandeur, and surpassing beauty of the 
Wonderful White City, to one whose romantic mind, 
sensitive nature and poetic ideas are not quite rubbed 
out by this matter-of tact end-of-the-century, it is 
A BATHER SAD AND DEPRESSING BIGHT, 
though in its stillness, quiet and deserted appear- 
ance, there is an iudescribable grandeur yet, which 
peoples it in the imaginatien with the vast multi- 
tudes, from amongst whom a few, let us hope, constant, 
good and true, life-long friends have been made. 
CEYLON TEA TO THE FP.ONI. 
To the end, Ceylon maintained her position in the 
forefront. At a largely attended reception given in 
the New York State building, on New York Day, 
the famous Ceylon tea was served at one end of the 
room, while Indian tea was dispensed at the other 
end. Arrangements being as usual in the efficient 
hands of our Mr. Bierach, who was en honoured 
guest on the occasion. 
There were ten of our natives there from 8 till 
11 p.m., 8 men and 2 women, all nicely dressed, and 
not until the last of the Indian attendants had gone, 
did the Ceylon people begin to think of going home. 
There have been some other receptions of a similar 
nature, but I need not describe them ; they were always 
a success, the tea being highly praised, and all arrange- 
ments beiDg efficiently carried out by Mr. Bierach. 
VISITORS TO THE FAIR, 
We have had several visitors from your island, Mr. 
Handcock, who enquired after many old Balangoda 
friends, including Stuart A. Holland & Brother of 
<,'oorg. He was delighted with what little Ceylon had 
done hero. Mr. Valentine of Travaiicore again 
visiled us, after having had some good shooting on 
his way home. We have liad some pleasant chats 
with Mr. R. V. "Webster, the genial manager of the 
Ceylon Co-operative Tea Gardens Co., whose teas 
have been awarded a geld medal here. He was 
accompanied by a largo party of friends from Halifax, 
N.S., who thoroughly enjoyed themselves aad out 
Mr. Webster has done a large amount of business 
since his arrival in Canada and the United States, 
and I hope to meet him later,' la San Francisco. 
Our latest visitor was the well-known and esteemed 
Mr. Kerr of Ambagamuwa, who, though a little 
too late, saw a great deal during the short time he 
had at his disposal here. 
THE EARL /ND COUNTESS OF ABEEDEEN 
were entertained by our Commissioner one afternoon, 
and were loud in their praises of our beautiful 
building and all the wonders it contained. 
THE MURDER OF THE CHICAGO MAYOR. 
The terrib'e murder of the esteemed Mayor of 
Chicago, Carter Harrison, within a few hours, one 
may say, of ihe official closing of the Great Fair, and 
to whose great personal interest, the success of the Fair 
is largely due, seemed to cast a shadow of sadness and 
sorrow over the closing days, and deepens the depression 
one feels while out there now. He was withm a few 
days of his marriage to a lovely young lady, which 
makes the occurrence ell the more sad. 
PECCANT NAirVES. 
I regret to say that some of the natives, towards 
the end of things, did not continue to maintain 
that high character they have earned during the 
continuance of the Fair, but misbehaved rather badly. 
They are being sent back to Ceylon in disgrace, by 
an early steamer. 
THE PERMANENT WOMEN'S BUILDING. 
I had great pleasure in presenting to Mrs. Potter 
Palmer, on behalf of the Hon. J. J. Grinlinton and 
with the compliments of the Ceylon Commission, a 
few very pretty Kalutara baskets. These were much 
prized, and are to have a place in the permanent 
Women's Building which is to be built here soon, 
and towards the erection of which Mrs. Potter 
Palmer has munificently donated the sum of §200,000 
and promised as much more as may be found 
necessary. 
PACKING UP. 
We are now all very busy helping with the packing 
up, and the store in State Street, which is being put 
in order, requires a great deal of the time and at- 
tention of our Commissioner, I think most of us are 
glad the Fair is over, for it has been very hard 
tiring work, and a great stra'n on most of us. The 
W'eatber is now very cold, and we are beginning to 
feel it ; though doubtless we will not get so fagged 
as during the very warm weather. We are all fairly 
well, with the exception of co ds and neuralgia now 
and then. 
I will be through with the Commissioner about 
the 1.5th, and must then pick up for San Fran- 
cisco, where I wiil have plenty of the same kind of 
hard work to do. 
MY NEXT LETTER, 
Mr. Editor, will probably be dited from Detroit 
Michigan, whither I go about the 20th for a short 
reft, and to look up the Tes Trade there, aa every- 
thing must now be done to keep up the interest ex- 
cited in our teas by the Worla's Fair here, 
CALirOENIA MIDWINTER EXHIBITION. 
I hope to leave with my Ceylon Court and cativel 
for San Francisco towards the last of November. I 
trust I shall receive some enccurageicent from the 
Planters' Association and the Planters and Propric. 
tors in the way of eihibiis, &c., &c. These should 
be addressed to Messrs. Foster nnd Cockburn, Ceylon 
Pavilion, Meuufacturers Hall, Midwinter Eihibition, 
San Francisco Californis. 
ON THE WAY HOME. 
I believe tho Assittant ComrDissioner and natives 
leave early in December for Vancoaver, on tbiir way 
home. Mr. Griuliutcn goes to Mtw Vork on bu.siuona 
and rt turns to tinally see tbat our store has teen 
working well duiioK bis absence in clinrxe of Mr. 
, Jii«(uch, Uur populut Com(uid«i9uer ({oei btgk vj^ 
