view or views from that roof and the loggias."
"Doubtless," returned the captain, "and though we visited all the lower
apartments of the building the other day, we did not go up to the roof; so
that a visit to it will have for us the charm of novelty."
"Yes," said Grandma Elsie; "let us go by boat up the lagoon. Gracie looks
as if she needed a rest from walking, and I confess I should not object to
it myself."
The words had scarcely left her lips before Harold had signalled a boat,
and the whole party was presently seated in it.
A short but delightful row brought them to the landing in front of the
Woman's Building, and climbing the stone stairway that led up to the
terrace, they passed through the triple-arched colonnade that led into the
interior of the building, nor paused till they had reached one of the
_cafes_, where they might rest and also satisfy their appetites with the
good things abundantly provided.
Those important matters duly attended to, some minutes were given to the
enjoyment of the fine views to be obtained from the loggias, and looking
at the statues of Miss Rideout, representing Sacrifice, Charity, Virtue,
and Wisdom. They then spent a short time over the exhibit in the lower
part of the building; and there Captain Raymond and Lucilla met with a
pleasant surprise in coming suddenly and unexpectedly upon Mr. Austin and
his son Albert, the English gentleman whose acquaintance they had made in
their visit to Minersville some years before.
The pleasure was evidently mutual; very hearty greetings were exchanged,
then Captain Raymond introduced his accompanying friends, and Mr. Austin a
daughter who was with him.
A few moments were spent in conversation, in the course of which an
invitation was extended to the Austins to take supper upon the yacht that
evening, and they parted for a time; the Austins having an engagement to
meet some friends in the meanwhile in another part of the Fair.
"Shall we go now to the Electrical Building?" asked Captain Raymond,
addressing his party, and receiving a hearty assent from all, he led the
way.
They found much in the building to greatly interest them; great electric
lenses used in lighthouses, the Edison electric column--covered with five
thousand electric globes--and many other wonderful things; a beautiful
scene in the daytime, but far more gorgeous at night, as they readily
perceived that it would be; so they decided to pay a second visit after
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