the glory of the Court of Honor, with its feathery sprays and gorgeous colors, fascinated and charmed. This was the first exposition to revel in electricity for illumination and the outlines of the buildings threaded with tiny lights created an impression which could not surprise the people so greatly today, so accustomed have we become to striking displays of light in all large cities.

A cry of dismay spread over the land that so much beauty should be eliminated by the termination of the fair, but it was convincingly shown that while these buildings charmed by their fresh appearance, they were only constructed for short duration and could not be perpetuated. However, the Fine Arts building, having been erected with an idea of permanency, was retained as a memorial and is known today as the Field Museum, Marshall Field having generously contributed $1,000,000 for its uses.

This memorable exposition was such an overwhelming success that it brought great credit upon the city which had so substantially contributed and worked to make it possible. That it has had a far-reaching influence upon our industries, art, education and life cannot be questioned.

CHAPTER XII.

THE WORLD'S FAIR CONGRESSES.

THE World's Congress Auxiliary arranged for twenty different Congresses to assemble in Chicago during the summer months of 1893. The first to hold its session was the Congress of Representative Women. Congresses of Art, Education, Music, Literature, Commerce and Finance, Peace and Arbitration, Social Reform and, most remarkable of all, a Parliament of Religions, which continued its meetings for seventeen days. For the first time in the world's history, Catholic and Protestant adherents of Christianity, Hebrews, Mohamedans, Buddhists, followers of Confucius, and such other religious sects as are found throughout the civilized world, sat down together to hear each belief explained sympathetically by one who loved it.

"I dreamed

That stone by stone I reared a sacred fane,
A Temple, neither Pagod, Mosque nor Church,
But loftier, simpler, always open-doored

To every breath from Heaven; and Truth and Peace
And Love and Justice came and dwelt therein."

Akbar's vision seemed for a moment about to be fulfilled, and many a broad-minded religious teacher exclaimed that it seemed too good to be true.

It was explained that the place of assembly was no debating ground. Each was to state as clearly as possible his own views not to quarrel with those of his neighbor. It was stated that all these religions were not for a moment assumed to be of equal importance in the world, but that as beliefs of devout worshippers, they were all interesting.

While it is impossible to say what influence this convention exerted, it is safe to assume that none who participated or listened to addresses by men inspired to give their own religion noblest expression, could ever find his spiritual outlook quite so circumscribed as before. Simple faith is always

appealing and powerful. One minister exclaimed when invited to share in the program: "It is gratifying to know we are to have a chance to view religion as a whole-we are so accustomed to seeing fragments of it." Acquaintance among people tends to lessen misunderstanding and hostility, and when we finally come to be able to see all worshippers, however blindly, reaching toward one final goal we shall but approach the exalted attitude of Akbar, the great Asiatic ruler contemporaneous with the wise Elizabeth and worthy to rank with the broad visioned of all time. A Mohamedan by inheritance, the following was his favorite prayer-merely polished by the poet:

"O God, in every temple I see people that see Thee, and in every language

I hear spoken, people praise thee.

Polytheism and Islam feel after thee.

Each religion says, 'Thou art one, without equal.'

If it be a mosque, people murmur the holy prayer, and if it be a Christian Church, people ring the bell from love to Thee.

"Sometimes I frequent the Christian cloister, and sometimes the mosque,

But it is thee whom I seek from temple to temple.

Thy elect have no dealings with heresy or with orthodoxy: for neither of them stands behind the screen of thy truth.

Heresy for the heretic, and religion to the orthodox.

But the dust of the rose-petal belongs to the heart of the perfume-seller."

Never before in the world's history have been assembled more gifted and distinguished women than those who gathered from the quarters of the globe for the Congress of Representative Women. From across the seas came those talented from many lands, and in our own, women closely associated with various social movements as well as personally renowned. Madame Modjeska, Clara Morris and Julia Marlowe had something to say regarding women in their relation to the drama. Susan B. Anthony and Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton advocated citizens' rights for their sex; Frances Willard was concerned in her life interest, temperance. The aged and venerated Mrs. Julia Ward Howe took the long