Chicago World's Fair Analysis

Words: 469
Pages: 2

This passage occurred a month after the May 1st, 1892 opening of the Chicago World's Fair. Larson’s purpose in this passage was to spring excitement into the reader and hone the focus of the book away from Chicago’s countless problems and instead bring attention to something more positive- such as the number (and variety) of influential, powerful and famous individuals that had attended the World’s Fair in Chicago and the heartfelt exchanges that the Fair had caused. Larson uses the selection of details to shift the reader’s focus from the disgusting crimes that H. H. Holmes had committed to the excitement surrounding the jubilant World’s Fair. “One of the delights of the fair was never knowing who might turn up besides you,” declares Larson, as it was not uncommon for influential and powerful …show more content…
Anthony,” all paid a visit. Even Daniel Burnham, the Director of Works at the Chicago World’s Fair, met future President of the United States, “Teddy Roosevelt for lunch.” Larson goes on to establish that at the Chicago World’s Fair, “Chance encounters led to magic.” One specific example of this is when a blind girl and her escort approached one of the Fair’s many exhibits- the exhibit of Frank Haven Hall, inventor of the Hall Braille Writer (a typewriter designed for the visually impaired). Once the girl realized that Hall was the creator of the typewriter she so often used she, “put her arms around his neck and gave him a huge hug and kiss.” It was not until after she became famous that Hall realized the name of the girl who had displayed such gratitude to him that