5559. THINGS THAT HAVE GONE

THINGS THAT HAVE GONE

(Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893)

That old Burnham city on the banks of

Chicago's grand water  -  'White City',

in 1893  -  I went there instead of living.

To find you, I tried, but the boats were

all sinking. Electricity then was a brand-new

idea and  -  at night  -  a million lightbulbs

illumined this very strange place. Grand,

classical buildings, all fake, with a monstrous

facade  -  each trying harshly to get across

an idea. Of something. Of a new place by

doing the old place over. Of an America

already in cahoots. The White City. The

White City, working far into the lit-up

night, already into overtime; White City.