text: > Go downward
  This is the grand hall of the Woman's Building. Unlike most of the other grand buildings of the fair, whose insides fairly resemble railway sheds, this building actually appears like a stately home on the inside, with elegantly appointed furniture, draperies, and decorations. The hall extends the width of the building, from the main entrance on the east side to the Midway entrance to the west. A massive marble staircase leads up to the second floor. Smaller halls extend from here to the north and south. High above your head, you can see two large murals. On the north wall is a mural entitled, 'Primitive Woman,' and on the south wall, 'Modern Woman.'
  
  Grand Hall, Looking East. 
  
  The baby cries a little, fussing and squirming.
  
  > Go south
  This long hallway is stuffed to overflowing with all manner of exhibits and displays. The main feature of the hallway is a large exhibit from the Smithsonian Museum, entitled 'Women in Savagery.' In the exhibit over eighty display cases contained examples of women's work from primitive peoples across the globe. A side exit leaves the building to the south, and to the north is the grand entrance hall. A doorway to the west leads to more exhibits.
  
  It looks like someone forgot to put one of the wicker baskets away; it rests on the floor near the display cases.
  
  Gallery of Women's Industries. 
  
  From the smell, you suspect baby just had a potty break.
  
  > Go west
  You step under an archway which reads "The Hope of the World is in the Children" and into...
  
  The Children's Building, Foyer
  The Children's Building foyer is wide and spacious, but also more spartan than the interiors of many of the other Fair buildings. The main attraction in the building stands directly west, a large playground for older kids: complete with trapezes, parallel bars, vaulting horses, rings, wands, and more. You can see kids playing in the exhibit, and many more lined up around the outside. To the south a door leads to the Day Nursery, while to the north the exhibits of the Children's Building stack one upon the other: a model kindergarten, a young homemakers exhibit, and more.
  A kindly matron is here, assisting parents and keeping a watchful
  eye on the children.
  
  Children's Building Gymnasium.
  
  > ask the matron about the baby
  She is far to busy to carry on a conversation with adults, at the moment.
  
  The baby drools on your shirt.
  
  > look at the baby
  The little boy squirms in your hands and vocalizes constantly. But at least he isn't crying--at least, not right now.
  
  A young girl comes up to the matron and shows her her doll, then runs off toward the playground.
  
  > give the baby to the matron
  You hand the baby back to the matron. "This isn't the right one!"
  you tell her. She pales. "Oh...Oh dear, I'm so sorry, we've been so busy...come on, I'll take you into the nursery, you can find your child yourself...so sorry." She lifts the child from your arms and ushers you into...
  
  and ages. It's easy to understand how one could get mixed up in all the chaos. Of infants, there are only eight, thankfully, present: they are strung in a row before you, sometimes two to a cot.
  
  The Nursery.
  
  > look
  The Nursery. 
  
  and ages. It's easy to understand how one could get mixed up in all the chaos. Of infants, there are only eight, thankfully, present: they are strung in a row before you, sometimes two to a cot.
  
  > examine infants
  Which infants do you mean, the first baby, the second baby, the third baby, the fourth baby, the fifth baby, the sixth baby, the seventh baby, or the eighth baby?
  
  > look at the first baby
  The little guy is fussing quite a bit. He has freckles on his flat head, and his hair sticks up in a little tuft.
  
  > examine the second baby
  This baby is a tiny, roly-poly girl. She giggles a little and has her fingers in her mouth.
  
  > look at third baby
  This freckly kid is fast asleep. It seems nothing can wake him.
  
  > examine the fourth baby
  This baby is very young, his head still misshappen and mashed from the trauma of birth.
  
  > examine the fifth baby
  The baby is looking right at you, fixedly.
  
  > examine sixth baby
  This little red-headed monster is squirming like a snake. His little fists are clenched tightly together.
  
  > examine the seventh baby
  This little girl is fast asleep. It seems nothing can wake her.
  
  > examine the eighth baby
  This little freckle-faced boy is crying at the top of his lungs. No amount of coaxing can calm him down.
  
  > Go outside
  The Children's Building, Foyer
  The Children's Building foyer is wide and spacious, but also more spartan than the interiors of many of the other Fair buildings. The main attraction in the building stands directly west, a large playground for older kids: complete with trapezes, parallel bars, vaulting horses, rings, wands, and more. You can see kids playing in the exhibit, and many more lined up around the outside. To the south a door leads to the Day Nursery, while to the north the exhibits of the Children's Building stack one upon the other: a model kindergarten, a young homemakers exhibit, and more.
  A kindly matron is here, assisting parents and keeping a watchful
  eye on the children.
  
  Children's Building Gymnasium.
  
  > go west
  There are so many kids that way, you are reluctant to push your way through unless a need arises.
  
  Two kids run past you, one chasing the other.
  
  > Go east
  You are in a small plaza, surrounded by stately buildings and pavilions. To the west stands the Children's Building, fittingly nestled in the protective shade of the Women's Building, which can be entered to the north. Created by French architects, the Children's Building is dotted with delightful sculptural groups of little children. The Horticulture Building stands immediately to the south, but there is no entrance to it on this side. To the east, past a couple smaller pavilions, is the lagoon. The road continues southwest, toward a pleasant outdoor garden, and northwest, toward the Midway.
  
  Children's Building. 
  
  The air is thick with humidity. Everyone seems to be moving slowly.
  
  > Go north
  This long hallway is stuffed to overflowing with all manner of exhibits and displays. The main feature of the hallway is a large exhibit from the Smithsonian Museum, entitled 'Women in Savagery.' In the exhibit over eighty display cases contained examples of women's work from primitive peoples across the globe. A side exit leaves the building to the south, and to the north is the grand entrance hall. A doorway to the west leads to more exhibits.
  
  It looks like someone forgot to put one of the wicker baskets away; it rests on the floor near the display cases.
  
  Gallery of Women's Industries.
  
  > go to the north
  This is the grand hall of the Woman's Building. Unlike most of the other grand buildings of the fair, whose insides fairly resemble railway sheds, this building actually appears like a stately home on the inside, with elegantly appointed furniture, draperies, and decorations. The hall extends the width of the building, from the main entrance on the east side to the Midway entrance to the west. A massive marble staircase leads up to the second floor. Smaller halls extend from here to the north and south. High above your head, you can see two large murals. On the north wall is a mural entitled, 'Primitive Woman,' and on the south wall, 'Modern Woman.'
  
  Grand Hall, Looking East.
  
  > Up
  library, a long, narrow room which ends at a great window from which you can see the fairgrounds and the lake. Soft blues predominate in the room, as if the waters of Lake Michigan had somehow flowed into the library and left its very nature. Thousands of books line the walls in dozens of bookcases. In the middle of the room is a display case featuring the works of Harriet Beecher Stowe, a bust of whom sits atop the case. Tables and chairs are scattered throughout the library so patrons can stop to read some of the materials. The grand staircase continues up to the rooftop level of the building, or back down to the grand hall.
  You see a baby's rattle here.
  The librarian is here, shaking and upset.
  
  Library.
  
  > get the rattle
  Taken.
  
  > examine the rattle
  It looks like an ordinary baby's rattle to me.
  
  > ask the librarian about the rattle
  "My baby's favorite toy, that rattle."
  
  > ask the librarian about the baby
  "What have you done with my baby?", she cries, accusingly.
  
  > Go west
  You step under an archway which reads "The Hope of the World is in the Children" and into...
  
  The Children's Building, Foyer
  The Children's Building foyer is wide and spacious, but also more spartan than the interiors of many of the other Fair buildings. The main attraction in the building stands directly west, a large playground for older kids: complete with trapezes, parallel bars, vaulting horses, rings, wands, and more. You can see kids playing in the exhibit, and many more lined up around the outside. To the south a door leads to the Day Nursery, while to the north the exhibits of the Children's Building stack one upon the other: a model kindergarten, a young homemakers exhibit, and more.
  A kindly matron is here, assisting parents and keeping a watchful
  eye on the children.
  
  Children's Building Gymnasium. 
  
  A small child wobbles into the lobby, and crashes to the floor.
  Before he even starts crying, the matron is there, helping him up, saying soft things to him, and giving him a kiss on the forehead. Before long, the child wobbles away, giggling.
  
  > Go south
  and ages. It's easy to understand how one could get mixed up in all the chaos. Of infants, there are only eight, thankfully, present: they are strung in a row before you, sometimes two to a cot.
  
  The Nursery.
  
  > Shake rattle
  You shake the rattle.
  
  The baby in the eighth crib looks up, and cries, "Mama?"
  
  > take eighth baby
  Taken.
  
  The baby giggles a little.
  
  > go to the north
  The Children's Building, Foyer
  The Children's Building foyer is wide and spacious, but also more spartan than the interiors of many of the other Fair buildings. The main attraction in the building stands directly west, a large playground for older kids: complete with trapezes, parallel bars, vaulting horses, rings, wands, and more. You can see kids playing in the exhibit, and many more lined up around the outside. To the south a door leads to the Day Nursery, while to the north the exhibits of the Children's Building stack one upon the other: a model kindergarten, a young homemakers exhibit, and more.
  A kindly matron is here, assisting parents and keeping a watchful
  eye on the children.
  
  Children's Building Gymnasium. 
  
  The baby puts its fist up to its mouth, and smiles.
  
  > Go west
  There are so many kids that way, you are reluctant to push your way through unless a need arises.
  
  The baby blows bubbles with its own spit.
  
  > Go east
  You are in a small plaza, surrounded by stately buildings and pavilions. To the west stands the Children's Building, fittingly nestled in the protective shade of the Women's Building, which can be entered to the north. Created by French architects, the Children's Building is dotted with delightful sculptural groups of little children. The Horticulture Building stands immediately to the south, but there is no entrance to it on this side. To the east, past a couple smaller pavilions, is the lagoon. The road continues southwest, toward a pleasant outdoor garden, and northwest, toward the Midway.
  
  Children's Building. 
  
  The baby cries a little, fussing and squirming.
  
  > put the baby in the basket
  You can't fit that in the handbasket.
  
  The baby giggles a little.
  
  > go north
  This long hallway is stuffed to overflowing with all manner of exhibits and displays. The main feature of the hallway is a large exhibit from the Smithsonian Museum, entitled 'Women in Savagery.' In the exhibit over eighty display cases contained examples of women's work from primitive peoples across the globe. A side exit leaves the building to the south, and to the north is the grand entrance hall. A doorway to the west leads to more exhibits.
  
  Gallery of Women's Industries. 
  
  Your hand feels a little damp.
  
  > go to the north
  This is the grand hall of the Woman's Building. Unlike most of the other grand buildings of the fair, whose insides fairly resemble railway sheds, this building actually appears like a stately home on the inside, with elegantly appointed furniture, draperies, and decorations. The hall extends the width of the building, from the main entrance on the east side to the Midway entrance to the west. A massive marble staircase leads up to the second floor. Smaller halls extend from here to the north and south. High above your head, you can see two large murals. On the north wall is a mural entitled, 'Primitive Woman,' and on the south wall, 'Modern Woman.'
  
  Grand Hall, Looking East.
  
  > Up
  library, a long, narrow room which ends at a great window from which you can see the fairgrounds and the lake. Soft blues predominate in the room, as if the waters of Lake Michigan had somehow flowed into the library and left its very nature. Thousands of books line the walls in dozens of bookcases. In the middle of the room is a display case featuring the works of Harriet Beecher Stowe, a bust of whom sits atop the case. Tables and chairs are scattered throughout the library so patrons can stop to read some of the materials. The grand staircase continues up to the rooftop level of the building, or back down to the grand hall.
  The librarian is here, shaking and upset.
  
  Library.
  
  > give the baby to librarian
  The librarian leaps up, delighted. "There you are, my beautiful baby! Oh, look at you!" She gently takes the baby from you. "Thank you ever so much, I am most pleased," she says to you. "And now if you'll excuse me, I must neglect my duties as a librarian so I can, for the moment, concentrate on my duties as a mother. My little one looks quite hungry and has no doubt had a trying day." She leaves the library, still talking to her child.
  
  > open the display case
  Opened.
  
  > look
  Library. 
  
  library, a long, narrow room which ends at a great window from which you can see the fairgrounds and the lake. Soft blues predominate in the room, as if the waters of Lake Michigan had somehow flowed into the library and left its very nature. Thousands of books line the walls in dozens of bookcases. In the middle of the room is a display case featuring the works of Harriet Beecher Stowe, a bust of whom sits atop the case. Tables and chairs are scattered throughout the library so patrons can stop to read some of the materials. The grand staircase continues up to the rooftop level of the building, or back down to the grand hall.
  
  > examine the case
  This case contains over thirty different copies of Harriet Beecher Stowe's book Uncle Tom's Cabin, in twenty-three different languages. You notice among the many different collectors and signed editions, there is one copy of the latest printing of the book, its value to the collection seems rather negligable, but perhaps it was added for the sake of completeness. The case is open.
  
  > check your inventory
  You have a case dossier, a guidebook, a small daily stipend, a baby's rattle, and a handbasket. The case dossier seems to contain a crime scene note, a description of Greenback Bob, a description of Delbras, a list of stolen diamonds, and a detailed crime report.
  
  > take the uncle tom's cabin
  You pull the out of place edition from the shelf.
  
  > Examine edition
  You open the book. The interior pages have all been cut out, so that the book forms a box. Inside the book box is a beautiful, cut and polished diamond.
  
  > drop the rattle
  Dropped.
  
  > go east
  You walk to the edge of the lagoon.
  
  > Up
  You are on an elevated train platform. To the west, you see
  Ferris's great Wheel spinning in the distance. The Woman's Building is just to the east. Stairs lead down to the fairgrounds below.
  
  The southbound train 'Republic' is waiting at the station.
  A short conductor is here.
  
  The conductor gets on the train, closing the doors behind him. The train pulls away from the station.
  
  > wait
  Time passes...
  
  > look
  You are on an elevated train platform. To the west, you see
  Ferris's great Wheel spinning in the distance. The Woman's Building is just to the east. Stairs lead down to the fairgrounds below.
  
  > wait
  Time passes...
  
  The northbound train pulls into the station, the doors open and the conductor steps out. "Virginia next stop," he says, "Virginia."
  
  > wait
  Time passes...
  
  The conductor continues taking fares. "All aboard!" he calls.
  
  > wait
  Time passes...
  
  The conductor gets on the train, closing the doors behind him. The train pulls away from the station.
  
  > wait
  Time passes...
  
  The southbound train pulls into the station, the doors open and the conductor steps out. "Transportation Building next stop," he says, "Transportation Building."
  
  > Board train
  You pay the conductor and board the train.
  
  The Chicago (southbound)
  You are standing in one of the Columbian Exposition elevated
  trains. All of the seats are taken by other riders. You hold on to a strap attached to a metal pole extending across the top of the car to maintain your balance.
  
  The conductor continues taking fares. "All aboard!" he calls.
  
  > look at the conductor
  The conductor is a young man, whose uniform is baggy and ill-fitting. A metal nameplate on his uniform reads 'William.'
  
  The conductor boards the train, the doors close, and the train pulls away from the platform.
  
  > ask William about the train
  He's too busy to talk to you right now.
  
  The tracks follow the western edge of the fairgrounds now. To the west, you see dozens of hotels and inns, some hastily built and poor, others in the finest modern style. To the east is the large Horticulture Dome.
  
  "Transportation Building next stop," he says, "The Transportation Building and the lagoon."
  
  > wait
  Time passes...
  
  The train pulls into the next station. "Transportation Building," cries the conductor, "Exit here for The Transportation Building and the lagoon."
  
  The conductor opens the doors and steps out onto the platform.
  
  > wait
  Time passes...
  
  The conductor boards the train, the doors close, and the train pulls away from the platform.
  
  > Inventory
  You have a case dossier, a guidebook, a small daily stipend, a handbasket, and a new edition of Uncle Tom's Cabin. The case dossier seems to contain a crime scene note, a description of Greenback Bob, a description of Delbras, a list of stolen diamonds, and a detailed crime report.
  
  The train passes near the ruins of the Cold Storage Building.
  
  "Terminal Station next stop," he says, "Change for outgoing trains, or enter the Court of Honor."
  
  > examine the stipend
  It's an envelope containing your small daily stipend. Right now you have a fair amount of money in the envelope.
  
  The train pulls into the next station. "Terminal Station," cries the conductor, "Exit here for Change for outgoing trains, or enter the Court of Honor."
  
  The conductor opens the doors and steps out onto the platform.
  
  > leave
  You step out of the train and on to the platform.
  
  This platform is over the tracks of Terminal Station, which is
  still just as bustling and crowded as it was when you arrived. Over twenty railroad tracks lead into separate bays beneath you, coming from all points around the country. Stairs lead down into Terminal Station proper.
  
  The southbound train 'Chicago' is waiting at the station.
  A young conductor is here.
  
  The conductor continues taking fares. "All aboard!" he calls.