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Scotsman shocked by expensive of the Worlds Fair in Chicago
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Scotsman shocked by expensive of the Worlds Fair in Chicago
The Chicago Exhibition McPherson - " Four Dollars for a bed! The extravangance. I canna sleep for thinking o t." Date: 1893
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Media ID 11575305
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
1893 Alarm Alarmed Awake Bedstead Boarding Brass Chicago Columbian Cost Distress Distressed Expense Exposition Extravagance Frame Lodgings Miser Miserly Outrage Phil Price Scotsman Shock Shocked Sleep Staying Stereotype Stereotypical Tight
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative image from the Chicago Exhibition of 1893, a Scotsman named McPherson is depicted with a look of shock and outrage as he gazes at the price tag of a bed at the World's Fair. The caption reads, "Four Dollars for a bed! The extravagance. I canna sleep for thinking o't." The photo captures the moment of disbelief and alarm that must have been commonplace for many visitors to the fair, particularly those from more modest backgrounds. The Columbian Exposition in Chicago was a world's fair that showcased the latest technological, industrial, and cultural achievements of the late 19th century. However, for many working-class visitors, the prices of food, lodgings, and souvenirs were a shock. The stereotypical image of the tight-fisted, miserly Scotsman was a common one in the popular imagination of the time, and this photo plays into that stereotype. McPherson's shocked expression and clenched fist convey a sense of distress and disbelief. The brass bedstead and bed frame in the background serve as a stark reminder of the pricey accommodations available at the fair. The boarding houses and lodgings were often the most affordable option for visitors, but even they came with a hefty price tag. This image offers a glimpse into the economic realities of attending a world's fair in the late 1800s, and the sense of sticker shock that many visitors must have experienced. The Scotsman's alarm and distress are a reminder of the economic disparities that existed during this time, and the ways in which the cost of attending such an event could be a barrier for many people.
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