Newspaper Page Text
IT LEAPED
INTO LIFE
When the President Touched
the Button.
she World’s Great Exposition is Now
Open,
200,000 PEOPLE PRESENT.
X Disastrous Panic Was Narrowly
Averted.
Seven Hundred Flags are Flung to
the Breeze.
Chicago, May 1. —(Soecial).—The
World's Fair was opened in the pres
ence of two hundred thousand people.
It will not be in full operaton before
the middle of June. The opening cere
monies were grand and imnressive. Pres
cient Cleveland was the centre attraction
Ile was received everywhere with man
ifestations of joy. His journey through
the streets and grounds was a continual
ovation. The weather was gloomy and
unpropitious. It has been raining for
several weeks. There was a cessation
during the opening ceremonies, but. the
threatening aspect, prevented a larger
attendance. Locotnotiou within the
grounds was attended w'th greait in
convenience on account of the sloppy
condition of the walks and roadways.
The buildings are graceful in appear
ance and magnificent in proportions. They
look like marble palaces and nre grand
In architecture. More than $30,1*00,000
have been depended on the buildings and
grounds.
The world has never witnessed any
thing approximating the magnificence of
the Columbian Exposition. All nations
nre represented with their best evidences
of genius a.ifd skill in science, art and
mechanics. Every department is filled
with exhibits, but it will take weeks to
get them in position. The F’ii- cannot
b'e seen to the best advantage until the
middle of .Tune, but this will not keen
the people away as the hotels are crowd
ed with visitors.
Chicago expended $15,000,000. but she
will recover that amount, many times
and have the eclat of being the most
progressive and prosperous city in the
United States and having the largest ex
position ever held in the world.
There are several Georgians and Car
olinians here. Captain Ed Roach of
Charleston. Mr. Tindall of Sumter; Col.
Charlton Way; Major and Mrs. George
W. Lamar of Savannah and Mrs. Fel
ton of Cartersville being among the num
ber. Lieutenant Robert Irvine of Av
gusta has been elected sergeant-at-arms
of the World’s Fair Commissioners.
The people of Chicago have forgiven
Monsieur Rival for hold'ng the Augusta
Exposition this year. Thov have con
cluded that it will not interfere with
success of the World's Fair.
PATRICK WALSH.
Chicago, May 1. —Grover Cleveland,
President of the United States, sur
-ounded by the members so his cabinet,
by high officials of various states, by a
numerous and distinguished representa
tion from lands across the seas, and by
a mighty throng of American citizens, to
day pressed the electric button which set
in motion miles of shafting, innumerable
engines and mechanisms, and the laby
rinth of belting and gearing which make
up the machinery of the World’s Colum
bian Exposition. At the same moment
the national salute pealed forth from the
guns -of the revenue cutter, Andrew
Johnson tying off the exposition grounds
in Lake Michigan. Seven hundred flags
released from their “stops” at concerted
signal, swung loose and streamed out
under the sky in scarlet, yellow and
blue. Over in Machinery Hall a great
roar arose and the turrets of the build
ing nodded as the wheels began to turn,
and greater volumes of sound arose from
the throats of the concourse of people
who thus acclaimed the opening of she
grandest achievement of American pluck,
enterprise and generosity. Nearly all
night there had been a soaking continu
ous drizzle causing the spirits of the
World's Fair officials to sink to zero
point. The rain continued until seven
o’clock when the dlouds parted and
through the rift far over the Lake there
was a gleam of sunshine. It lasted only
for a moment, however, and atlhough
the rain ceased the clouds still hung
sodden and lowering over the city. The
wind blew faintly from the east flan
ping the banners and other decorations
in a dismal fashion, and except on the
asphalt boulevard, mud lav thick and
deep. All this, however, had no effect on
the enthusiasm of the energetic citizens
who had determined to witness the open
ing of the fair.
Before the first faint streaks of light
in the eastern sky heralded the approach
of dawn down town, the streets were
astir. As the morning wore on the throng
increased. Excursion trains from near
by points and regular suburban trains
on the various roads brought thous
ands who added to the crowd from other
Sources! It was a state and civic holi
day, too, and all employes in public
buildings freed from their desks joined
the current which set toward Jackson
park, accompanied by throngs released
from mercantile establishments, many of
which gave their employes a day off tc
join in the exercises. Nine o’clock saw
every available means of transportation
tested to its full capacity aud in most
cases beyond it
As ten o’clock, the hour for the open
ing "exercises drew near, the rush reached
its height, subsiding as eleven o’clock
rwas reached. The jam at the nailroaa
depots became less thick, the cable cars
moved along only comfortably filled, the
boats carried off smaller toads, of pas
sengers; pedestrians became fewer, and
fewer, and by noon down town streets
nary days when nd M orld s Fair is
were, if anything, clearer than on ordi-
being opened.
By half past eight the distinguished
people who were to accompany the Pres
ident in the processiont o Jackson park,
had gathered at the President’s quarters
at Lexington. The first to arrive was
the Duke de Veragna and his nttendiuits.
While theh nndshaking was in progress
Vice President Stevenson and his party
put in an appearance on their heels.
Literally taking the hotel bv storm came
the memebers of the national connnis
siona nd the Fair directors who were,
to act us hosts and escorts to the dis
tinguished guests on this memorable day.
Promptly tit nine o’clock the proces
sion was formed. At the head to clear
the way and mounted on handsome
chargers was a platoon of grey-coated
Southpark policemen. Behind them came
a detachment of citv police on horse
followed the Chicago Hussars, headed
Next in Hue was eomnanv B of the
back, fifty of them and five abreast,
command of Captain L. R. Hare. Next
Seventh United States Cavalry under
by Captain E. L. Brand and Adjutant
Thomas S. Quincy. They appeared for
the first time in their Americanized Rus
sian uniform. There were six seore of
them mounted on huudwome black char
gers, and every man a giant, Twenty
trumpeters heralded the approach of the
Hussars, and bringing up the roar of
the military division, was mounted tropp
A of the Illinois National Guard.
The procession of carriages was led
by the vehicle containing the National
Commissioners. P. A. B. Widener id
Pennsylvania ami Bradlev B. Smalley
of 'Vermont with Directors Thomas B.
Bryan aud James W. Wdsworth for
the company. In the second carriage
were Commissioners George W. Allen
and George H. Barbour. Directors
Charles Henrotimi aud Wm B. Kerfoot.
Next to them rode Commissioners Gron
er ami Hodges. Directors Ketcham and
liawrence. In the fourth and fifth car
riages were also jointly occupied by
commissioners and local directors while
in the sixth the Director General anc
Director of the Works •George It. Davis
and D. H. Burnham rode vis-a-vis. It
was the seventh carriage, however, that
brought out the enthusiasm of the on
lookers. In it, his face turned south, sa*
the President of the United States, ano
on the opposite seats President 1. »' ■
Palmer of the World's Columbian Com
mission and H. M. Higginbotham of the
World’s Cohmibian Exposition. \ ice
President Stevenson rode with two ot
the World’s Fair Vice Presidents Lyman
J. Gage aud Wm. T. Baker. Secretary
Gresham rode with National Commis
sioner Davidson B. Penn. Secretary Car
lid.o with dignified, iudieial-looking Geo
V. Nassey of Delaware: Secretary Her
bert with Charles H. Schwab; Secretary
Hoke Smith with the fire brand of the
National Committee. J. W St. ( lair of
West Virginia-, and finally Secretary
Morton with Director H. B. Stone
The American contingent having thus
led the way the foreign division was in
augurated with the fourteenth carriage.
This was occupied bv the Duke of ' era
gua, first vice president of the commis
sion; ex-Governor Waller of Connecti
cut • First Vice President of the Expo
sition Ferd W. Pe.-k. and Commissioner
Dickens of the T’nited States Army. Ihfc
fair sex appeared for the first '” n *' in
the vehicle that followed, the Duchess
of Veragna being escorted by Mrs. I ot
ter Palmer, who did the honors as Pres
ident of Lady Managers and by Mrs.
Commander Dickens In the sixteenth
carriage were the 5 arums de B'*^ I**’ 1 **’
son of the duke ami duchess; M l I. de
Young. Commissioner from California
and Second Vice President of the Com
mission and Robert A. Wnher of the
Board of Directors. In the seventh
were Honorables Christobid Agw lain
and Marie del Pilar Colon Y Aguillara,
son and daughter of the Duke ami Span
ish Commissioner 1 hoinas G. Guttnes.
In the eighteenth Hon. I edro < ohm Y
Bertenado and Carlos Amulera with
Marquis Villa la (>bor and Director
Charles L. Iliitcirinson. The ducal pai
fv was succeed.-! bv carriages oce.nmed
bv the Embassador to England. Ihomas
F Bavard and ex-Minister to Belgium.
Lambert Tree Major General Miles and
aides; Admiral Ghenirdi and aides ana
Governor Altgeld. The carriage of May
or Harrison who was accompanied by
throe members of the board of alder
men brought up the extreme rear.
iltini su xm.m.i un .qffii si
\s the procession moved southward
on Michigan avenue, thence along Grand
boulevard to Fifty-first street thence
through South Park byway of Bay-aid
-tvenne to Palmer avenue, entering Mid
wav Plaisance through the western gate
wav. making a short d« in order to
avoid rhe ferris wheel, and tlu-m re
suming the broad promenade to the en
tr-i’ico gate, it was attend.si by an al
most unbroken diapason of chtM-rinw.
The Spaniards came in for a Liliei.il
share of enthusiasm. The Duchess of
Veragna smarted with a big boqiiet in
her lap, but before she reached the
grounds khe was half hidden m choice
flowers tossed in her carriage by enthu
siastic Chicago ladies.
From the centre of the platform proper
there radiated a special stand, and upon
this were chairs for President Cleveland,
Vico President Stevenson, the Duke of
Veraqua and his party, and higher na
tional and local officers of the fair. Im
im-.pately in the rear were sections as
signed to the diplomatic corps, while to
their right and left other officials and
guests of the occasion were arranged.
Behind tliese were placed the orchestra.
In front, of all, occupying two wings of
the right and left of the speakers’
stands, was provision for some three
hundred representatives of the press, who
represented nearly every civilized nation
on the face of the globe.
It was an inspiring scene that mot the
r ion of the chief executive of the na
tion as he was escorted to his seat. Be
fore him was such a throng as he had
never faced before, pre-empting every
foi»t of space botiveen the platform and
as far a.s the eye could sweep.
All was now in readiness for the in
auguration of the exercises proper. It
had been intended to preface the speech
making with a grand chorus of 1,000
voices, but owing to an oversight in
drawing the plans of the platform, this
feature was eliminated, and .in its place
was rendered the Columbian March,
composed for the occasion by Professor
John K. Pain. Theodore Thomas wielded
the baton, and GOO instruments re
sponded to wand of authority. The
dull roar of voices of the multitude was
stilled as the music burst upon the air.
Not a tenth of those in view of the plat
form could have determined what jiortion
of the exercises was in progress without
the aid of opera glasses, but those at a
distance maintained as quiet and digni
fied an attitude as the occupants of the
grand stand. As the music died away
the blind chaplain of the United States
senate. Rev. Dr. W. H. Milburne, was
led forward to the front of the platform
by his adopted daughter, Miss Cora
Gemley, who has been his constant and
faithful attendant for many years.
Many of those alsmt him joined in the
“Amen” When the man of God had fin
ished his invocation.* As he retired to
his seat Miss Nellie Couthoui. if Chi
cago, a reader of national reputation,
was escorteil to the speakers’ stand, and
in clear, impressive femes, that could be
heard distinctly by 2,f)00 guests upon
the platform, and which penetrated far
into the throng, commenced to read Che
opening stanzas of the poem of the day.
This was entitled “A Prophecy.” and is
the production of TV. A. Croffut, a mem
ber of rhe journalistic profession. Hearty
applause rewarded the reader as she re
tired, and it xvas renewed when after
the orchestra had rendered the Rienzi
overture, by Wagner, Director General
Davis arose n-om his seat, and after
bowing to the chief magistrate, aud those
THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE, MAT 3, 1893.
surrounding him, faced the nssembhige. 1
aud again was th<> applause renewed,
aud tlio man who had done so
much towards bringing ulsuit the suc
cessful oousunnuiiition of the groat en
terprise was for a moment embamissol
by the heartiness of his gns'ting. Fi
nally, when the cheering conimoneed to
died away he turned again to the presi
dent, and oouinieueed his address, which
was chiefly a statistical account of what
had been done to produce the rosults
here showj>.
It was now the turn of the president of
the United States to present himself and
us he slowly arose from his seat ho
swept his eyes first, over the platform
and thou over one of the groitest audi
ences tluit over. n«in faced, there went
up a ehis'r that seemisl to shako the mas
sive dome of the building behind him,
and which revorberntod through the
grounds like tihe -rattle of musketry. For
eigner cuul natives alike joimsl in the
acclaim to the highest representative of
the sovereign people of the republic. There
was a flutter of white handkereliiofs from
the ladies by the side of the platform,
and instantly it was taken up by thou
sands of tihe sex that oimupied gondolas
and launches on the water far iu the
distancix More handkerchiefs were
wavtsl, louder cheers, and so for the
space of several minutes men vied with
tlie women in maintaining demonstra
tions. All the while Mr. Cleveland
stood erect, his left hand behind
him, his right nervously linger
ing the button of his frock
coat. At last when throats and arms
alike were tired, and a semblance of
quiet had once more eonie over the
throng, he commenced his address. He
said:
I am here to join mv fellow citizens in
congratulations which lietlt this occasion
Surrounded by the stupenous results of i
Amerlean enterprise ami activity, and in !
view of the magnificent evidences of Amer
ican skill and Intelligence, we need not fear
that these congratulations will be exag
gerated. We stand today in the presence !
of the oldest nations of the world and
point to the great achievements we here
exhibit, asking no allowance on the score
of youth.
The enthusiasm with which we contem
plate our work intensifies fife warmth of
greeting we extend to those who have
come from foreign lands to Illustrate with
us the growth and progress of human en
deavor In the direction of higher civiliza
tion. We who believe that popular educa
tion anil the stimulation of the best mi
pulses of our citizens lead the way to the
realization of the proud national destlnv
wlueh our past promisesy gladly welcome
the opportunity here afforded us to see
I lie results accomplished by the efforts
which have been exerted longer than ours
In the field of man’s improvement, while
in appreciative return we exhibit the uu
parallelled advancement and wonderful
accomplishment of a young nation, and the
present triumphs of a vigorous, self-re
liant and independent people. We have
budt these splendid edifices, hut we have
also built a magnificent fabric of popular
government, whose grand proportions are
seen throughout the world. We have made
. and here gather together objects of use
I and beauty, the products of Amerlean skill
and invention, but we have aldo made men
i who rule themselves.
It Is an exalted mission in which we and
J our guests from other lands are engaged
as we eo-operate In the inauguration of
an enterprise devoted to human enlighten
ment and In the undertaking we here
enter upon we exemplify in the noblest
sense the brotherhood of nations. Bet us
hold fast to the meaning that underlies
this ceremony, and let us not lose the im
pressiveness of this moment. A.s by a
touch the machinery that gives life to
this vast exposition in now set in mo
tion, so at the same instant let our hopes
and aspirations awaken the forces which
I come shall influence the
welfare, dignity and freedom of mankind
As the President was concluding the
final sentence his eyes wandered to the
table that was close at his left hand,
t.pon this was the button, pressure upon
which was to start the machinery and
make the opening of the exposition an
accomplished fact. It was an ordinary
form of T’ietor telegraph kev, such as'
is m most telegraph offices, except thn.t
it was of gold instead of steel ami the
button of ivory instead of rubber. It
rested upon a pedestal upholstered in
navy blue and golden yellow plush, ami
on the sides of the lower tier, in silver
letters were the significant dates 14112
ami 1803. As the last words fell from
the President’s lips he pressed his finger
upon the button. This was the signal for
a demonstration, in fact, difficult of im
igiuatioii and infinitely more so of de
scription. At one ami the same instant
the audience burst into a thundering
shout, the orchestra pealed forth the
strains of the hallelujah chorus, the
wheels of the great Allis engine in ma
chinery ball commenced to revolve, the
electric fountains in the lagoon tlircw
their torrents toward the sky, a flood of
water gushed forth from the McMon
nies fountain and rolled back again into
the basin, the thunder of artillery came
from the vessels in the lake, the chiim s
in manufacturer's hall and on the Ger
man building rang out, a merry peal,
and overhead the flags at the tops of
the poles in front of the platform fell
apart and revealed two gilded models
of the ships in which Cohfmbus first
sailed to American shores. At the same
moment also hundreds of tfflgs if all
nations mid colors were unfurled within
sight of the platform. The largest was
great “Old Glory” which fell into grace
ful fluids from the top of the centre staff
in front of the sth nd. The roof of the
manufacturer’s building was dressed in
ensigns ot orange and white. It was a
wonderful scene of transformation and ■
amid it all the cannon continued to
thunder and. the crowd to cheer. It was
fully ten minutes before the demonstra
tion subsided. Then the band played
America and the excercTses were at an
end. Columbian Exposition was open to
the nations of the world.
It was precisely the hour of noon
j when Grover Cleveland touched the
i button and thus declared the opening
i an accomplislfed fact. The" crowd in at
; tendance was enormous and was var
iously estimated at 150.000 to 175.000.
Before the ceremonies were half over
twenty women and half as many men
i had been removed unconscious to the
hospital, where a corps of physicians
was in waiting. Most of the helpless
ones had simply fainted but a number
are suffering from most serious injuries
received in the jam.
While awjating tHe arrival of the
Presidential party a number of women
in the crowd who had been on their!
feet for hours fainted, and the services'
of several Red Cross ambulance chairs
were in constant requisition for over,
half an hour. No sooner had the open i
ing ceremonies commenced than bad'
police arrangements were shown. In a !
unfortunate manner for many people a|
handful of Columbian guards had been
detailed for duty to keep the inside bor j
der of the mass of humanity from en i
croaching on the press seats which were,
arranged below the grand stand on eithe '
side. The pushing and crowding at tlio
northeast of the administration building
soon became so severe that many w
men fainted, while others became so
sick that they had to be lifted bodily
over the railing into press seats untl
the arrival of the Red Cross corp with
i wheel chairs. »
While the poem wiN being read it
' looked as though a panic with fatal con
I sequences could not’ to be averted. The
guards were powerless, their work being
r<o m|>re effectual than child’s play
Women continued to faint and tlio
weaker ones who were getting in
fainting condition were lifted over- th
heads of the crowd by guards and news
paper men into press seats and tho
grand stand reserved for distinguished
guests. The city police mmgiled with
the guards and endeavored to quiet tho
excited, swaying mass within the bound
of personal safety. For several minutes
it looked us though a terrible catastro
pbe could not be averted. "The multi
tude continued to sway to and fro aud
the air was filled with shrieks of wo
men and the hoarse shouts of men. th
cries of little children, of whonU’ther ;
were many hundreds, if not thousands,
and the warning yells of the, occupants
of the grand stand. With <fi view of
facilitating the disposal o£ the throng;
President Higginbotham escorted Mr
Cleveland aud the dueal imrty from the
platform with all passible haste, but
this did not suit the temper of the spec
tutors and they yelled "Come back; wit
want to see more of the President.'
Finally, by breaking into the throng
from a half dozen noints the Columbian
guards succeeded in turning into half
as many channels, but not Is-fore a see
tion of the platform occupied n fewi
moments liefore* by the President ami
his party had been turned into a harbor
of refuge for no less than twenty-six
siek or unconscious women aud children
When tho opening exercises had ended
the President and his party and the vice
president’s and dueal parties were es
corted to the third floor of the adminis
tration building, where covers had been
laid for seventy people and lunch was
served. , „
At tho conclusion of tho lunch Prosi
dwit Clovelaud was escorted to the for
eign section of manufacturers hall
where ho received the commissioners
from foreign countries. Afterwards bo
wiis driven over to tin* womens bnihhmx
ami witnessed a portion of the exercises
incident to its dedication. 1* rent here
ho was driven back to the terminal sta
tion on the World’s Fair grounds
The most satisfactory feature of the
day's proceedings from a feminine stand
point was the dedication of the women s
building. , , ,
Tliese began with a grand march by
Joan Ingorborg von Bronsart. of noi
raar. Germany, followed by prayer by
Miss Ida Hullin. Miss Francis Elliott,
of London. England, favored the as
sembled women with a dramatic over
ture. after which Mrs. Potter 1 aimer
delivered an eloquent address. A jubi
late by Mrs. 11. 11. A. Beecher of Bos
ton. was the next feature of the pro
gram. Addresses were then delivered by
the following distinguished reprosenta
| rives of foreign nations: Spain—Duchess
Ido Vertlgun; Italy Countess de Brazza:
England—Atrs. Bedford Fernwick; Scot
land and Ireland—Duchess of Aberdeen;
Russia—Princess Sehaehoffsky.
The hymn “America’ and the bene
diction bronfeht the exercises to a close.
Dedicatory exorcises were hold in a
number of state buildings iu the course
of the afternoon.
A COSMOPOLITAN CROWD.
Hie Great Throngs that Gathered In the
XVorld’s Fair City.
Chicngd. Muy I.— Representatives of
all nations elbowed one another in the
broad avenues of the Groat White I it.V
today. Swarthy Turks from the shores
of the Bosphorus walked side by side
with their traditional enemies, the fierce
Cossacks of the Don:: sooty Nubians
jostled yellow Lascars: subjects of th«
Shah hobnobbed with denizens of the
land of the white elephant: the Esqui
maux—children of the‘frozen North—
sauntered through the long reach ol road
way, gazing curiously at the Javanese,
whoso home is near the euuator. Il was
a congress of nations. 11l course (>reat
Britain and Continental Europe wort,
the most strongly reiireseiited. 1 here
was a glitter of foreign uniforms and
glitter and Inee in everv corner, an.l every
third man wore a decoration. Hiei p
were Germans, Frenchmen. Russians,
Austrians. Spain.’ which claims the
chief glory of the Columbian Ora m
right of Ferdinand ami Isabella who
sent the great, admiral forth on his tiuest
divided the honors with Italy which
claims the birtJndaeo. Above the heads
of the throng floated the flags ol all
nations. The I'nioti .laek <>l obi Eng
land swung side 'bv side,wiith the tri
color of France; tlio red and yellow, of
Spain was everywhere and the Austrian
eagles flew in the breeze with
those of Russia. Chinia’s ve.low dragon
pennant, the sun flag of Hraguav. tlie
(riuiova (/Foss of tiip Svvisis kepubhe
the star aud crescent ol the Sublime 1 ort
I the liotb of Persia, the island banner of
Hawaii, soon perhaps, to disappear for
ever, all these were there* and floating
above them all the standard of the great
Tepirblie. the stars and stripes snapped
in the breeze, a symbol of liberty and
asylum to the oppressed of the xvhole
earth.
Tlu wisdom of tlio committee on cere
monies in milking the opening exercises
-as brief as possible, was evident. No one
was in a humor to listen to long speeches
or flowery dissertations. 'I hat sort. ol
thing was welu enough at the dedieatiot
exercises last October, but today ever"'
one was anxious to begin the inspection
of the great exposition, and the crowds
that ebbed and flowed through the ave
nues and buildings was »n earnest of
the multitude yet to come when the
pilgrimage to the Mecca, of civilization
should have Ibeen, fiaitrlv begum Os
course, everyone who could do so listeneii
with attention and respect to President
Cleveland, but there was an evident
disposition to commence sight-seeing as
soon as possible. The forcing notables
who bobbed up in everv direction were,
therefore, not molested bv curios crowds,
although here and there a. knot of peo|fle
would be altraeteil bv an unusually fan
tastic costume or gorgeous uniform.
In tho proHonco of tho aggrogntion of
stately struct tires that lined the
lake share and clustered around the
lagoons, however, no one cared to look
at an outlandish dress or a strange face
for longer than a moment. There was
too much to be seen, in the buildings. It
is true that the exhibits are not yet by
I any means complete. They have not
arrived so rapidly as was expeetod, and
the work of classification has been some
what delayed. Still, with all these draw
backs the attractions are said to . be
almost equal to those of any previous
ex-position in its completed slate. Satis
factory as this condition of affairs is,
yet contrasted with the display which
will greet the visitor a few weeks hence,
that of today will be j-emembereil as only
a prologue to one of the most instruc
tive am! bewildering spectacles in the his
tory of the world. It. is safe to say. how
ever, Unit none of the visitors today was
dissatisfied with what he saw. From the
forestry building on the south to the
Montana building at the extreme north
ern limits of the grounds, there was a
succession of strange and novel sights,
moving multitudes and a display of the
resources and products of civilization
such as has never before been collected
in one place.
The crowd was a good nat.ured one.
There was, of course, some of the in
convenience and discomfort inseparable
ifrom a large gathering, and in some cases
i curiosity to see all that was to be seen
'overcame good manners. But as a. rule
' there was a disposition to give all an
i equal chance, and there was no disorderly
rushing into fonbidden quarters, or ill
natured complaints at the trifling ineon-
I veniences which were undergone. Aside
i from the foreigners, who after all
formed only a small fraction of the
crowd, the bulk of the crowd was made
,up of Chicagoans. This was to be ex-
I ported, considering the partially unfin
ished condition of the great show, and
the further fact that most of the pros
pective visitors from other states and
territories had long ago made their ar
' rangcinents to reach Chicago after the
exposition shall be fully opened. Chi
cago, however, had evidently resolved
to take a day off in honor of the event,
and the attendance was Highly gratify
ing. not only as to numbers, but also in
make-up. Neighboring cities and states
were not by any means unrepresented,
however. Special trains brought into
the city thousands of sighrseei*s who
swelled the throng that had gathered
from the streets and highways of the
Garden City, and joined iu the ojiening
exercises.
It was a great day for the rising gen
eration. It seemed almost incredible that
so many children could be jrot together
even at Chicago, and the independent
spirit of young America was manifested
in the fact that most of the youngsters
seemed to lie unaccompanied by their
parents or older persons. They swarmed
through the big buildings, got themselves
tangled up in all sorts of unexpected
places and made the lives of the Colum-
bian guards miserable from daylight to i
dark. They took the big battle ship by
storm; they sacked the convent of La
Rnbida; mid they invaded the sacred
nrecinrts of the Mohammedan mosque.
They were everywhere at once, and no
doubt saw twice as much of the inter
esting features of the exposition us any
mature person did.
All the arrangements for handling
the crowds were excellent. The gates
were at no time choked mid tlie throng '
passed into the grounds with less trouble
than is often experienced at a theatre
or other place of entertainment. Through
out the grounds were distributed the
World's Fair police, or Columbian
Guards as they are called. They were
of value in directjng the movements of
the people when a blockade was threat
ened. and their services were occasional
ly culled into requisition to clear the
way for a passing vehicle connected I
with the police department, or the sani
tary department of the exposition. Con
sidering the throng, there were surpns- |
ingly few accidents of a serious charac- |
ter. however, and the ambulances were |
seldom called into requisition.
The transportation fnciliiies, while not
yet completed to their highest capacity,
were fairly adequate. The people, too,
made the task of the railroads easy by
starting early. Even in the early morn
ing the down town streets were filled
with people head d for Jackson Bark.
These were easily taken care of. As the
forenoon wore on the crowd swelled,
and by 10 o'clock the human current
was at the flood. The crowds did not. de
pend upon the public transportation lines t
however. They came in every eoneeiva- I
ble fashion—on foot, on bicycles, in |
carts, carriages, bandwagons, street |
cars, railroads and steamlioats. Any
thing on wheels if on laud, or anything
that would float, if on tlie water was i
utilized.
There weto some queerly assorted
groups. On one of the early Illinois Cen
tral trains, in the same coach, were a i
merchant from Bagdad with his two
turbaned attendants, a group of Eng
lish soldiers, three Armenian gymnasts
from the Midway Plaisance, several mal
odorous aud chattering Cingalese, and
the Hon. William F. Cody, better
known as "Buffalo Rill," who. by the
way, attracted as much attention today
as any Pasha with three tails, or other
foreign notable on the grounds.
Another car held a party of Arab
donkey drivers, who divided the honors
with three Hindoo snake charmers from
upper India, in the eyes of a family
from Missouri, consisting _ <>( father,
mother and five children. The elevated
road carried similar incongruous groups,:
and the cable ears resounded all day
with the tongues of all nations. i
Inside the grounds the facilities for;
getting around were varied. Most of
the people, of course, walked; but for!
those , who preferred to uKlize othex:
inodes of locomotion there were thel
uflieetal chairs,, whiiili 4lie)
sight-seer by land, or tlie electric
launches and other craft, which cruised;
through the lagoons and canals passing
on the route all the fh-icipal buildings
and points of attraction. Os course.j
such a multitude was hungry and
thirsty, and the thoiisaud-aml-one restau-i
rants and refreshment bars,
through the grounds did a thriving bu.si-l
ness.
Outside the walls of the fair proper,!
too. there was the sarne shifting, ever
clianjdiitf crowd of curiosity seekers. In
the Midway Plaisance, the various vil
lages were crowded all day, and the
booths and shows on the fringe of the;
fair were never empty. The leather-'
lunged side-show “blower" was m his
glory, and all the familiar obi attractions:
of the circus and Goney Island were’
to be seen on every side, not a whit
abashed by their close proximity to the
most stupendous show the world has
ever seen.
All day long the crowds ebbed and
flowed in and about the big structures.
With most people the great difficulty was
to determine where to commence and
once fairly started on the tour of sight
seeing there came a feeling of helpless
ness and despair of ever accomplishing
the tusk of inspecting the whole exposi
tion. Many who set out in the morn
ing boasting that they would cover nil
the buildings before night found them
selves at evening still wandering through;
the aisles of tho first building they had!
entered.' The seasoned exposition-goers!
who had visited Paris. Philadelphia and!
Vienna mapped out their plan of cam-!
paign like veterans, and catalogue in!
’mind set, bravely at. work on some one!
department with the intention of tak-|
ing all the others up in turn and doing!
each thoroughly. There were few of:
tliese, however, and most of today’s
visitors regarded the first,day as merely
an opening skirmish. There was a sort
of grand tour of inspection without
pausing to examine details, but rather
to take in the general effect of the
exposition. As the finishing touches, are
put to the buildings, and as the exhibits
are fully in place, the systematic sight
seeing will begin in earnest, and there!
will be less of the haJ»t» rush through
the grounds* except by those whose
time is limited to a dirt* or two. ■
It was late before the crowd which
came oarlv began to thin out. They
dropped off quietly at first in little
groups, and those who left thus early;
avoided the crush which began when
the mass of visitors! began to move]
toward the gates. The transportation
■ompanies were called upon to handle
the crowds more on masses than was!
the ease in the forenoon, and as a re
sult there was more or loss crowding'
and confusion. After some delay, how-:
e«er. she heavily ladeu cars carried I
off load after load of human freight;;
the steamboats drew off from the w!iar-l
ves; carriages rolled toward the city
in long lines; wheelmen and pedestrians;
rook up the line of march homeward,
and as darkness fell the great White
City was left, untenanted save by the.
guards and watchmen.
The splendors of the night outshone
the glories* of the day. That potent
factor, electricity, was displayed in all
its brillian'cy and rivalled for supre
macy the one gleam of noon day sun
that graced the opening ceremonies. 'I he
centre of attraction was, as during the
day. the administration building, and its
court of honor, and thither rue masses
(locked in multitudes. President Cleve
land's departure from the .nlministra
tion building shortly after 5 o’clock was.
t.he signal for the day's crowd io leave,
and the grounds bore a deserted ap-|
pearance until nearly naif past six. !
Notwithstanding the chilly air which
settled over the grounds as the even-!
ing grew, the people began *o gather
early and by the time darkness h:ul|
enc*i!reled the White City ihe m.iltitude;
tilled the plaza from the building to the,
peristyle. The first touch of magic given
lo night setting of the great scone was,
a fringe of incandescent lights which,
surmounted the columns of the peri
style running from music nail to the
casino. This was followed by strins of:
light which sprang to life on parts of,
the building. The eutire structure wasl
gilded with seams of light running on
top of the pavilion and Lo the dome.
The effect was one that was greeted
with niiirli applause. The administra
tion building inside was one of splendor,
the structure from rotunda to peak of|
dome being a dream of lovliness.
The light bronze cloumns. from each of
which branched fifty lights gave forth
a flood of splendor to the ground-floor.
The crowd gazed in speechless wonder
upon the view and instinctively fell
back into the shelter of the pavilions.
The manufacturers, machinery, miners
! and mining, transportation and horticul-]
i.nre buildings were also beautifully il
luminated. It was 10 o’clock before
the currents were shut off, and the
crowds dispersed.
GOVERNMENT.
Uncle Sam’s Exhibit Complete—A Credit
able Display.
Chicago, May I.—Due largely to the
administrative capacity and military
precision that obtains iu the conduct of
affairs governmetal, the section assigned
to tlie government of the United States
has been prartjeiilly in a completed con
dition for several days, and this .morn
ing, with every department iu good or
der, its doors were opened to tlie army
of sighlseers. It is, without question,
the most comprehensive and complete
exhibit of the cliara *ter, purposes and
scope of the various departments of the
administrative branch of a great coun
try that has ever been attempted by any
nation. No attempt was made by the
government of France to arrange a col
lective departmental exhibit nt the Paris
Exposition, although som'e of its bureaus
were incidentally represented on a minor
scale in various sections devoted lo gen
eral displays. There was a pretentious
effort, toward a governmental display at
the Centennial Exposition, but both the
building erected in Fairmount Park
and its contents were insignificant as
compared with die creation of today.
Philadelphia’s structure was simply an
elaborate shed of wood and glass, while
the Government Building at Jackson
Part is an ornate and imposing struc
ture, covering a ground area 350 by
420 feet, of iron and glass, surmounted
by a ninjffktic dome and bearing a strong
resemblance to the National Museum,
aud other government buildings at tho
national capital. From an educational
point of view the exhibit is of incalcu
lable value and importance, in the fact
that it will afford to millions who have
never visited the national eapital, and
probably never will, an opportunity of
observing and studying tho processes of
eaeli department of the government, anil
of looking upon some of its priceless
: treasures
i Tho cardinal motive prompting the ex
hibit is to deepen and intensify the pop
ular interest in public affairs, aud to
that end the services am! exertions of
the chief workers and thinkers of every
branch ol’ Ithe executive government!
have been largely devoted for over two
years. Every section is a school of in
struction.
The mint, for instance, has presses in
operation, striking medals _ of copper
bronze and white metal. Within heavi
ly wired glass cases are the original
proofs of the ernes, paper cut’rency,
certificates, bonds and other evidences
of indebtedness covering the period from
the year of the Declaration of Inde
pendence to tlie last bond or note issued
from the United States Treasury. Tber%
j Js a working postoffice in operatiion.
i and an elaborate display of all articles
: relating to the postal equipment, not
' only of tihis country, but of nearly all
■ of the foreign powers embraeisi in the
I postal union. The largest section, is
I that devoted to the Department of Agri-
I culture, and which shows models of)
i fruits, cereals, animal, aaid vegetable
fibres, collections of insects, beneficial
: and injurious to agriculture, models of
'western methods of irrigation, and a
; complete ugrieultiiril laboratory, wiitlii
daily demonstrations of food adnltera
tiun.
Under the auspices of the Treasury
' Department ate a life-saving service,
I fully equipped with apparatus and men.
| a light-house constructed after the
! latest and most approved plans, and a
demonstration of the methods in vogue
in the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
There is a model ward of the marine
hospital service, and which will be put
to practical use in caring for victims
!of sickness and’ casualties. Ihe patent
| office section illustrates clearly and lucid
ly the marvelous rate of progress in i,n
--i vontion of the present age, and the fos
tering influence of the American patent
system in this regard, while the system
pursued bv the government iu the di
rection of civilizing its Indian wards
is exemplified by an- Indian boarding
school in full operation, with boys and
girls studying, working,. cooking and
playing, and generally i lustrating life
upon an Indian reservation. The In
terior Department, shows the resources
of its iindovclopod territory, while the
State Department contributes an iin
mense amount of historical data which
demonstrates tlie rapid territorial growth
of the country. Foreign visitors ol
! military inclinations are afforded food
■ for fhoucht in rile extensive exhibit
' of the War Department, and winch is
: ful y illustrative of all the devices em
ployed in the United States Army. I*oc
I tlu* student there are valuable exhibits
I from the historical collections ot die.
[N-itioiKil Museum and the Smithsonian
! ,'lAsHintion. While the development, of
, the odiieatiomd facilities of the country
is iibnmlnntlv evidenced through tb«
Bureau Os Education.
CHILDREN’S BUILDING. >
Where tlie Rising Generation is Cared for.
Tlio Roof Gardens.
Chicago, May I.—Ripples of infantile
laughter and shouts of joyful surprise
from childish throiaits echoed through
one of tlie World's Fair buildings this
morning, just about the time that the
tens of thousands of adults outside were
lemli’.ig -their voices to that monster
shout of triumph that signalized the
appearance of Grover Cleveland and his %
noble and distinguished associates upon
tlie platform in the Administration plaza.
The rising generation, tlie boys and girls
that will flock in countless numbers to
Jackson Park this summer, have not
been forgotten by the powers that be.
They have a structure all to themselves,
a rendezvous jf.iere they can eat, drink
and be merry, ami afterward go to sleep
and wake up refreshed.
Located in an advantageous position
between the Woman’s and Agricultural
Building is the children's home. It is two
stories in height, exceedingly pretty
from an architectural point, and sur
mounted by a roof garden. Here there
is a children's department of public
comfort, a library filled with children’s
literature, a little auditorium in which
magic lantern and other exhibitions will
be given, a gymnasium, and a nursery
for the ver.v little ones. Here also will
be conduct'd a model creche, in which
experienced nurses will demonstrate iu
a practical way how little ones should
be fed and dressed, and generally cared
for in order that their health and com
fort may be promoted in the highest pos
sible degree.
But there was nothing about the build
ing that took with the little ones this
morning ns much as the roof garden.
It is enclosed with an iron railing and
covered overhead with a wire netting.
(Continued on page 8.)
■ilWl*sstti»iii rmri~MiT--**t' " mcjscjch r m tmm
Perfect Health
ought to
mean glow
ing health ;-Xl
throughout ’/y
childhood ’
land robust
j health in the '
years to
come. When we see in children
tendencies to weakness, we know
(/tey are missing the life of food.
! taken. This loss is overcome by
Scoffs Emisioo
of Cod Liver Oil, with Hypophos
phites, a fat-food that builds up
appetite and produces flesh at a
z rate that appears magical.
Almost as palatable as milk.
Prepared by Scott A Bownp. N. AH drueeist%
3