The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-05-12 00:00:00

GLASGOW EXHIBITION.

The Glasgow Exhibition was opened on Tuesday
by the Prince and Princess of Wales. The day was
beautifully fine, and for several hours before the
Royal party were expected in the city the streets were
crowded. Special trains from all parts of the country
brought thousands into the city, who could hardly
get away from the stations, so densely lined were the
thoroughfares. All the streets for a length of five
miles along which the Royal procession was to pass
were profusely decorated and barricaded, and the line
was kept by volunteers from all the regiments in
Lanarkshire. The display of bunting was magnificent.
The central station looked especially imposing, a
splendid arch with the word " Welcome " having
been erected at the entrance. St. Vincent and
Gordon streets were gay with bannerets and
trophies. Venetian masts were erected along
the whole route, and from these artificial flowers
were hung. Flags were displayed from all the public
buildings. Grand stands were erected in all direc-
tions, and the sight was especially imposing in
Sauchiehall-street, where the principal residents were
accommodated. Triumphal arches were erected in
the West-end Park and at the other parts of the
route.

The Royal train consisted of two carriages in the
centre, a large composite carriage in front, and
another behind with a guard's van at each end. The
locomotive was that beautiful specimen of engineer's
work which was shown at the Edinburgh Exhibition.
It bore the Prince of Wales's crest and motto
enamelled on the tender. The guests at 'Mizell
House, Lord and Lady Rosebery, Lord and Lady
Herschell, Lord and Lady Strathmore, Sir J. Stirling
Maxwell, Mr. W. Cochrane-Baillie, and Major-
G eneral Lyttleton-Annesley, left Lord Hamilton's
residence about ten minutes past ten o'clock, and
drove to Motherwell Station. The Prince and
Princess of Wales, with their host, left Dalzell
House about twenty minutes past ten, in a
carriage and four. They both looked remarkably
well. On the Prince and Princess entering the station
platform, the Guard of Honour gave :a Royal salute
and the band played" God Save the Queen." Their
Royal Highnesses, with their suite, were shown intc
their carriages by Mr. Kempt, and immediately after-
wards the train started for Glasgow. When the Royal
train entered the Glasgow Central Station, Lord Ailsa
commanded his hundred Naval Artillery Volunteers tc
salute the Prince, the band meanwhile playing the
National Anthem. The Lord Provost welcomed the
Princess as she left the carriage. The Prince of Wales
followed, and was greeted by the Chief Magistrate.
Lady King presented the Princess with a bouquet of
white exotics. The Magistrates, having been intro-
duced, the Princess took the arm of the Lord Provost,
who led the way to the Royal carriage, which had
been sent down from London. The ladies who lined
the crimson pathway dropped flowers upon the Prin.
cess's path, and her Royal Highness smiled her acknow-
ledgments.
At the Corporation Chambers the Prince and Prin-
cess met the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, the
Duke and Duchess of Abercorn, the Marquis and Mar-
chioness of Lothian, the Marquis of Hamilton, and the
Earl and Countess of Stair. The members of the
Council were presented to their Royal Highnesses, and
afterwards the Royal pair entered the profusely deco-
rated Corporation Hall and ascended the dais. The
space immediately in front was occupied by the
members of the Corporation, while the represen-
tatives of Municipalities in England, Scotland,
and elsewhere were accommodated behind, the
flooring being elevated, so as to afford the guests an
unobstructed view of the dais. Dr. Marwick
read the Corporation:address of welcome, to which the
Prince replied.
The Royal party then left the Council Chamber for
the Lord Provost's residence, where they partook of
luncheon. After the luncheon the Royal party passed
under a triumphal arch at the West-end Park main
entrance, and over the Prince of Wales bridge, oppo-
site the Exhibition gate. Sir Archibald Campbell,
President of the Executive Committee, here met the
Prince, and a number of gentlemen who have been
instrumental in promoting the Exhibition were intro-
duced to his Royal Highness. Sir A. Campbell banded
to the Prince a gold key, and his Royal Highness,
amidst cheers, opened the east door of the vestibule,
and entered the Exhibition. The Prince and Princess
walked to the front of the platform of the Grand Hall,
the Glasgow Choral Union meanwhile singing the
National Anthem, and the artillery on the neighbour-
ing heights firing a salute of 21 guns. After their
Royal Highnesses were seated and prayers had been
read by the Rev. Dr. D. M‘Leod, Sir A. Campbell pre-
sented an address.

The Prince of Wales, accepting the address, made
an appropriate inaugural speech, concluding by say-
ing: It only remains now for the Princess and myself
to express our earnest hope that this great Exhibition
may prove an immense success, and that the
thousands who, we trust, will visit it may derive such
instruction from an examination of its various sec-
tions as will prove of material advantage to them for
years to come. (Cheers.)
The Lord Provost presented •an album of paintings
by members of the Glasgow Art Club to the Princess,
and after the Inaugural Ode had been sung, the
Prince declared the Exhibition open, amid much
enthusiasm. The choir gave the Hallelujah Chorus,
and the Royal party entered the Picture Galleries and
Women's Industries Section, where the Princess was
presented with a handsome piece of sewed work by
Lady Campbell. After the Royal party had partaken
of tea in the reception-room the Prince visited the
Indian Court, and then with the Princess re-entered
the carriage and drove to the Central Station en route
to Hamilton Palace.