Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-07-17
When the Presidents and members of the

the platform, Mr.. Nathan Cole, chairman OF
the reception committee, spoke as follows
GEHTLEnEN In behalf of my worthy aasoci-
ates, representing the city of So Louis in its mu
nicipal character the Board of Trade and Union
Merchants Exchange, desire to tender to you
here our cordial welcome. We welcome you to
our hearts our homes. 10 our growing city, and
to the noble lower Mississippi river, flowing
hence TO the ocean, upon whose placid bosom,
bearing the products OF your States TO domestic
and foreign markets, some OF you perhaps now
look for the first time and we hope very soon to
show you the central jewel of America-our own
beautiful St Louis, destined, within the next cen
tury we believe to become the greatest city of
this continent. We are glad to look upon your
faces, and to welcome those so worthy of our best
greeting and those who shall receive. not only
from us. but from other cities, the welcome they
deserve. We thank you, gentlemen, for your Wis
1t TO our CITY which marks new in the cor
dial relations which we hope will always exist be
tween sister States and will only say, orr
fellow-eitzens will endeavor to make your stay
with us agreeable. and will depnte others more
competent to express our good will to you in Ian
guageI cannot hope to command. Gentlemen,
again bid yon welcome.
Three hearty cheers were then given by
the excursionists for the committees, and
President Seymour, in brief remarks, ten
dered thanks for the kind reception tender
ed, and then all hurried aboard the cars.
On board the cars each of the excursion
lists was supplied with white satin guest
badge, which made good contrast with the
red, white and blue rOsette supplied by the
hOspitable Milwaukeans. A printed pro
| gramme of the arrangements at st. Louis,
signed by Henry T. Blow as Chairman, and
George Ii. Morgan as Secretary, covering an
elegantly printed invitation card for the
excursion on the steamer Belle of Alton,
was also presen' ed to each excursionist.
The committees had not come empty
handed, and soon the rich native wines of
Missouri were in active circulation, and the
| sparkling "Imperial" of the American
Wine Company, which took the premium at
| the Paris International Exhibition, melted
| friendly toasts and courteous pleasantries.
ST. Louis hospital ty showed itself early in
| the engagement, and the pleased excursion
| lists in the midst of such warm friendship
and greetings had to look carefully after
| their several balances.
AT ST. LOUIS.
At East St. Louis the company were es-
corted to the fine Omnibusses furnished by
Mitchell, Miltenberger Tansey, twenty
| one in number, aud under the charge of the
ever courteous Tim. Glenn, were speedily
conveyed to the Southern Hotel, where they
partook of a bountiful supper. Those who
desired were furnished tickets to the Va
| rieties Theater and Wilson's Minstrels (;
others, escorted by members of the com
mittee, went to view the city, while by far
| the largest number, after partahing Of the
| plentiful supper provided, sought rcpose in
the comfortable chambers of the Southern
VISITING.
On Thursday morning Hon. Henry J. Blow,
Chairman of the CqReai tsttetfl gfs, aid with
graceful and numberess civilities, escort
| ed them to the Court House, the O'FalIon
POLYTECHNIC Institute, the Masonic Temple
the Elevator, the Sugar Refinery, the Shot
Tower, the Newspaper Offices, the Ner-
chants Exchange, the churches, the NicnI
son pavement, the ruins of the Lndel and
to other sights closing with the commodiOus
and beautiful rooms Of the Mercantile libra
ry, where the books, works of art and files
of newspapers and magazines were curiouslv
inspected The statue of Beatrice Censo by
Miss Hosmer, the antique Venus, the bust
of Benton by Mcdonald, the bust of Colum-
bus, the bust of Burns, the portraits of Hum
boldt, Benton, Linn, Governor Clark, and
others, and numerous fine oil paintings.
were examined with interest and satisfac-
ton.
The president of the Library Association
received his guests at the entrance, and
greeted them in the>following terms:
REMARKS OF LAFAYETTE WILSON.
Ladies' and Gentlemen Editors and Publishers
of the Great Northwest: Time is especially val
liable to you this morning, and will nor detain
you with any extended remarks. am sure my
friends, IT is with no ordinary degree OF pleasure
that bid you heartfelt welcome to the rooms
of the Mercantile Library Association We pre-
sent to you an institution justly the pride of our
citizens generally, and one that il a true index of
the intelligence and hberalty of our merchants
Established in weakness and in somewhat of an
obscure posltlOn. nearly quarter of century
ago. IL stands before you to-day in grandeur and
wealth far beyond the most sanguine anticipa-
tiOns of its originators and early beneactors
Although not SO abundant in the number of its
volumes as some of the older kindred institutions
of the East yet we claim TO be the peer of all in
the land for the choice and valuable collection of
our books and works of art and more than their
equal in all the appointments of our rooms For
your inspection and qualification we throw open
to you, ladies and gentlemen, this day. or at anv
future period. our literary home. and we trust in
the examination of its treasures you will discover
one of the main springs of that intelligence and
honor which has ever characterized and distin-
guished the commercial city of the West
We present this institution to You as the best
evidence of the high moral standard intelligence
and culture of this vast community. IT is m is
that has largely aided to give us the character
we possess; ii is this that has to a great decree
moulded us into that form of society which is
ever blessing to mankind and an honor to all
who bestow il.
Messrs. Editors, Publishers. our honored nuests
and respected friends Again we bid You wei
come, and hope that when your special mission
shall have ended IN this general visit and YOU
shall have returned TO your joyous earthly habita
tiOns, you will fail not to carry with YOU and
even retain within your memories pleasant and
UOhpiiaDie Oh yOur WISH TO ST. IOuis
and n,sfe especially to the Mercantile Library
Association.
RESPONSE OF HORACE RUBLEE
President Seymour called on Horace
Rublee of the State Journal to respond, and
he spoke as follows
Mr.. PRESIDENT: Il am unexpectedly called M
on to respond to your courteous welcome We
have been highly gratiied in looking through the
several rooms OF this noble building 1t has shown
us st. Louis In new aspect. We knew something
of the progress and greatness of your eity i'm ma
terial things. We knew something of thai energy
and enterprise which have built M vour civ
which have founded its numerous manufacturers
which have created its extensive trade which have
thronged its long river front with clustering steam
ers, tugs and barges, and have pushed out and are
still extending its numerous railways We had
heard, too, of yonr mercantile library and hall but
the reality FAR surpasses our expectations. This
noble ediice dedicated to noble uses. is an evil
dence that ST. Louis can boast OF something high
and better than mere business success and en-
terprise 1t is an evidence that its people are not
wholly absorbed in the pursuit of wealth and the
struggle for material land outward progress 1t il
evidence, sir, that your people do not neglect
tions without which your material prosperity
would be of little worth. We are gratfed sir to
find such an institution here. 1t is a quiet temple
of the muses., standing in the midst ofthe stir and
din of traffic. Here you may come and fiid in its
repose and influences that
-. spirits ladder.
Which, from this gross and visible world of dust
can lead you up even to the starry world of phil
osophy, and poetry and art.
TIE RIVER EXCURSION.