Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-24
THE LOUISVILLE EXPOSITION.
A Graphic Description of the Opening.

pointed destiny. The opening exercises
took place on the 10th in a manner no
quite so imposing as these of last year.
but recalling that time very wildly in
the crowd, the decorations, the illumina-
ton, and the noise and confusion attend
ant as an inevitable feature.
1t was typical August day--scorchino
hot, with clouds of dust enYeloping the
eager multitude and filling the parched
threats that gaped in vociferous ap-
plause. A general holiday was observed
from noon, and the principal avenues
! leading out to the building-Second.
| Fourth and Sixth-traversed by the ex.
/ position cars displayed considerable
bunting, and all the business portion O f
the city was handsomely decorated. The
/ illumination at night was also quite gen.
eral both among public buildings and
! private residences. A hundred guns
were fired at noon, and another hundred
/ at sunset In the north end of the park, so
/ that the enterprise did not lack boom
| to usher in its existence. But, although
\ the cannon rOared and the crowd gathered
! and yelled, and although it was not
| doubted that the Exposition would live
and die success, yet there was lack
! the popular enthusiastic spirit and
zest that entered into the
same enterprise a year ago. Then the
! President of the nation touched the
| springs that gave the giant life. He was
accompanied by his Cabinet and bril-
liant suite-men whose names and ac-
tions were of more than national fame
and people were drawn from every poin
to witness the spectacle. This time it
was more of a home crowd; the cere-
monies were entrusted to the Governor
and his staff, who might have been hired
for the occasion at 81 80 apiece and have
been rather expensive at those figures.
But every body who ofhciated made himsel f
as imposing as the law allows; old patents
of nobility were scraped up; LAWYERS
and honorables and eX-Mayors polished
up their titles and blazoned them in Ro-
man capitals, and everything went off
with more glory than could have been ex-
pected under the circumstances. Gov.
Porter, of Indiana, and Gov. Bate, of Ten
nessee, with Hon. Ben Butterworth, of
Ohio, were expected, but at the critical
moment they were elsewhere. After the
opening address by the President of the
Exposition, Col. Bennett Young, a re-
spouse was read from Mayor Jacob, whose
sudden Illness prevented his appearance,
and then Gov. Knott, in an eloquent adj
dress, formally announced the Exposition
opened.
THE EXHIBITS AT THIS TINE ARE IN
RATHER GOOD SHAPE,
but are rapidly improving in quantity
will not be on such an extensive scale as
last season, but noticeable feature is
the fact that the South contributes more
to this department than formerly, when
~the most of the machinery was shipped
from the East and North.
The entire display in all departments is
confined to the lower floor, the great gall
leries being uninhabited and bare. ALA
bama has an extensive display of fruits,
grains, minerals and plants, and Florida
is preparing, through a private midi
vidual, to Guido everything in an exhibit
of alligator skins.
The art gallery was promptly on hand,
with everything ship-shape for the OPEN
ing. The arrangement here is different
from the first exhibition. The splendid
painting of B0ngereau's-"Th Bal
Masque"-nO longer makes bright the
vestibule, and there are many gems f
last year missing from the walls.
'Richelieu and julie" however, makes
up for other losses, and the gallery is by
no means deficient, although there are so
many new acquaintance instead of old
friends. The walls glow with warm and
vivid cOlOring not nearly so noticeable in
the old collection. Another feature worth
remarking is the pTepOnderance of the
best American artists and the CORE
| spending absence of the more celebrated
foreign masters, although there are some
great names among those now on the
walls for the first time. In statu-
airy the principal attraction is
the Hart group in the centre
OF the gallery, comprising 'the Triumph
of Chastity" now exhibited in this coun-
! try for the first time, together with the
other wen known works of the famous
sculptor. The ladies of the Hart Memo
rial Association, of Lexington, contrib
uted the former, having just purchased it
to ad0rn their own city. An effort was
made by the Art Committee to secure
Harris splendid statue of Henry Clay
standing in the rotunda of the cour
house, where it was first placed about
fifteen years ago. The court house Off
Gals refused to allow its removal. and so
anxious were the Exposition people to add
it ITO the group that there was war brewing
between the two factions for while, but
the statue of the great commOner still re-
mains in the rOtunda.
THE ELECTRIC LIGHTING Is PERFECT
THIS YEAR.
Last year it took several weeks to
arrive at perfection. The system is of
vaster proportions and costs the EXPOSE
ton Company $29, 900 for the sixty days.
| blaze; and the pyrotechnic display, unde
the management of Prof. Paine, who con-
| ducts the fireworks at Manhattan Beach,
foOts up $500 for each weekly exhibition.
AS it is human nature to value that most
1
| cause a new throb of appreciation for
! every sky rocket. A beautiful race course
has been laid off on the grounds which
will be devoted to the exhibition of live
stock during the day and to the fireworks
at night. 1t is surrounded with grand
stand easily seating twelve thousand
| spectators, and here will be the scene of
the competitive drills the latter part o
the month.
Cappa arrived with his band at the last
minute for the opening ceremonies, haV-
ing met with a delay. His repertoire has
been OYerhauled, and he has discarded all
last seasons music and appears with
everything new. Gilmore sent an en-
| thusiastic telegram of cOngratulation and
good wishes for the Inauguration; he viii l
come the middle of September. 1t is as
serted that Cappa and Gilmore are to fur
nish the music for the New Orleans EX-
position.
The State troops are now encamped at
the fair grounds, and sham battle is TO
by fought out there Aug. %, to which
every one is looking forward with war
| like fire in his veins. Notwithstanding
! the tramp of armed men and the pOmp
| and panOply of war all is quiet on the Ohio.
Here and there in the suburbs near camp
! a brave soldier may be seen all in heap
near the road profoundly asleep, thus in"
| dicating that the cold coffee and tea In his
canteen has led him astray as disgrace
| fully as the genuine old tangle-foOt.
! ON AUG. % THE COMPETITIVE DRILLS BE-
GIN,
| and continue three days. The Southern
companies competing are the Porter
Rifles, of Nashville; the Quawpaw Guards,
! of Little Rock, and the Montgomery
| Grays, Of Montgomery, Ala.
AS soon as the government exhibit has
been completely set in order the Greedy
relics will be forwarded. What can the
Greedy relics possibly be? A few bones
and some shreds of blankets? How very
| much nicer it would be to bring some of
the survivors in stout, ToOmy cages and
exhibit them as cannibals, That would
have a considerable spice of interest. 1t
| has been suggested that when the rei.lcs.
arrive Mr.. Henry Clay, of this city, shall
''make a speech" over them. Mr.. Clay,
it will be remembered, is the young law
yer and grandson of the great Henry, who
went with the Greedy expedition, and,
getting as far as Greenland, spent the
winter there with DIR. Pavey, the Inflated,
while the vessel put back for repairs. He
afterward returned home without pene-
trating farther into Arctic wilds. He
ought to be just now the gladdest man
alive. If he had kept on he might have
returned merely as denuded spinal col
/ GnxrT II nnTrCT