Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-17

EVRMHA VI 2N1D = -
ussssnsuished Assenblsse ~ she ws's
tssuse-An Embasraasfss DELAY -frsssesss
R,ehavdssn's Address asd Presisens Ar
shsrs Reply, &c.
TBy Telegraph 70 the DimAichj
wAsuINuToY. December 1e.-Tne invita-
lions sent out by the secretary OF oua~ -
the name OF the President Tor the ce,e-
monies In Washington connected WIZ .nr
cpeninc Of the Worlds Exposition ~ new
orleans nained the hour OF 12:5o ~ Ine
time when the formal exercises al tne Exc.
cutiye Mansion would begin. Before tna,
bour this afternoon 100 or 200 invited
Guests. comprising some OF the best-known
people Of Washington. and including alarge
number of ladies, assembled In the spacious
Fast rccm Of the presidential residence
where the ceremonies were 10 take p'ace.
No attempt had been made 10 decorate
the room, and IL appeared precisely as usual,
except that on the eastern sue uear onn
mahogapy table bearing telegraph instru-
mcrt. and that behind II on an easel was
isree nio,ure OF the New Orleans EXPOSE
t,on hnildinys and grounds beautifully
framed in fresh rosebuds and carnations
in,erwoyeu with smilax and maiden hair
ferns The frame was surmounted by
forsI scroll composed mainly OF white car
NATIONS. upon which the words ITO the
prcsidentD appeared In red and blue
immortelles. This was token presented
nv the Board OF Management OF the EXPOSE
ton Among the distinguished per-
sons who strolled back aud forth
through the East room, talking or listen.
ire IN the music OF the Marine Band and
waiting for the beginning OF the ceremonies
yere most OF the members OF the diplomatic
co,ps and Of President Arthur's Cabinet
with their wives: the President OF the SEN
ate. speaker Of the House, w. w. Corco-
ran. George Bancroft, the eminent histo-
rinu; Lawrence Barrett, General Van
| Vhei. Minister Foster. with Mrs. Foster
| and their daughter; Mayor smith, oil Pbiia-
| delpbia; Marshall McMichael, Mrs. Chiei.
Justice Waite, Mrs. Justice Field, and
| many others. There were also present spe-
| cial committees from the House aud Senate,
representing the States and Territories oil
the Union. and several States were repre-
| sented by commissions.
| AT The telegraph instrument table sat Mr..
| Norean. manager OF the Western Union
office, who had arranged the wires Tor the
occasion, and who was 10 manage the tele-
|
! eypected that the signal from New Orleans
announcing that oil was in readiness
would be given promptly at l O'Clock.
| Washington time, or noon by the Gen.
trail meridian time used In New Orleans,
and few moments before that hour nearly
| ali those present grouped themselves around
| the little table. leaving an open passage
| way by which the President could approach
| II from the main corridor. Everybody
| stood thus IN the attitude OF expectancy Tor
| fully half an hour, while the Marine Band
| played nstional airs and the operator at The
| instrument-table questioned the New Or-
! leans generator as 10 the situation.
| At balf-past 1 Marshal McMichaei, who
| acted rs master OF ceremonies, announced
that the steamboat with the managers OF
tbe Exposition 90 board had not yet
reached the Exposition Grounds in New
Orleans. and that even after its arrival
there would necessarily he further delay
of ten or fifteen minutes. The invited
guests. who had been standing so long In
uncomfortable attitudes, thereup0n sought
seats around the sides Of the room. and
there was renewed buzz OF conversation.
About fifteen minutes before the
operaior at the Exposition building, 10
New Orleans, announced the arrival there
OF the officials and the Board OF Manage
ment, and notice TO that effect was given 10
President Arthur. a moment later the
latter, preceded by Marshal McMichael, ana
accompanied by Vice'President Edmunds
and Commissioner Morehead. entered the
East room, followed by Speaker carlisle
with Secretary Frelinghuysen. Secretaries
McCulloch. Lincoln, Chandler, ana Ator-
ney-General Brewster, members OF INC
OIL
guests.
The President stationed himself at the
telegraph instrument with his back TO the
table. with Speaker Carlisle, AIr. Bincroit,
and Secretary Frelnghuysen on his right,
and Vice. President Edmunds, Commits
sjoner Morehead, Senator Logan. and mem'
bers Of the Cabinet at bis left. Moment
after moment passed after the President
had taken his position without bringing
any announcement from New Orleans thai
the managers there we're ready IN proceed
with the exercises, aud the situation finally
seemed TO become a little embarrassing TO al
concerned, and especially to the President
AS the minutes, however. heightened 10
quarter OF an hour, and the President ant
his Cabinet continued TO stand IN solemn
state before the instrument-table wlthou
OCCUPATION or immediate prospect OF occu
patton. the embarrassment gave place to
sense OF the ridiculous. and the Presiden
laughed heartily ct the half-whispered com
ments on TIE situation, and the hi
morous explanations Of the str1ng'
delay which were made to him from
time to time by Secretary Frclins
buysen, Vice.President Eimunds, am
other gentlemen who stood near him
Finally, when amusement was fast giylni
place in lis turn to exas peration, ct least II
the breasts OF mos. OF the weary and hun
CRY spectators, and when very dlsparaginl
remarks were beginning TO be made witt
regard to the management or misnanage
ment which compelled the President OF tn
United States aud his Cabinet, The entir
diplomatic corps, and committees iron
both houses Of Congress, to await, standing
for more than an hour, the movements
the managers in New Orleans. The follow
ing address TO the President was receiye'
and read aloud by Commissioner More
head:
To the President of The United States:
Tie present occasion is the consumml
: ton Of an enterprise inaugurated in con
; formity TO an act OF Cong, ess passed les
than Two years ago and authorizing th
holding of a Worlds Industrial and CottO
Centennial Exposition. under the joint au
| spices OF the United States National Cot
. ton. Planters Association and the city o
| | It's location. New Orleans was then $,
!. | lected as the site OF this Worlds EyDoSi
ton, and in June. 1883, thirteen commits
sioners, composing d Board o, Managers
| | were appointed by the President OF Ia
United States, and at once entered upon tn
, | discharge OF their duties. At an elrly date
| however, 1t became manifest that the liberal
, | ify OF individuals OF the city and state wou
be inadequate 10 meet the requirement
OF the ever.increaslng magnitude OF the TN
dertaking. Accordingly an applicltion 70
ard was made to the United States throug
| Congress. resulting in obtaining that gene
, rous assistance which has so materially con
fributed TO the accomplishment OF the pun
pose contemplated. From the commence
| ment il was determined that nothing shout
, | give local or sectional character TO tae grea
work, but that II should be, as it truly Is.
, National and international exposition, an
, | consequently to-day are assembled her
representatives OF all the nations OF tn
. world side by side with those c
; our own national Government ant
| OF every State and Territory o
this Union. All have contributed eS
I amDles Of their resources and q
I their progress IN this wonderful co