The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-06-12
AUSTIN TO THE FRONT.

Last evening select audience of
ladies and gentlemen assembled in the
senate chamber to listen to discourse
of the Hon. L. L. Gammage, of Pales-
tine, Omitted States commissioner for
Texas to the Worlds Fair at New
Orleans), on the question of the great
expedition, and the part Texas was
expected to take in that grand colos-
sal enterprise. Col. A. J. Peeler, in
brief and appropria manner, intro
duced the distinguished visitor, who
at once launched into the subject of
his lecture in manner that not only
interested but delighted the entire
gathering. Col. Gammage delineated
in captivating colors the glorious I'm.
dertaking which would soon immor-
taliZe the Crescent City, and by sta
tistical facts and shetorical deductions
demonstrated to the comprehension of
his hearers the gratifying certainty
that the coming exposition will be the
most magnificent and extensive
| the world ever saw. Enumerating
the many foreign lands that had al
ready signi6ed (through their respec-
| tive governments their intention of
being represented on the grounds by
exhibits Uf their products, both natu-
rdl and artistic, he spread before the
minds of the audience a picture at
once so beautiful and sublime that, in
! order to realize it, one should have
been present to hear him. In words
he painted vast panorama reflective
of the agricultural, musical, geologi-
cal, horticultural, mechanical, artistic
| and scientific production of christen-
| dom, and clustered them together in
one grand collection at New Orleans,
after which he impressed upon those
who were present the necessity of
having Texas occupy in that great
| representation of states and nations
| the proud position which her imperial
| territory, and her inexaustible re-
sources, so justly entitle her to. He
then gave graphic sketch
of the arrangements now being
made for the accommodation of
visitors, and the display of exhibits
from all parts, and also of the match
less attractions which would be per-
fected during the months Of the exhi-
| bitiOn. In the course of his remarks
he paid a high compliment to Gov.
Ireland for the excellent selections he
made in all his appointments of COM
missioners, and bespoke for
Colonel Elliott, the chief envoy
OF the state, that hearty
cooperation from all parties which
was necessary to thorough and sue
cesSful unfolding of the various in
dustries and products of Texas. Re-
garding the magnificence of the
worlds fair at New Orleans, he called
attention to the fact that the interna-
tional exhibition at London in 1862
was considered the greatest of it's kind
ever held in any land, and yet its
entire space covered only thirty thou
sand square feet, while the main hall
! on the grounds at New Orleans, all of
| glass, exceeds thirty-two thousand
feet In addition to this, however,
there were other halls and buildings,
for exhibiting purposes, which would
cover a space of thirty-six thousand
more feet, so that what has been up
to this time regarded as the greatest
exposition the world has ever seen.
would be more than doubled by that
of the southern one. Thousands of
acres OF pleasure gardens, parks,
and artificial lakes were now being
prepared, and the horticultural dis
play would embrace specimens of all
the rare plants, shrubs and flowers
that ever ornamented or bloomed in
the botanical world. TWenty-three
foreign nations had been already al
lOtted space, and it was expected
that fully forty different and dis
tant countries would exhibit. 1t
is simply impossible, in the limited
space at our disposal, to give more
than an imperfect idea of Col. Gam
IMAGES able and instructive discourse.
Suffice to say that he is determined, if
patriotic zeal and undoubtable energy
can accomplish anything, to have
Texas creditably represented at the
coming exposition. He wound uphis
interesting address by urging the for
nation of local clubs, both of ladies
and gentlemen, to further the good
work, and stated that Tin conjunction
with others) he would request the
governor to-day to.appoint four addi-
t1onal honorary lady commissioners to |
assist in the grand undertaking. |
When he concluded, Col. Peeler was
called on for his views, and delivered |
a well chosen speech in keeping with |
the excellent suggestion of the Ice
turer. On his motion Col. John w.
Robertson was chosen chairman of
the meeting, and that gentleman was
authorized to appoint committee of
ten ladies and ten gentlemen, and
convene public meeting in this city
on an early day for the purpose indf-.
Gated. The proceedings were brought
to close by vote of thanks, pro-
posed to the orator of the evening by
Col. Darden, and the gathering sepa-
rated fully determined that Austin
would do its duty in making the Tex
IS exhibit at New Orleans well wor-
Thy of our great and progressive
states.
Picnic Party. n
A pleasant little picnic party of
;welve-six couples-went out yes
;erday to Bull creek, eight miles from