The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-17
AT WASHINGTON.


Richardson and President Arthur.
WAsHINGToN, Dec 16-The invitations sent
out by the Secretary of State in the name of the
President for the ceremonies in Washington con
nected with the opening of the worlds exposi-
tion at New Orleans, named the hour of 1890 P.
NJ. as the time when the formal exercises at the
executive mansion would begin Before that
hour this afternoon, $50 or 200 invited guests,
comprising of the best known people of
Washington, and including large number of
| ladies, assembled in the spacious East Room of
the presidential residence, where the ceremonies
were to take place. No attempt had been made
to decorate the room, and it appeared precisely
as usual, except that on the eastern side. near
one of the central windows, stood a small ma
hogany table bearing telegraph instrument,
and that behind, on an easel was large picture
of the New Orleans exposition buildings and
grounds beautifully framed in fresh rosebuds and
carnations, interviewer with smilax and maiden
hair ferns The frame was surmounted by
floral scroll composed mainly of white carna-
tions, upon which the words ITO the President"
appeared in red and blue immorteles. This
was token presented by the board of manage
ment of the exposition.
Among the distinguished persons who strolled
back and forth through the East Room talking
or listening to the music of the band and wait
ing for the beginning of the ceremonies, were
most of the members of the diplomatic corps
and President Arthurs Cabinet with their
wives; the President of the Senate, the Speaker
of the House, w W. Cofcoran, George Bancroft
the eminent historian; General Van Vliet, Min
lister Foster with Mrs. Foster and their daugh-
ter; Major Smith, of Philadelphia; Marshal Nc
Michael, Mrs. Chiefjustice Waite, Mrs. Justice
Field and many Others There were also pres
sent special committees from the House and
Senate, representing the States and Territories
of the Union, and several States were repre-
scented by commissioners AT the telegraph in
strument sat Mr.. Moreau, manager of the West
ern Union, who had arranged the wires
for the occasion, and who was to manage the
telegraphic part OF the ceremonies
It was expected that the signal from New
Orleans announcing that all was in readiness,
would be given promptly at l o'clock, Washing
ton time or noon by central meridian time,
which is used in New Orleans, and few mo
ments before that hour nearly all those present
grouped themselves around the little table,
leaving open passage way by which the Presi-
dent could approach it from the main corridor
Everybody stood thus in an attitude of ex-
pectancy for fully half an hour, while the Ma
rIne Band played national airs, and the operator
at the instrument table questioned the New Or
leans operator to the situation. At 1:30
Marshal McMchael, who acted as master of
ceremonies, announced that the steamship with
the managers of the exposition on board had not
yet reached the exposition grounds in
New Orleans, and that, even after its
arrival, there would necessarily be further de-
lay of ten OF fifteen minutes. The invited
guests, who had been standing SO long In uncom-
Portable attitudes, thereupon sought seats around
the sides of the room, and there was d nenewed
buzz of conversation.
About fifteen minutes before o'clock the op-
orator at the exposition building in New Or
leans announced the arrival of the officials and
the board of management, and notice to that
effect was given President Arthur A moment
later the latter, proceeded by Marshal Nc
Michael and accompanied by ce-president Ed
munds and Commissioner Morehead entered the
East Room, followed by Speaker Carlisle with
Secretaries Frelinghuysen, McCulloch, Lincoln,
Chandler and Attorney general Brewster. mem
bers of the diplomatic corps and other dis
tinguished guests. The President stationed him
self in front of the telegraph instrument
table, with his back to the table
with Speaker Carlisle Mr.. Bancroft and Secre-
tary Frelinghuysen on the right, and Vice presi
dent Edmunds, Commissioner Morehead, Sena-
tor Logan and members of the Cabinet at his
left. Some time passed after the President had
taken his position without bringing any an
nouncement from New Orleans that the man
ayers there were ready to proceed with the exer-
cises and the situation finally seemed to become |
a little embarrassing to all concerned and es-
pecally to the President. AS the minutes how |
ever, heightened to quarters of hours, and the |
President and his Cabinet continued to stand in |
solemn state before the instrument table with
out occupation or immediate prospect of occupa- |
ton, the embarrassment gave way to sense of the |
ridiculous, and the President laughed heartily at
halfwhispered comments on the situation |
and the humorous explanations of the |
strange delay which were made to |
him from time to time by Secretary Freling- |
huysen, Vice-president Edmunds, and other |
gentlemen who stood near him. Finally, when