Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1885-09-17
ST. LOUIS PRIDE.

Opening Of the Great Exposition For Its
Second Seasonal Display Of Rare Grand.
eur and Extent-Twenty Thousand Peo-
pie Attest by Their Presence Their Inter
est In the Enterprise.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, September l0.-The
opening of the Exposition last night was
surprise to everybody. The sky was
filed with heavy clouds that indicated o
wet night; the atmosphere was damp
and chilly and the night was considered
anything but favorable to large out
pouring OF slght-seers. No one supposed
that there would be more than thou
sand or fifteen hundred persons present,
but when at seven O'Clock, the crowd
began to pour into the building at all the
entrances, 1t was evident that the
attendance would be beyond all
expectations. The impression pre-
vailed to q great extent that
the show would open In an unfinished
condition, and that it would be better to
walt for two or three days before going;
thousands undoubtedly stayed away last
night on this account, but 1t was estl-
mated that fully 10000 people attended
between seven and half past nine O'Clock.
At times the aisles on the main floor
were blockaded by the crowd and it was
almost impossible to move backward or
forward, and the same thing was OF FREE
quent occurrence in the galleries. The
crowd was very good-natured, however,
ana seemed contented with such
glimpses OF TIC exhibit as could be OBJ
tanned at intervals when the masses Of
humanity were In motion. -" ~
Another surprise was the condition ri
the displays. On Monday and Tuesday
1t was freely predicted by knowing
ones that the Exposition would open
with only half show and the
other half of the exhibits would be In
confused and partially finished state.
Up to yesterday morning the outlook
was indeed discouraging. 1t seemed
as II more than half the ex-
hibits were in such state that 1t would
be impossible to make them presentable
by night. The aslcs were Uttered with
shavings and debris OF all sorts or par
TALLY blockaded by boxes, lumber and
rubbish, and many of the cases were close
ly wrapped with muslin, shutting out oil
view OF the inside where the trimmers
were at work. But yesterday afternoon
the sweepers were set at work, the aisles
were cleared and cleaned, and before
dark a striking Transformation took
place. When the doors were thrown
open for the admission of the
public In the evening, the brilliant blaze
| of the electric light revealed scene full
OF beauty and grandeur. With not more
than three or four exceptions, every
exhibit in the building was finished, with
the exception, perhaps, of few minor
details, which would not add very mate
rally to the general result, and the
crowd witnessed display which
utterly ecllpsed that of last year
In the matters of both quantity
and magnitude. In point of magnitude
1t is satisfactory surprise to'everybody,
and one has but to stroll leisurely
through the building examining carefully
each exhibit to get an idea of what o
vast exhibition 1t Is. 1t is too large to
see thoroughly In one or even two days,
| and it seems as II one could spend o
week there and still not see all there Is
to be seen.
1t is also o noticeable fact that the
local exhibitors have been much more
liberal in their displays this year than
they were last, and evidences of lavish
expenditure are visible everywhere.
They have evidently satisfied themselves
that a rich and extensive display is q
good investment, and have acted accord.
ingly.