Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-09-17
ST. LOUIS. PRIDE.

| Opening of the Great Exposition For 1t
Second Seasonal Display of Rare Grand
eur and Extent-Twenty Thousand PEG
pie Attest by Their Presence Their Inter
est in the Enterprise.
ST.. Louis, Mo-, September 10.-Th'
opening of the Exposition last night wa
surprise to everybody. The sky wa
| filed with heavy clouds that indicated
wet night; the atmosphere was damn
and chilly and the night was considered
anything but favorable to large out
pouring of sight-seers. No one supposed
that there would be more than a thou
sand or fifteen hundred persons present
but when at seven O'Clock, the crowt
began to pour into the building at all The
entrances, it was evident that the
attendance would be beyond al
expectations. The impression pre-
the show would open in an unfinished
condition, and that it would be better to
wait for two or three days before going /;
thousands undoubtedly stayed away last
night on this account, but it was esti.
mated that fully 10000 people attended
between seven and half past nine o'clock.
At times the aisles on the main floor
were hlockaded by the crowd and it was
almost impossible to move backward or
forward, and the same thing was of fire.
4uent occurrence in the galleries. The
crowd was very good-natured, however,
and seemed contented with such
glimpses of the exhibit as could be OBJ.
tanned at intervals when the masses OF
humanity were in motion.
Another surprise was the condition OF
the displays. On Monday and Tuesday
it 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
a confused and partially finished state
Up to yesterday morning the outlook
was indeed discouraging. 1t seemed
as if more than half the ex.
hibits were in such state that it would
be Impossible to make them presentable
by night. The asles 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 all
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 a few minor
details, which would not add very mate
rally to the general result, and the
crowd witnessed display which
utterly eclipsed that of last year
in the matters of both quantity
and magnitude. In point of magnitude
it is satisfactory surprise to4everYbody,
and one has but to stroll leisurely
through the building examining carefully
each exhibit to get an idea of what
vast exhibition it is. It is too large to
see thoroughly in one or even two days,
and it seems as if one could spend
week there and still not see all there is
20 be seen.
1t is also 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 rich and extensive display is a
good investment, and have acted accord
ngly.