St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-15
AT THE PALACE.
Ceremonies and Speeches at the
Laying OF the Corner-BIock.

Laying Oh the COrner-BlOck.
The walls of the central tower Of the
palace tower are about thirty feet above
their foundation, and present a cold. gilt
tering front that prompts the beholder 10
shiver while fascinated he locke and ad-
mires. Last night the grounds were bril-
liantly Illuminated by six powerful electric
/ lamps, suspended high above the unfinished
walls of the palace which shOne and glis-
/ tened unfeelinglY in the white rays that
| fell across and around them. On every side
the outlines OF the icy wings that will
| stand as stately guards around the main
tower were plainly defined. and inside col
ored fire was kept continually burning, i'm
! parting an unnatural and enchanting ap-
/ pearance. On the southwest and north
west corners of the south wing rested two
heavy blocks ice. donated by the citizens
of Fargo and Saltwater. These were the
corner blocks. At precisely o'clock the
mounted police at the head of the column
swung into view on Robert street and
rode through the entrance to the
grounds, followed by a sinuOus line of vari-
colored lights and waving flags. The fight
from the entrance 10 the palace was a hard
one. every inch Of space being occupied by
spectators who had preceded the procession
10 gain position that would enable them
TO witness the ceremonies. The tobOggan
slides, roofs of dressing rooms and tops of
the palace walls were black with people.
but by dint of hard labor the police at last
broke through the black mass of people
and the various tOboggan and snowshOe
clubs. with the st. Georges in the lead,
reached the palace and massed themselves
around the corner blocks; when the order
came to break ranks mighty shout went
up that seemed to cause
THE PALACE To TREMBLE
on its foundation. The walls of the south
wing had been covered with heavy planks
and on this platform Miss Finch, Mrs.
Fred Driscoll, Jr., and Miss Seixas, ac-
companied by the guard of honor, the
speakers of the hour and prominent citi-
zens took their stand. Among those were
noticed: Gov. Hubbard. Mayor Rice. Mayor
Pillsbury, Minneapolis; George Il. Finch,
president of the Carnival ASSOCIATION; City
Attorney Murray, Aids. Van Slyke and
johnson, ID. A. Monfort, A. S. Tallmadge,
DR.. j. III. Murphy, Mr.. and Mrs. Z. w.
Durant, Saltwater. During the prelimi-
nary arrangements the bands PLAYED several
selections, and when ID. A. MonfOrt stepped
forward to introduce G.. r. Finch. the
master of ceremonies, he looked down on
the upturned faces of at least 20, 600 peo-
pie. His Introductory remarks were brief
and appropriate, and Mr.. Finch bowed his
acknowledgements amidst wild applause.
When the outburst was stilled Mr.. Finch
said:
Ladies and Gentlemen: 1t gives me great
pleasure 10 be the person selected TO assist in
the ceremonies of laying the corner-block of
the first ice palace ever erected I'm the United
States. Applause. now take great pleas
ure in introducing TO you Lucius +. Hubbard,
governor of the state of Minnesota.
Gov. Hubbard was enthusiastically re-
ceived, and removed his hat, but as
zephyr from the cold front of the palace
dropped down on the crowd he quickly
donned it, asking the indulgence of the
people, which was promptly accorded.
GOV. HUBBARD's SPEECH.
The governor spoke as follows:
Mr.. President of the ST. Paul Ice Carnival
Lsdies and Gentlemen; This is certainly a
very rare occasion. The opportunity is surely
vouchsafed to very few to make speech on
an occasion of this character, and, therefore,
the participants should be profoundly inn
pressed for being the recipients OF this favor
/ believe feel the depth of the honors con-
ferred upon me by the MANAGEMENT in re-
questing me TO participate in these cere-
monies, but L fear that shall fail to fully ex-
press my appreciation of them. Although
the occasion is inspiring and the surroundings
and Influences OF the moment eXhileratiug, vet
they are not of a character TO warm one up.
Laughter aud applause. The people of the
city had become so enthusiastic over the pro-
ject and were becoming so anxious lest the
elements should not be favorable to the occa-
sion, that wonder how st. Paul got along so
many years without an fee palace feel. in
common with the people generally. that they
could not much longer have neglected to
supply themselves with this long-felt want
We Minnesotians have always boasted of our
genial climate. Our winters are neither too
cold or too hot. but just cold enough. During
the thirty years that have been q resident of
the state have neard of the people complain
of the winters not being cold enough; but not
a long time ago there was the spectacle of the
people of this city praying for ice, as hard
as people ever prayed for rain
in a time of the greatest drollth One
could not more easily tell the condition OF the
temperature as registered by the thermome-
ter than he could by studying the expression
on the countenances of the people of this
city. An ice palace was assured and you
were happy; but an emergency called for u
blizzard OF uncommon power and we got il.
Applause. Ladies and gentlemen, con-
gratulate you on this anspicious inaugura-
tion of this ice palace, and / sincerely hope
II Will meet your most Sanguine expectations,
and the people of ST. Paul are deserving and
well worthy of the great success you are
promised in this magnificent undertaking"
Loud and continued shouting and huzzas
MAYOR RICE's ADDRESS.
Mayor Rice was next introduced and adj
dressed the people i'm the following terms:
Mr.. President of the Ice Palace Association
and Ladies and Gentlemen: Why this great
commotion? The proposition TO erect an ice
palace has met with the universal and en- thu
siastic support of our citizens. Youth.
beauty and wealth, maid and matron unite to
make it p success; young men and middle
aged. engrossed in business; merchant. me-
chanic and laborer come promptly TO its
aid, and old age strajghtens up, as
yet still more pronounced in its favor, and 1
am glad, too, to say the st. Paul Ideals COM
mend it. 1t involves no question of SEX
creed or politics, nor of wide-open or corked-
up policy Of municipal government, nor
whether his eXcellency. the governor, de-
cided right about calling an extra session of
the legislature, nor as 10 which OF the twin
cities has the largest family. Even our
neigh hboring cities are imbued with the spirit
of the movement and graciously tender large
pellucid blocks of congealated water for cor
ner foundations, which we have 10 decline
with thanks. We shall be glad, however, TO
receive the authorities thereof and all their
citizens and tender 10 them in return a pala-
tial reception, warmer than the temperature
of the environments. Applause.l The pal
ace is TO be. let me say, the nucleus of q carni-
val worthy of the name OF the capital city of
Minnesota, and of our unrivalled climate:
and it is TO be accompanied by innocent and
invigorating amusements, such as toboggan-
ing, skating and snowshoeing, and other ap-
propriate festivities will be in order; and TO
this carnival the people of the entire conti-
nent are cordially invited. lADplause.l The