The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-07-14
THE CENTENNIAL OPEN.
Impressive and Notable inaugural
Ceremonies.


Mrs President Polk Sets the Machin-
cry in Motion,
In Her Far Away Home in Nashville,
Tenn, by Electricity Fca-
lures OF the First Day-Prominent
Statesmen Take Part In the Ex-
ercises-The Parade, Etc.
CINCINNATI July 4.-The dedicatory exer.
cises OF the Centennial Exposition began this
morning ut II o'clocl, ut Music Hail. The hall
was thronged The new decorations Of the au.
ditorium and balconies were much admired by
the people who suw them for the first time.
The stage was bright with tho white costumes
81 the young ladies Of the chorus. The young
men of tho chorus turned out In large numbers,
and the choral part Of the programme was very
strong. and not deficient In volume OF tone.
At twenty minutes past II the distinguished
persons who were to participate In the pro-
gramme entered the hail md marched down the
center aisle. Governor Foraker came first. side
by side with Mr.. James Allison president OF the
board Of commissioners, and Mr.. Allisons
young daughter. Governor Beaver, Of Penn.
sylvania, one-legged hero Of the war. followed
on crutches. Then came Governor Thaycr, OF
Nebraska. Governor Gray, Of Indiana, tall,
well made, his face tanned and his chin beard
blondined by the sun, came next Governor
Buckner was not present, but he was repre-
sented by Lieutenant Governor OF Kentucky,
Hon. j. w. Bryan, whose tall form, bright eyes
and graceful mustachios are known to every
man, woman and child In the Blue Grass State.
Ben Butterworth, ,stalwart ana graceful, marched
down the aisle in the distinguished group and
was cheered.
Senator John Sherman his tail, slender form
covering above oil the other men, was escorted
by Mr.. John j.. Bell. The Senator tool, seat
in tho auditorium, but the great crowd cheered
and cheered, and he took seat on the stage, in
the half.circlc OF distinguished men who sat
there. On the stnge Senator Sherman sat next
to Governor Foraker, and conversed with him
frequently behind his palm lcnf fan. The SEN
ator looked warm, and kept his palm leaf in
vigorous motion all the time.
In the handsome maroon-covered boxes in the
balcony opposite the stage at the other end Of
the hall sat Mrs. Foraker and o bevy OF hand
some lady friends. The applause from the box
was very enthusiastic, the Indies catching the
enthusiasm on the stage The young ladies and
gentlemen in the chorus npplauded the good
things in the different speeches frequently.
The front rows OF chairs In the auditorium
were occupied by Governor Foraker's staff, the
officers being Respondent in their uniforms,
with great heavy gold-laced epaulets and bril-
liant aiguilettes, heavy braids OF gold cord
hanging over their manly breasts. Captain
Rush, of the navy. and Lieutenants Clements
and Watkins wore the full dress uniform Of the
service, with chapeau, sword, epaulets and
gold buttons. Mr.. Haughwaut Howe, OF the
State Department, was with the naval officers,
and the little party was the center upon which
hundreds Of opera-glasses were focused
At 1890 Mr.. James Allison. president OF the
board OF commissioners, came to the front Of
the stage to announce the programme. He was
enthusiastically received.
Mr.. Louis Ehrgott then raised his baton and
the chorus and orchestra rendered Lord. Thou
alone art God," from Mendelssohn's orutorio Of
'St. Paul"
Rev. Geo. A. Thayer then invoked Divine
blessing. At the conclusion of the invocation
the chorus and orchestra rendered ''To God on
High" from "St. Paul" Mr.. Allison then in
troduced Governor Foraker who delivered the
address Of welcome. The Governors reception
was an enthusiastic one, and the people cheered
for a minute.
Governor Foraker's very happy speech of
welcome was enthusiastically received by the
great audience which was as appreciative as 1t
was cultured. 1t was Just few minutes before
IL when he concluded. The chorus then sang
"Hallelulah' from Handel's "Messah," the
volume OF tone being swelled by the great au-
dience joining in the refrain. Governor For
aker then announced that the commissioners
were awaiting the signal to be sent by Mrs.
Polk, widow OF ex-President Polk, of Nashville.
The signal was for the starting OF the great
driving wheel OF the engine in Machinery Hall,
power from which was to impart life to the diff
ferent engines and the great electric dynamos
Before the Governor ceased speaking the mel
low tapof the big brass gong, loaned by the off,
GERS Of the Naval Observatory for the OCCASION
was heard on the stage. Eleven sharp, sonor-
made by Mrs. Polk, who stood
at the telegraph key at Nashville Before the
last tap had echoed the big wheel OF the driving
engine in Power Hall started noisily, motion
was communicated to the great wide betting
and soon all the engines and big dynamos were
in action. From the dynamos the quick cur
rent Of electricity flashed through the wires
and in an instant the great circle Of incandes-
cent lights that hung In Music Hall sprang into
brilliant light and life. The light effects were
novel. They shone brightly against the dark,
cloud-laden Sky without. On the instant, Gov
ernor Foraker came forward and proposed
that three cheers be given for the venerable
and distinguished lady at Nashville, who by the
pressure OF her finger on u button, had brought
life and light into the machinery and lamps of
the great Exposition buildings three hundred
miles away.
The cheers were given with enthusiasm and
q tumultuous tiger was added. Mr.. Allison
then took his daughter May by the hand and in
structed the little girl to sound the signal for
the machinery to start. The two signals were
simultaneous, and were given much quicker
than 1t takes to describe it. The great audience
applauded and cheered while 1t was oil being
done, and the excitement was Of that character
that new reporters call u "furor."
When the applause subsidized and the great
audience had settled down into comparative
state OF quiet Mr. James Allison, president of
the board OF commissioners, declared the Expo
si:ion formally opened in clever and graceful
speech.
Mr.. Allison said
''LADIEs AND GENTLEMEN, FELLOw-CoMMIs-
eIoNERS AND DISTINGUISHED GUEsTs--It af-
fords me very great pleasure TO greet you to-
day nnd bid you welcome In the name OF the
Exposition Commissioners, whom I have the
pride and honor to represent I am sure you
will all agree with me that the task OF prepar-
ing and executing the mighty work which the
board OF commissioners have had In hand dur
ing the past year, and which we are now ready
to present to you, not as citizens of Cincinnati,
but OF tho Ohio Valley and the great North
western Territory and our common country rs
well, hns been one OF no mean proportions.
And to my associates who have so faithfully
and persistently, late and early, labored with
me, and who have so ably executed their part OF
the work, ] do now but repeat to them my un-
bounded thanks and gratitude for the many
honors they have conferred upon me- And now
our work is completed, and the people whom
We will delight to honor and welcome during
the one hundred days OF tho Exposition must r.
the judges. II for u few days ragged edge ap-
pears here and there throughout the immense
buildings, we ask you to withhold criticism and
come again. tCheers.
II may here state the fact, that not until the
2Tth day Of October last was ground broken for
the buildings, and by the most indefatignble Of