Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-12-10
A GREAT OCCASION. .
Chicago's Big Auditorium
Dedicated.
MANY DIGNITARIEs PRESENT,
An Event Worth Travelling Across
the Continent to See--The
Addresses.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.


Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.
CHICAGO, December 9.-An audience
of 5000 people, and an outside assem-
blage OF 10000 enthusiastic spectators,
tonight witnessed the dedication of the
grandeet operatic structure in the world,
the Chicsgo Auditorium. Five Thousand
electric lights illuminated the interior
of the colossal structure to the brightness
of monday, and the thousands OF incan-
descent border lights of various coors
that hung over the stage, the magnifi-
cent proscenium arch and mammoth
organ, grand foyer and carved mahog.
any pillars. the handsomest gilded row
of boxes known tomodern decorative art,
com bined with the presence of one OF the
mcst distinguished and critical audiences
in America, made the occasion one long
to be remembered.
Four years ago Ferd W. Peek and q
large number of other Chicago capitalists
conceived the idea Of forming themselves
into q joint stock company for the pur-
pose of erecting a building that would
eurpass any other structure of it's kind in
the world. The result is an edifice cost.
ing $4,000 OO0, which represents the
greatest triumph of modern architectural
and decorative skill. The auditorium Of
the building is unique, in that it is the
first theater ever built with the interior
shaped like the cone of a speaking
trumpet. The stage being taken as
an apex, the arched reof and
diverging walls retreat in series
of constantly increasing circles, being the
acme of acoustic achievement.
A few minutes past O'Clock this even.
ing the Presidential party entered the
boxes reserved for them, and rs the vast
audience fully recognized the Chief Mag
istrate of the nation, the momentary
applause deepensd into long-continued
ovation. The magnificent 175 stop organ,
with it's seven thousand pipes and bells,
breathed forth in accompaniment with
the orchestra the "Triumphal Fantasia
composed for the occasion.
Among the notables present were
President Harrison, Vice President and
Mrs. Morton, Private Secretary Halford,
First Assistant Postmaster General
Clarkson and wife. General r. A. Alger
and wife, Judge Gresham and wife, Gov
ernor Fifer and wife, of Illinois; General
George Crook and wife, Governor
Merriam and vile, of Minnesota; Cover
nor Larrebee and wife, of Iowa Governor
Hoard, of Wisconsin, and Mayor Cregier.
Mayor Cregier welcomed the guests
of the evening, and TO every courteous
allusion to the President, the Governors
of the surrounding States and the officers
Of the Canadian Provinces present, the
audience responded with rounds of ap-
plause. In concluding; the Mayor in
vited the guests to another occasion OF
even greater importance, which would
be an era in Chicago history three years
hence-the Worlds Fair in 1892.
/ The Mayors happy allusion was
heartily cheered.
In response to loud cries, President
Peck, of the Auditorium Association,
spoke briefly, saying the present occa-
sion marked the proudest moment of his
life. He divided the honors of the oc.
casion, however, with his associates,
Manager Adams and the architect, to
whose genius the edifice would be, ne
said, lasting monument. He concluded
by saying: Ladies' and gentlemen,
have the distinguished honor of intro
ducipg to you the President of the
United States"
After the applause had somewhat sub
sided, President Harrison advanced
slowly to the front, and bowing to the
great assemblage, spoke as follows /:
Ladies and gentlemen, some of NV
newspaper friends have been puzzlinp
themselves in order to discover the
reason why / had left Washington to be
present here tonight. do not think |
need, in view of the magnificent specta-
Gle presented to us here tonight, state the
motives which have impelled my pres
ence. Surely no loyal citizen of
Chicago who sits here tonight
under this witching and magnif.
cent scene will ask for any other
reason than that which ia here presented
[Applausel. do most heartily congrat,-
late you upon the completion and in
auguration of this magnificent building.
without an equal in this country and &C.
far as | know without an equal in the
world (applause). We have here about
us to night, in this magnificent architec-
ture. in this tasteful decoration, that
which is an education and in
spiration (Applause). 1t might
we'll tempt one whose surroundings
were much farther removed from this
scene than is the capital city, to make a
longer Journey than l have done, to stand
for an hour in view of such spectacle
OF magnifcence and grandeur and arch.
itecturai triumph as this. [Applause].
And IT that be true, then surely
there is reason enough why the
President may turn aside for a
little while from public duty tn
mingle with the citizens in
celebrating an event 80 high and SO
worthy commemoration as this
triumph tonight. Prolonged applause,
No ospeech--certainly not the words of an
extemporaneous speech-can adequately
express all the sentiments / feel in con.
templating the fitting elimination Of
this deed. lApplause.l Only the voice
OF an immortal singer can bring from
these arches those echoes which will tell
US the true secrets and architectural
triumphs Of their construction. ZAP
plause.l You will permit me to thank
you. to thank the Mayor, to thank the
President Of this association, and to
thank all those good citizens with whom
l today have been brought in personal
contact, for that kindness and resuect
with which you and they have received
me; and you will permit me to thank
you, my fellow citizens, for the cordialitv
which you have kindly displayed here
tonight. 1t is my wish, and NAV it be-
the wish OF all, that this great building