, 1889-12-10
A GRAND GATHERING.
Dedication of the Chicago
Auditorium.
The Largest Operatic Structure
in the World.
Speech by President Harrison
at the Opening.

CHICAGO, Dec. 9.-An audience of
5000 people and an outside assemblage
of 1000 enthusiastic spectators, tonight
witnessed the dedication OF the largest
and grandest operate structure in the
world, the Chicago auditorium. Five
thousand electric lights decorated the in
te nor of the colossal structure to the
brightness of MONDAY and a thousand in
candescent border lights of various colors
that hung over the stage. a magnificent
arch and mammouth organ, a grand
foyer, and carved mahogany pillars, the
handsomest gilded rows of boxes known
TO modern decorative art, combined with
the presence of one of the most distin-
guished and critical audiences in Ameri-
ca rendered the occasion one long to be
remembered.
Four years ago Fred w. Peck and a
large number OF Chicago capitalists con-
ceived the idea of forming themselves in
to a stock company for the purpose of
erecting a building that would surpass
any other structure Of the kind in the
world. The result is an edifice costing
5 5000. 900, which represents a great tri-
umph of modern architecture and deeora-
tive skill.
The Auditorium building is unique in
that it is the first theater ever built with
the interior shaped like a cone or speak
ing trumpet, the stage being taken as the
apex, the arched roof and d%iverging walls
retreat in a series OF constantly increasing
circles, being the acme of acoustic achieve
ment.
A few minutes past s o'clock this
evening the presidents party entered the
boxes reserved for them, and as the vast
audience recognized the chief magistrate
of the nation the momentary applause
opened into a long continued ovation.
The magnificent LIS stop organ with its
1900 pipes and bells breathed forth an
accompaniment with the orchettra.
Among the notables present were Presi-
dent Harrison, Vice President Morton,
Private Secretary Halfo1. First Assistant
Postmaster General Clarkson and wife,
Gen. r. A. Alger and wife. Judge Ores
Illinois. Gen. Geo. Crook and wife, Gov
Governor Larrabee and wife of Iowa,
Governor Hoard of Wisconsin, and Mayor
Creiger of Chicago. In appropriate Ian
guage Mayor Creiger welcomed the guests
of the evening.
In concluding the Mayor invited the
guests to another occasion of even greater
Importance which would be an era in
Chicago's history three years hence-the
worlds fair of 1892.
The mayors happy allusion vas heart
lily cheered. In response to loud cries
president Peck of the auditorium a~ssocia-
ton spoke briefly, saying the present oc-
casion marked the proudest momen of
his life. He concluded by saying: La
dies and gentlemen-I have the distin.
guished honor of introducing to you the
president of the United States" After
the applause had somewhat subsidized
President Harrison advanced to the front
and bowling to the great assemblage spoke
as follows.
Ladies and gentlemeu:-All of my
newspaper friends have been puzzling
themselves in order to discover the reason
why [ had left Washington to be pres
ent in Chicago to night. | do not think
| need, in view of the magnificent specta-
Gle presented to US here tonight, to state
the motives which have impelled my
presence. Surely no loyal citizen Of
Chicago who sits here tonight under this
bewitching and magnificent scene will ask
for any other reason than that which is
here presented: Applause. l do most
heartily congratulate you upon the COM
plete scene and the Inauguration of this
magnificent building, without an equal in
the country and, so far as l know, with
out an equal in the world.
We have here about us tonight in
this magnificent structure, in this tasteful
decoration that which is an education and
an inspiration. 1t might well tempt one
whose surroundings were much farther re-
moved from this capital city to make a
longer journey than [ have done to stand
for an hour in view of such a spectacle of
magnifccnce and grandeur and architec
tural triumph as this. (A~pplause.)
And if that be true surely that is
reason enough why the president may
turn aside for a while from public duty to
mingle with citizens in celebrating an event
50 high and SO worthy of Recommendation as
this triumph tonight, no speech-cer-
tainly not the careless words of an extern
peraneous speech-can express all the
sentiments | feel in contemplating the
final elimination OF this deed. Only the
voice of the immortal singer can bring In