The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-10
HARRISON'S SPEECH.
His Address ia ChicagO's Great
Auditorium.
THE VERY FINEST OPERA HOUSE.
Such is the Claim-The Buildings Perfect
Acoustic PrOperties-The Brilliant
Spectacle-Patd Sings.

auditorium building this evening. They
were met at the outskirts of the city by {
committee of prominent citizens, headed by
Mayor Cregier, and brought to the Union
depot. They were met there by heavy
military escort and conducted to the resi-
dence of Frederick w. Peck, president Of
the Auditoriu company. After resting
they visited and inspected the auditorium
and this afternoon held reception at the
Union League club.
An audience of 5000 people and an out
side assemblage of l 900 spectators tonight
witnessed the dedication of the lar
gest and grandest operatic structure
in the world, the Chicago auditor
ium. Five thousand electric lights
decorated t he interior of the colossal struc-
ture to the brightness Of MONDAY, and the
thousand incandescent lights of various
colors that hung over the stage in mag
nificent arch, and the mammoth organ,
carved mahogany pliers, the handsomest
gilded rows of boxes known to modern dec
orative art, combined with one of the most
distinguished and critical audiences in
America, rendered the occasion one long to
be remembered. Four years ago Frederick
w. Peck and few other Chicago capital
lists conceived the idea of organizing them
selves into stock company to erect a
building to surpass any structure of it's
kind in the world. The result is an edifice
costing So, 000, 600 which represents a great
triumph of modern architectural and skill.
The auditorium building is unique in
that it is the first theater ever built with
its interior shaped like cone, the stage
being taken as an apex, the arched roof and
diverging walls retreat in a series of con-
Stantly increasing circles, being the acme
acoustic achievements.
A few minutes past s p. m the presiden-
tial party entered the boxes reserved for
them and as the vast audience fully recog-
nized the chief magistrate of the nation,
the momentary applause opened into a
continuation of the ovation. The great
| organ, with its 1000 pipes and bells
breathed forth in accompaniment with the
orchestra triumphial fantasia composed
for the occasion. Among the notables
present were President Harrison, Vice
President Morton, Private Secretary Hal
ford, First Assistant Postmaster General
Hatton and wife, General r. A. Alger and
wife, Judge Gresham and wife, Governor
Fifer and wife. of Illinois; General George
Crook and wife, Governor Merriam and
wife, of MINI Governor LarrabG and
wife, of Iowa; Governor Hoard Of Wis
consin and Mayor Cregier. In appropriate
language Mayor Cregier welcomed the
guests of the evening and at very courteous
illusions to the President, governors of
surrounding states and officers of the
Canadian provinces present, the
audience responded with rounds of
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 was heartily
caeereG. In response to loud cries the
president of the Auditorium ASSOCIATION
spoke briefly, saying the present occasion
marked the proudest moment of his life
He divided the honors of the occasion,
however, with his associates, Manager
Adams and the architect to whose
genius the editice would, he said, be a
lasting monument. Heconcluded by saying:
Ladies and gentlemen-I have the distin
guished honor of introducing to you the
President of the United States,n and after
the applause had subsidized President Har-
rison advanced slowly to the front and
bowling to the great assemblage spoke as
follows: Ladies and gentlemen-All of my
newspaper friends have been pulling
themselves in order to discover the reason
why had left Washington to be present
here tonight. l do not think l need, in
view of the magnificent spectacle pre-
sented to US here tonight, to state the mo-
tives which have impelled my presence.
Surely loyal citizen of Chicago who sits
here tonight under this witching and mag
nificent scene will ask for any other reason
than that which is here presented. ZAP
plause). l do most heartily congratulate
you upon the completion and Inauguration
of this magnificent building, without an
equal in this country and, so far as | know,
without an equal in the world. We have
here about US tonight in this magnificent
architecture, in this tasteful decoration
that which is an educator and an inspira-
ton. (Applause). 1t might well tempt one
whose surroundings were much further re-
moved from this scene than is the capital
city, to make longer journey than l have
done to stand for an hour in view of such
spectacle OF magniticence and grandeur and
architectural triumph as this. (Applause).
And if that be true, surely there is reason
enough why the President may turn
aside for little while from public duty to
mingle with the citizens in celebrating an
event so high and so worthy of com
memoration as this triumph tonight.
prolonged applause. No speech, GER
tainly not the careless words of an ex-
temporaneous speech, can adequately ex-
press all the sentiments l feel in contemp-
lating the final elimination of this deed
IApplausel Only the voice of the i'm
mortal singer can bring i'll these arches
those echoes which will tell US the true
secrets and architectural triumphs of their
construction. Applause You will per-
init me to thank the mayor, to thank the
president and to thank al those good citi-
zens with whom 1 to-day have been
brought in personal contact for that kind
ness and respect with which you and they
have received me, and you will permit me
to thank my fellow citizens for the cor
diality which you have kindly dis
played here to- night. 1t is my wish.
and may it be the wish of all,
that this building may continue to be to ali
OF us the education that should be- This
edifice opening its doors from night to
night, calling for the people to come here
away from the care of business to those
enioyments and pursuits and entertain
ments which develop out of men. LAD
plausel. 1t is an hour to inspire those
whose minds are heavy with daily trial and
in this magnificent enchanted presence to
lift them for the time out of their dull
things into those higher things where men
should live. [Great applause.
A cantata, composed for the occasion,
was sung by chorus of 500 voices, after
which, Hon. John N. Runnels, of Chicago.
delivered an address, then Madame Patti,
escorted by Manager Adams, appeared
anu was IOCOlFOu VIII IIeIHenuOuS ap-
plause. In tones that had lost none of
their sweetness and power, the world
famed cantatrice sang the familiar melody
Hone, Sweet Home" The expected en-
core followed, and Patti responded with
the Hunters Chorus" which afforded
wonderful evidence of the power and fiex-
Utility of her marvellous voice. Re
peated attempts were made to elicit
another song, but she responded
by smiling bow of acknowledgment and
retired. Two selections were rendered by