Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-12-13
OPENED THE AUDITORIUM
President Harrison Briefly Addresses
the Mamoth Audience.
Nine. Patti Appears all,. Sings Home
Sweet Home
The Thousands Call Her Back With
One Accord.

CHICAGO, Dee. 9.-An audience of {. 700
| people and an outside assemblage of 10000
enthusiastic spectators tonight witnessed
| the dedication of the largest and grandeSt
| operatic structure in the world-ChiCago' 5
Auditorium. Five Thousand electric
| lights illumined the interior of the colossal
| structure to the brightness of noon-day;
and thousand incandescent border lights
of various colors that hung over
! stage, magnificent proscenium arch and
mammoth organ, grand foyer and mahog-
| any pillars, and the handsomest rows of
| gilded boxes known to modern decorative
art, combined with the presence of one of
| the most distinguished and critical aud
| fences in America, rendered the occasion
one long to be remembered
The auditorium building is unique in
that it is the first theatre ever built with
the interior in the shape of cone or
| speaking trumpet. The stage being
| taken as an apex arched roof and the
| dlverglng walls retreat in a series of con-
StantIy increasing circles being the acme
| of acoustic achievement.
A few minutes past eight O'Clock this
evening the presidential party entered the
| audience fully recognized the chief magis-
trate of the nation, the mOmentary ap-
plause deepened into long continued ova-
ton. The magnificent l75-StOp organ,
with its seven thousand pipes and bells,
breathed forth In an accompaniment with
the orchestra, Triumpha Fantasia,
composed for the occasion.
Among the many notables present were
President Harrison president and
Mrs. Morton, Private Secretary Halford,
First Assistant Postmaster General Clark
son and wife, Gen. Russell A. Alger and
wife, Judge Gresham and wife, Gov. Fifer
and wife, of Illinois; Gen George Crook
and wife, Gov Merriam and wife, of Min
nesota; Gov Larrabee and wife, of Iowa;
Gov. Hoard, of Wisconsin, and Mayor
CregIer.
In appropriate language Mayor Creiger
welcomed the guests of the evening and
to every courteous alluSion the president
and governors of the surrounding states
and officers of the Canadian provinces
present, the audience responded with
rounds of applause. In response to loud
cries President, Peck OF the Auditorium
association spoke briefly. He concluded
10y saying: Ladies' and gentlemen, |
have the distinguished honor of introduce
ing the president of the United States.
After the applause had somewhat sub
sided, President Harrison advanced slowly
to the front and bowling to the great as
semblage, addressed them briefly. Ladies
and Gentlemen: Some of my newspaper
friends have been pnzzling 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 spectacle
presented to us here tonight, to state the
motives which 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.
(AppIause.) | do most heartily con-
gratulate you upon the completion
and Inauguration of this magnificent build
ing-it is without an equal in this country
and SO far as | know it is without an equal
in the world tApplause.) We have here
about us tonight in this magnificent archi-
lecture, in this tasteful decoration, that
which is education and inspiration. Gap
plausel
After thanking the mayor President
Peck and citizens for the hospitality and
respect. the president s closing words were:
minds are heavy with daily toll and in
this magnificent enchanted present to lift
them for time out of these dull things
into those higher things where men should
live.
A cantata composed for the occasion
was sung by a chorus of five hundred
voices after which Hon. John S. Hunnels,
of Chicago delivered an address.
Then Madame Patti escorted by Mana
ger Adams appeared and was received with
! tremendous applause. In tones that had
lost none of their sweetness or
power the world-famed cantatrice sang the
familiar melody. Home, Sweet Home
The expected encore followed and Patti re-
sponded with the Hunter s chorus which
afforded wonderful evidence of the power
and hexibility of her marvellous voice.
Repeated attempts were made to elicit
another song but she responded by
smiling bow of acknowledgement and re-
| tired. Two selections were rendered by
the Apollo club. and concert by
organ and orchestra, after which
Gov. Fifer, of Illinois, delivered the dedi-
catory address. The exercises of the even
ing closed with ''Hallelujah" by the
| Appolo club, which was joined in by the
audience.
The Auditorium had its inception in a
speech by F. w. Peck before the Com
mercial club in May, 1886. The attention
of the club was called to the necessity for
building large enough for national
gatherings of all kinds, such as political
conventions, grand lodges. etc. The idea
struck a peculiar chord and a company was
| formed with capital of s750,OO0 which
was afterwards doubled In March,
1888, the structure was under roof and
in June the republican national
convention assembled in it. Then the
work was resumed and the completed
building now stands a monument to Chi
cago enterprise and hberality, established
at the immense cost of nearly $1,000. 900.
The annual report of President Peck is a
| history of the progress of the great under
taking and shows that if the building
were to be begun now it would cost at
| least $500, 200 more, the difference In the
value of the iron used alone being nearly
| 800. 900. The cost of the iron work is
over S500.000 and nearly 17.000, 900 brick
were used. There are $500 electric lights
| In the Auditorium proper, and in the
| hotel and balance of the building $500
more The building has $1,000 square
feet of polished plate glass, and there are
/ 80. 900 square feet of terre tile arches and
| partitions, with over $1,000 square feet of
| Italian marble Mosaic floors. In over So
| 00O. 900 pieces. The stage and equipment
alone cost over s175, 900 exclusive of seen
| erV