Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-10-27

had been held in reserve at the grounds
to welcome the parade. The coming OF
the troops soon restored order among
the crowd. The people obeyed with
great good humor when the soldiers,
who had been formed In line down each
side of the road, ordered them back. In
few minutes the whole stretch OF road
unprotected by the police was picketed
by the troops. After the procession had
passed the soldiers fell in behind and
formed rear guard to the parade.
When the military parade entered the
grounds over the viaduct 1t made an al
most entire circuit before dispensing at
the end OF the park. Then the digni-
taries and invited guests began to enter
the big Manufactures Building and the
great procession was over.
within the Manufactures Building.
The scene in the great hall, as
viewed from the platform at 10
clock, was thrilling. 1t was a spec
tacle that in coming years will mark
an epoch In the march OF the
nations of the earth. And when away
on in the time that is to come American
history shall be written, no man in the
chill of calm thought will be able to
paint with words the dedicatory scene.
Does one who was not present gain any
notion of the meaning of fifty acres OF
packed humanity? Does he get an i'm
preston of vastness when he knows
that st. Peters at Rome might be put
within the great structure and with
room left? What does it mean to say
that 100, 900 persons may be comfort
ably seated and room left for $4,000
more?
The chief decorations in the great
building were at the rear of the grand
stand and arched over the broad, car
peted aisle through which the dignita-
ries sought their places ON the platform.
From the roof streamers OF bunting Of
yellow and red and white dropped down
from the iron Orders to the sides OF the
great iron arches. There was a back
ground of great flags with the stars and
/ stripes drawn smoothly at points and
tastefully draped in others, while in the
center an eagle carved ia stone formed
the nucleus of a glorious standard of
colors. On one side of this setting,
hanging from away up on one of the iron
arches, depended the banner of Spain.
There was also displayed for the first
time on a nearby arch the official ban
ner of the Worlds Columbian EXPOSE
ton.
OUT upon the great, vast floor, under
the arches and the depending flags, a
forest of chairs had been placed, and
when the crowd had come in and the
people had gathered, great, nervous.
moving sea of humanity moaned with
ebbing hum and buzz of talk and COM
ment. The gallery up among the
arches of iron and surrounding the en-
tire building was filled and blackened
with humanity.
Imagine 80, 900 human faces In bunch
in the center Of a great field about
whom are standing nearly as many
more persons. See the stand filled with
the singers and distinguished guests
and hear the preliminary blare of the
brass instruments, which are being put
through preliminary operation for the
music which is TO come. Diffuse over
this entire scene the growing murmur,
which at times mounts TO n roar, and a
faint idea Of the scene may be pictured
on the mental vision.
To one who has never seen the be-
hemoth buildings in Jackson Park, il
may be impossible to give an adequate
idea OF the colossal magnitude of the
great spectacle. National conventions
have been accepted as great assem-
blages, yet several national conven-
tions could have been held in the lob
| btes without interference with the peo-
pie in the main room.
This wonder of the engineering world
does not seem building. TIE dimen-
sions are mountainous and not archi-
!, tectural. Standing against the rail OF
the inner balcony, sweeping the broad
expanse of busy floor, the scene is a
landscape and not an interior. The
CLINT and sparkle OF rich costumes and
| IL. Ii a
flowers nesting against the darker color