The morning call., 1892-10-22
SCENES IN THE HALL.
ThroBgs Gather In the Building to Wit
ness the Imposing Ceremonies.

ness the Imposing Ceremonies.
CHICAGO, Oct. 21.-At 9 O. clock visitors
began to STROLL into the grounds, and by 10
O'clock 10000 people had passed through
the gates. From this time on the multitude
was augmented by tens of thousands. As
the visitors arrived most of them made
their way directly to the great dedication
building, anxious to obtain desirable seats.
and In a short time every one of the $4,000
seats, except those reserved for the dis
tlnguished guests. were occupied by early
comers AT 10 o'clock the parade outside,
In which 1900 regulars and State militia
participated, had hardly begun, and it was
evident the many thousands who were en-
gagged in it must be content with standing
room, aud that at least wo-tbirds of the
visitors to the grounds would never get
within hearing of the speakers voices.
Among the first to enter were members
of the grand dedlcatOry ch0ruses. filling
the seats assigned them TO the mum Der Of
$500. Shortly after 10 o'clock the band
struck up and the great volume of sound
from the $500 thr0ats joined in the prelim-
mary practice of the Dedication ODE"
several stauzas Of which had been set to
music. In spite of this huge volume of
vast building covering thirty acres than
would an ordinary choir In church.
Practice though it was, it was heartily
cheered by the great audience. 1t was the
throng of a century, the scene Of a lifetime,
a spectacle that shall in coming years mark
an epoch in the march of the nations OF the
earth. No human pen can adequately
describe it. One must see it to appreciate
f,Et
says the great audience-r room Is capable of
seating $4,000 persons comfortably with
space left for 1900 more, it is simply big
approximation.
Let us endeavor 10 get an approximate
Idea Of this unique scene. Imagine thirty
great steel arches with a span of 3S5 feet
and 206 feet high. covering a space l400 feet
long. This covered partly with wood,
partly with glass and surrounded the entire
length by broad gallery with raised seats.
Imagine a great starry banner hung from
the center of each arch with clustered flags
of all nations gathered in sheayes on the
front of the balcony between each pair Of
arches. At one end imagine a great plat
form filled with musicians, vocal and instru-
mental. In the middle Of one side great
stand, with a pulpit-lke projection in the
toons. This is the official stand. Imagine
it filed with Governors and their resplen-
dent stats. dignitaries of foreign nations.
with brilliantly jeweled, strange, but vivid
costumes. In front Of this stand, upon the
main floor, is a large, rallied of space, set
with tables, and occupied by newspaper
men from all quarters of the globe working
eagerly to portray the scene before them.
Back of them and to the left and right
great audience, sitting or standing. filling
the immense space until it will not hold an
other human being, TIL the boys and men
take hold OF the great steel arches and
Chamber through their branches high up
above the heads of the gathered throng.
Depending from the roof midway down
are streamers of yellow, red and white bunt-
ing; TO the sides of the great arches are
festoons of American flags. draped here
and there, while in the center great carved
stone eagle forms the nucleus Of glorious
standard Of colors. On one side of this
hangs the banner of Spain, with its lion,
its castle towers Of red, white and black.
On the other side the green cross of Ferdi-
nand and Isabella, upon a white ground,
with their initials surm ounted by a crown
blaz0ned in yellow. Near by is the off iai
w
tion, triangular IN form, divided evenly,
one-half of the ground being blue. signaliz-
ing Lake Michigan, the other half white,
suggestive of the Exposition building. The
fringe is Of dark gold. which. with the
white, makes the eolors of Isabella. In the
tassel are dark-red strands, at once the
crimson OF Ferdinand and Columbus and
the terra Gotta of Chicago, which, with the
white, make the new municipal color. In
the field, near the staff is an oak wreath
enclosing four gothic "Cs" intertwined,
the initials of Cyelus, Christopher Columbus
and Chi cago; the oval of "Cs" express
sive of the Romanesque Characteristic Of
| the w orld's Fair buildings. the four typify-
| ing the quadr0- 0-centennial Of the discovery
| Of America.
Suddenly shout creeps up from one end
| Of the vast building, gradually growing and
| approaching the stage, till near at hand the
| form of Hon. Chauncey NJ. Depew seen
| making for his place on the stand furnishes
| the reason therefor. And so it goes as one
after another Of the well-knowu people are
reco gnized by the great gathering. Some-
times half dozen of eddies of hand-cap-
| ping in different parts OF the house signalize
| the approach OF as many different persons
| Of note.