The National tribune., 1892-10-27
TBE WORLDS FAIR.
The Dedication of the Immense Build
ings in Chicago.

Last week was gala one in Chicago, and
judging from the way in which the city was
decorated it would seem as though the decora-
tive fever had caught hold of the residents.
Along the line OF march, over which the great
parade was to pass, the most beautiful designs
were to be seen, and in other ways things were
being made to facilitate the workings OF the
general mapped-out plan.
The week was taken up in celebrating the
memory of Columbus aud in dedicating the
Worlds Fair. The exercises began on Thurs
day by the children of the public schools In
the evening Of the same day grand reception
and banquet was given at the Auditorium.
On Thursday the civic parade was great
success in every particular OF Chicagos popu-
laton one in 20 marched in the parade.
At a banquet of the Fellowship Club held in
the evening large number of notable persons
were present.
The military ball held at the same time as
| the banquet Of the Fellowship Club was at
| tended by over 10000 people.
Friday was the eliminating day, so to speak,
Of all the exercises. On that day the buildings
of the Worlds Fair were dedicated to the pur-
poses for which they were erected.
| Soon after o'clock those who were to par
| ticipate in the parade Of state, with which the
exercises of the day were inaugurated, betook
themselves to the Auditorium, while vehicles
were massed in columns of tours OH the outside
of the hostelry on Wabash avenue.
| The escortng military comprised three bat
teries of artillery Maj. Randolph commanding,
| from Fort Sheridan and four companies of the
5th and 9th u. s. Cav. After the military the
| procession of carriages with their occupants
moved, save that the carriage allotted to the
| Vice President was not occupied till it reached
! the Higgin botham Mansion at Twenty ninth
| street and NJ ichigan avenue at which point
the Vice President, amid salvo of cheers from
| the crowds that banked the four corners of the
square, was escorted to the vehicle. In the
| first carriage were Director. Gen. Davis accom-
panied by Gen. Joseph Hawley, President Of
the Centennial in 1876, and Gen. Goshorn, Di-
rector. General Of the Centennial.
Next came the carriage con tanning Vice
President Morton, accompanied by President
T. W. Palmer, of the National Committee, and
President II. N. Higginbotham, of the Directors.
The Vice Presidential carriage was drawn by
four white horses, ridden by postillions IN
scarlet.
At Washington Park brief halt was made
while the United States troops and the visiting
militia dcployed before the Vice-Presidential
carriage.
Here the military, of whom there was some
proceeded to the Transportation building,
whore a hurried lunch was served.
The guests that bad participated in the pro-
cesson were escorted to their seats upon the
platform with the utmost dispatch. Vice.
President Morton being seated directly in
front, with President 7. w. Palmer on his
right and President Hieginbotham on his left,
and Cardinal Gibbons, Bishop Ireland, Bishop
Fowler Mayor Washburne, Henry Watterson,
and Chauncey NJ. Depew occupying seats on
either side. To the east and west, upon the
same platform, were seated the members OF the
Cabinet the Diplomatic Corps, the Judges of
the Supreme Court, Governors of the States,
and the other distinguished guests.
Little time was occupied in preliminaries
Without waiting for signal, the orchestra
broke forth with the opening strains of the
Columbia March, arousing the audience to a
high pitch of enthusiasm. AS the strains of
the music died away Bishop Fowler. of Cali
fornia. one of the most eminent divines of the
Methodist Church, arose in his place. The i'm
mense audience, which stretched back almost
as far as the eye could reach, followed his ex-
ample, and heads were bowed and hands
clasped while the eminent divine gave thanks
to the Almighty for what had already been ac-
complished, aud besought the blessing of the
Great Ruler of all upon what remained to be
done. A hundred and fifty thousand threats
voiced a fervent amen az the Bishop resumed
his seat.
The task of making the formal announce
ment that the work of preparing the buildings
and grounds had been completed was assigned
to George E. Davis, Director General, who was
received with burst Of applause that went up
to tho roof of the structure and reverberated as
from the firing Of the cannon in the distance.
hearty welcome was extended in behalf of
the citizens of Chicago by Mayor Washburne
Mrs Sarah G. LIE Moyne read portion of the Co
lumbar ode, written by Miss Harriet Monroe.
The reading was interspersed with choral Sc
lectiOns of he ode by the chorus OF 5000 voices.
Mrs. Potter Palmer made a brief address On the
part of the Board of Lady Managers.
After this President Higginbotham rendered
the Buildings of the Exposition to President
Palmer, of the Columbian Committee. The
presentation speech was short and to the point,
and the reply of President Palmer was like
wise. ce-President Levi z. Morton was the
| next speaker, and he dedicated the build
| ing. The close of his speech was the signal of
long and continued outburst of applause.
Henry Watterson was well received when he
| came up to make his speech When he had
concluded the Star Spangled Banner" and
Hail Columbia" were sung with full orches-
trail accom- paniment.
Mr. Depew was the next speaker, and he
said the day belonged not to America but to
the world. The preparation was the work of
almost countless centuries; the realization was
the revelation of one. The cross on Calvary
was hope; the cross raised on San Salvador was
opportunity. But for the first, Columbus would
never have sailed; but for the second. there
would have been no place for the planting, the
nurture, and the ex pansion of civil and relig-
| ous liberty. In speaking OF Columbus he said ::
Neither realism nor romance furnishes
striking and picturesque figure than that of Chisto
| pher Columbus. The mystery about his origin
| hightens the charm of his story. That he came
from among the toilers Of his time Is i'll harmony
| with the struggles OF our period. Forty-four
| authentic portraits OF him have descended to us,
| and no two of them the counterfeits of the
same person. Each represents n character as dis
| tinct its Strength and weakness. intel
| lectua!ity and stupidity, high moral purpose and
| brutal ferocity, purity and Righteousness, the
dreamer and The mser. the pirate and the Puritan.
| are the types from which we may select our hero.
| We dismiss the painter, and piercing with the
clarified vision OF the dawn of the goth century the
| vail of 400 years we construct our Columbus.
| The mighty soul OF the great Admiral was I'M
| daned by The ingra.itude of princes and the hos
tilily Of the people, by imprisonment and neglect.
He died hs lie securing the means and prepar-
| ing a campaign for the rescue of the Holy Sepui-
| chre at Jerusalem from the infde. He did not
| know what time has revealed that while the
! mission of the Crusades, of Godfrey of Bouion
and Richard of tho Lion Heart. bloody and
| fruitess romance. the discovery of America was
| the salvation Of the world. The one was the SYM
boil the other the spirit; tie one death, the other
| life The to NIB of tile Savior narrow and
empty vault, precious only for its memories OF the
supreme tragedy of the centuries, but the new
continent WAS to be the home aud the temple oil the
| living God. =
/ All hail Columbus, dscoverer, dreamer, hero,
| and APOSTLE We here, of every race and country
| recognize the horizon which bounded his vision
aud The inf lite scope OF his genius. The voice of
! gratitude and praise for all the blessings which
| have been showered upon mankind BY his adven-