The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-10-27

through Inc portalo III Oho Va VI
wings that flanked the square on eacl
side. The horsemen took their place
with regular troops beneath the gal
! lery upon one side. Then as seel
from the floor of the house came tn
|, chapeaux of staff officers to state gov
ernors and other military men o
rank. Finally the notables took seats
filling the grand stand with glitte
, and color.
CEREMONIES BEGUN.
1t was after 2:3O O'Clock when tn,
last guests were seated on the stag
and then tattoo of hundred drums
at the south end of the building com
manded sudden attention. The audi
ence accepted this as a signal for 81
lence and there was state OF lull IL
the hum of voices. Every eye turned
to the south 900 feet away where the
largest choir for modern times wa:
seated. A moment later and sig
nal from the leader ushered in the
first exercise of the program
the columbian March," composed
by Prof. John K. Paine, O.
Cambridge in honor OF the day and
the event. Probably never before was
he insignificance of the human voice
so fully demonstrated. A chorus OF
$500 voices is a grand aggregate, but
in this vast building over quarter Of
a mile in length those at the extreme
north could scarcely have caught suf.
ficient of the sound to distinguish the
melody. AS the music ceased the
hum of human voices was the only
sound to be heard for over minute.
Suddenly dead hush fell over the
vast multitude as at signal from
Bishop Fowler in sacredOtal garb COM
mended silence and pronounced the
invocation. At the conclusion OF
the prayer Director Gen.
eral Davis advanced to
the front and after applause elected
by his appeararc e had subsidized, de.
livered an eloquent opening address,
AS Director General Davis con.
Guided his address by introducing
Mayor Hampstead Washburne of Chi.
cago, the latter bowed modestly to the
welcome generously awarded him and
advanced to the stand just vacated by
Director General Davis. In voice
resonant and clear the Mayor of the
Worlds Fair city extended the free
dom of the city to the guests of the
day in choice and fitting language.
THE OBLIGATORY ODE.
Following the address of Mayor
Washburne, President Palmer of the
national committee introduced Mrs.
Sarah G. Lemoyne of New York, who
read selection from the Dedicatory
Ode, written by Miss Harriet Monroe
of Chicago. The voice of Mrs.
Lemoyne was exceptionally strong for
woman, but only those within a
radius of a hundred feet were able to
catch syllable of her utteranCes, so
devoid of favorable acoustic qualities
was the structure. But the fortunate
ones who caught the words of the
earnest woman were impressed with
the spirit of the ode and generous APP
plause greeted her numer-
Gus sentiments - particularly the
tribute to the part played
by Queen Isabella in the discovery of
America. Frequently in the course of
her reading Mrs. Lemoyne paused
and a multitude of voices somewhere
to the south sang short selections from
the Ode which had been set to choral
music. Two wre aths were presented
respectively to Miss Monroe, the
writer of the dedication ode and Mrs.
Lemoyne, the reader, and adorned
the front of the stage. The wreaths
were made of Nobils Laureaus, the
true laurel of history, and tied with
gold and white ribbons, the colors of
Isabella. AS Mrs. Lemoyne conclud-
ed her reading and was about to re-
sumo her seat, President Palmer adj
vauced and extending q wreath pre-
scented by Chicago ladies, delivered it
to Mrs. Lemoyne in graceful little
speech. Hearty applause greeted her
as she accepted the tribute to her
reading of the Ode.
Loud cries were made for Miss
Monroe and the little authoress of the
Ode was forced to come to the front
and bow acknowledgements to her
cheering admirers. In few words of
eulOgy on her production, President
Palmer presented Miss Monroe a
boquet which had also been sent up
by the ladies of Chicago. Again the
crorus burst forth in closing selec-
tion from the Ode and the accompani-
ment of the orchestra Of two brass
bands produced an impressive effect
in the rendition of the choral masic to
which the Ode had been set.
Director of Works of the Exposition
D. HI Burnham was introduced by
President Palmer and spoke a few
words, after which president Higgins
lothian, in neat speech, presented
the medals of the exposition to the
master artists of construction.
MRS. PALMER'S ADDRESS.
"The work of the board of lady
managers" was the subject of the adj
dress by Mrs. Potter Palmer and, al
though the lady's feeble voice was not
heard by those further than fifty feet
away, mans chivalrons tribute Of APP
plause to woman was not wanting at
the close.
PRESENTING THE BUILDING.
President Higginbotham of the
Worlds Columbian Fair Exposition
now formally rendered thu buildings
to President Palmer of tho Worlds
Columbian commission.
To the addresses of the president OF
local directory, President Palmer OF
the national commission responded.
AS the president of the commission