The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-30
Driven in the Presence of Distin.
guished Ladies' by Mrs. Potter
Palmer.
Signaled the Completion Of the
Historic Woman's Building
at Chicago.
Description of tho BenutIfuI Piece OF
Orkmanship, the Offering Of Mon
tana-The Formal Opening.

CHICAGO. April 29.-That the Worlds fair
ia an epitoms OF the progress of civilization
was emphasized this afternoon, when Mrs.
Potter Palmer, president of the hoard Of
lady managers, stepped out from among
the thronQ Of we'll dressed women gathered
in the assembly room of the woman's build
ing and bravely drove the last nail into
that historic structure. which is the first of
it's kind ever built in connection with any
international exposition. The exercises
began with the presentation of the Florida
flag, followed by presentations in the Con-
necticut. Kentucky California. New York
and Cincinnati rooms. Then came the
presentation of the Knapp flag; then the
gathering in the assembly room. the driv-
ing of the golden nail, and the singing of
Republic. brought the meeting to close.
A hundred ladies present sang the grand
battle song with a vim and earn sstness
which proved their faith in its truth, which
was marching on, and the truth that their sex
were at last in way to be recognized as
co-equal in temporal Affairs with the men.
who for so many ages have sat on high and
1a ed the things of earth.
Tho gold nail driven by Mrs. Palmer
was made by j. II. Leyson. of Butte. Mont.
1t required two weeks of constant work to
make 1t. 1t was com. osod of gold. silver,
copper, and Montana sapphire is set in
the under portion Of the shield, which is
attached to the nail near the head. Tho
nail itself is of pure. copper. silver and
unslloyed gold. and rests in slide back of
the coat of arms and the shield of Mon
tana, which is in the form of a brooch.
The shield is a perfect model OF the Mon
tana seal. The mountains represented are
Of copper. and in tho foreground the water
fall and stream are of silver. The sunset
In the crest of the mountains, and the sky
which forms the background. is of pure
gold, as is also tho ground in the extreme
background.
The shield is inclosed in q circle Of gold
forming band, on one side of which are
the figures of a typical ptospector and on
the other farmer. The prospector 10 a
full-bearded and rugged looking miner
holding in his left hand a slouch hat while
the right hand rests upon the handle of a
golden rick. The fa mer has smooth
| face and holds hay rake in one hand. the
other resting upon his belt. In the center,
between these figures and having the ap-
rearance OF a bright star in the sky, ls a
Montana sapphire. Upon q ribbon of gold
running between the lower portions Of the
brooch is the Montana motto in black
enamel letters. The metals in the nail and
brooch were all presented by Montanians,
the silver coming from the Granite Noun
tain mine, the copper from the Parrot
mine and the gold from the placers OF
Highland, south OF Butte.
The nail was driven with silver hammer
in the proscenium arch of the Assembly
hall in the north end of the building. The
hall was lavishly adorned with flowers and
the arch where Mrs. Palmer stood WAS
hung with American beauty roses, grace
fully set off with a background of smilax.
The formal opening exercises of the wo-
mans building will bs held Thursday at
two O'clock, and will include addresses by
Mrs. Potter Palmer and distinguished rep
resentatives of foreign nations. Spain ia
represented by the duchess of Veragua,
Italy by the countess of BrogGa, England
by Mrs. Bedford Fenwick Scotland and
Ireland by Lady Aberdeen, Germany by
Frau Professerin Loselowsky and Kussia
by Princess Sohahuvsky.