New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-01
READY TO OPEN THE FAIR
WEETChED WEATHER MAKES THE CHICAGO
PUBLIC ANXIOUS.
LOWERING SKIES AND RAW WINDS CONTINUE
TO AFFLlCT TIE ExPoSITION-P PROGRAMME
OF THE OrENING CEREM0NIES-FEwER
VISITORS IN THE LAKESIDE Me-
TROPOLIS THAN WERE EX.
PECTED--AvARICE STILL
DOMINANT.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.1

Chicago, April 30.--The ceremonies with which
the Worlds Fair will be opened tomorrow will,
! according to the programme arranged by the man.
agcment, be admirably brief and simple. re-
| petition of the more elaborate ceremonial Of the
dedication Of the Fair last October will not be
attempted, the exercises being intended simply 10
set the machinery Of the Fair in motion, and with
becoming formaity TO throw open the gates to
the public. The complete and thorough-goins
observance last fall OF the anniversary of Column
| bus's lardihg at San Salvador by the dedication
of the grounds bears little of the historical and
sentimental interest attaching TO the exercises
of the formal opening OF the grounds Of Jackson
Park, delayed necessarily six months beyond the
auadro-centennal of Coumbus's discovery by the
cXigencics of preparation. Nevertheless, fair
degree Of official pomp and circumstance will he
impaired to to-morrOw's exercises. The Presi-
dent and his Cabinet will he here 10 see the Fair
opened. giving the executive branch Of the Ma
tiona Government a representation which was for
personal ard family reasons lacking at the dedl'
cation of last October The Governors of the
variOus States have been invited to be present,
and though in a less formal and official way,
representatives of the foreign governments who
have sent exhibits to the Fair and the members
srcss are also expected TO lend the dignity Of their
presence TO the effectiveness and the official quail
ity Of the ceremony
The only element which threatens the entire
success of the simple programme planned. which
contcmplates only the starting Of the machlnery
after two brief addresses by Director-iereral
Davis and President Cleveland, is the cXecrabe
weather which has covered Chicago with gloom
for the last month. The cold east winds when
have been blown of Lake Michigan without ces-
satioh bringing rain and fog and daInpness 10
ageravate the distrcsses Of a snokeriddeh anu
naturally foul and pcstllential atmosphere, nave
shown no signs of changing, and to-day chicago
has been wrapped in ~ penetrating and chiiiIns
a veil Of mist and rain as it has suffered from
since the very beginning of winter
The hopclessy nclement and depressing char
actcr of this spring climate cannot he eXagger-
ated and with continuance OF to-days coiu
and rain the exercises at Jackson ParK to-nor-
row will be robbed not only Of al comfort. but
of all tho appropriateness and seasonapiches'
which should belong TO an outdoor ceremony IN
rho month of May IT, indeed the freezing tenn
pcrpturr and foggy condition OIL the ihs. ie"
d,vs prcyail Tomorrow. tie open-air exercises
will have TO be abandoned altogether. and the
grnat Exhibition be opened from the shelter Of the
unfortunate. for the Fair 10 be at its best, must
~. seen in the sunshine and under the favoring
conditions of opcn-air life. and the ceremony OF
opcninc the gates will lose half its impressvc-
ness If the public is TO be welcomed TO the IN
hibition under lowering skies and with the low
| yinc and saturated expanse Of Jackson Park n
homeless stretch of water and mud.
The exercises Of the opening will take place.
ne already announced in front Of the Administra.
| tion Building facing the plaza and the main
| lacoons The President and his Cabinet will he
| escorted from the Lexington Hotel to the grounds
| about 10 IA. m, and the ceremonies VIII begin
| about an hour or an hour and halt later MOST
| of the invited guests will have taken their seats
ON the platform when the President appears The
| Fair officials who do not ride in the process
sion, the National Commissioners, Local Dircc-
| tor, and the Board Of Lady Managers will go 10
| the grounds by special train Oh the ccvated
road. and meet in their varions headquarters
there TO appear on the platform together lh'
foreign commissioners. who are at the grounds
every day. and most of the other guests, have
been provided with special transportation on
some of the various lines of travel.
The PLATFORM which extends across the entire
front Of the Administration Building, Is now com
nlct,d. the decorators having put the last Of
the llgS ana Oll'T iHc iVSi
dents special platform is far out in front, where
il can be- seen from all points of the plaza in
front of the Administration Building, where the
crowds will coneregate. There are to be seats
for ffty-fvc people on the Presidents platform. to
IN, occupied by the Dukc of Neraeua and party
Presidents Palmer and IIiginbotham Mrs Palmer
Mrs Iosan, the members of the Cabinet. the
Supremc Court Justices of the United States AMI
the Diplomatic Corps. Immediately back of the
Presidents platform will be- seated the foreign
commissioners to the Fair and the foreign Consuls
Ranged toward the back and at the sides will
he the State Governors, the members OF the Union
Senate and House of Representatives, the
National Commissioners Board Of Directors, Board
Of Lady Managers. the State Worlds Fair Boards,
the county commissioners and officials, the Mayor
and City Council, and the membels'Of the Illinois
House and Senate
In this position the guests Of the Fair will be
seated when the orchestra begins the day proceed
lngs at 10 O'Clock, by the performance Of John X.
Painc's columbian March" W. II. Milburn,
chaplain of the National House OF Representa-
lives, will then invoke the blessings OF Heaven
on the Columbian enterprise The Prophecy
written for the Fair by w. A. Croffut. of Wash
ngton. will be presented, a,i after an orchestral
overture Drcctor-General Davis as master of
ceremonies, VIII Indke tHc OPuNlS anu
present President Cleveland When the President
has finished his address he will touch the golden
key that communicates with Machinery Hall and
the great wheels of the Exposition will be- set in
motion During the latter part Of the ceremony
IIandcl's " Iiaeluiah Chorus will be given.
When this is finished the Presidential and duca
parties will have luncheon and an informal
ccption in the Administration Cafe When they
are sufficiently rested they will enter carriages
and be- driven to the Manufactures Building,
where the President will meet the foreign COM
missoners The French. English and German
commissioners will receive the party in their
own sections surrounding the clock tower in the
middle 6f Columbia-ave. The others will be
together at the north end of the building to meet
and greet the President. From the Manufactures
Building the President will 20 to the Govern
ment Building to inspect the displays made by the
departments.