The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-17
THE WORLDS EXPOSITION.

"MieIlO'' Tells the Club About the Opening
Day of the Great Fair.
The great Columbian show and world g
fair has been opened in the formal order
so generously circulated by the press the
world over, but rain and mud apparently
put damper on the general appearance
of the place, and there was only feint of
enthusiasm among the people.
The crowd was enormous out the
number that was in ate ndance was
estimated from two hundred and forty
to Elk hundred thousand. And Oh, such
lam" of humanity that congregated to
the front OF the temporary platform pro-
vided for the chief dignitaries OF all ma
tions represented in the opening exer-
cises.
The freshly coated gravel covering the
esplanade, drives and walks was
soon converted into mortar
bed of tenacious clav that
enveloped the feet and limbs of everybody
in that throng, at least to the knuckle
joint of their lower limb. Rubbers and
umbrellas lost possession OF their owners
foul or fair-and were left on the field
like remnants of some strange exploit of
q vanquished foe.
During the excitement of the surg
ing crowd below the worlds fair
managers were making an attem pt
carry out the program with ali the ardor
and effect they could possibly do, but the
rehearsal OF speech and PRAYER was not
heard beyond few feet from the plat
form.
The rif-raf called time" louder"
hear" during invocation. and there was
but one lonely old soul in oil the assembled
thronG on the platform or elswhere
that reverently bowed his head with
becoming penItence for an occasion of the
kind, and that was the president, Grover
Cleveland
When people of eminence, who are
leaders OF the social and business interests
of the nation, and the scions OF
royalty from the effete mon
arches of the old world rest
lessly look one way and the o,her-even
to INDUCING in q running conversation
while prayer is being offered what could
be expected of the rank and file of the
multitude beneath them in the scale of
honor?
After time, however, the program ofthe
occasion. which was unnecessarily long, YVES
over, and the president complied with the
instruction given him when he first
his dextrous arm of mupifcent power
by placing the hand squarely on the lever
of the little machine mounted on a red
push-covered box setting on table,
which opened the electric current that
started the big Corliss engine in ma
chinery hall, followed by the unfurling of
the numerous flags by men stationed at
every flagstaff all over the buildings
inches and corners about the exposition.
cannon doomed from the navy exhibit
down by the lake and what few engines
were in order tried to get in a chorus OF
screams, followed by the whoop of some
spectators to the extent OF about three
quarters OF a minute, but there seemed to
be a general lack of enthusiasm to inspire
the throng with anything more than the
feeblest attempt.
Ii will be all OF q month yet before eve.
rything will present satisfactory aspect
to the visitor. But com paratively little of
the space devoted to exhibit is filled to
completion, or arranged in the order of
their respective places.
The immensely of the whole affair will
doubtless produce q surfeit TO the sight
seer and will cause much of the interest to
fade away into fathomless abyss OF won
der before week is occupied by visit.
MIELLo.