The Progress., 1893-05-06
A WORLD At HER FEET
Chicago's Hour Of Triumph II
Jackson Park.
THE EATwORLDS FAIR OPENED

A Memorable Scene which Calls Up Mem
ories of the Last Three Years -TabieauX
In the History of Chicago's Mighty Ef-
fort-Succcss at Last.
WORLDS FAIR, May !. - Especial -
Nothing like it was ever seen before.
Neither solomon nor Nero ever dreamed OF
20 much magnificence. 1t was precisely
at noon today that President Cleveland,
standing i'm the midst of a multitude,
pushed little button no larger than his
thumb. Instantly the electric current
loosencd the mightieSt forces of steam ana
electrical energy ever bottled in one spot
tore down the veil from number OF beau
tifuI statues: started columns of water
PLAYING toward the sky from many foun-
tains: fioatcd in the breeze thousands of
flags and streamers from as many tail
staffs planted upon the roofs and towers of
a score of palaces. set in motion acres on
acres of the most intricate and wonderful
machines man in his best century has IN
vented ana perfected; spanked into bril-
iancy more than a hundred thousand cleo
trio lamps, a modern defiance at noon-time
Of the darkness of midnight.
Thus the Worlds Columbian exposition
Of 1893 was opened this day. As | sat near
the president on this OCCASION moment
which will survive vividly in the memory
as long as one may live-my thoughts wan
dercd in retrospective paths. All TINS
splendor nOminally in honor OF that
Columbus who four centuries ago landed
on the low shores of Waiting
Ieland-his San Salvador-in the Bahamas.
The people of that island are to-day suiier-
iug famine and pestilence. The only good
fortune that has visited them in rece nt
wears was when an enterprising Chicago
newspaper sent an expedition thither 10
erect with much expenditure OF silver
coin a monument on the very spot where
Columbus feet first touched the soil of
the new world, that lucky and yet lucklesS
Columbus, shortly afterward returned "a
Europe in chains. As this Columbian
fair is opened his descendant, now loaded
with wealth and honorS, sets within ten
feet of me.
Seven Grecian cities praised Homer lead
In which the living Homer begged his Tread
Who first suggested this form Of celc
hratinr the four hundredth anniversary %
the discovery? Probably we shall nevel
know. Claimants for the honor appear
every day or so, the caveat of each new
conner CARRYING him farther back than TIT
earliest date given by his most previous
rival. There can he no doubt. however
and il is a fact worth clearing in this con
nection in behalf of the truth OF history
that the man who first made the idea OF
Columbian exposition, known and talke'
about as serious, practical proposition
was Col. 4. ID. Anderson, of Washington
DC. He interested the people OF the caI
ital. and statesmen lent "a hand, too. Al
parently il was determined ther
= was to he an exposition, and
was to bo held in Washingto
under government auspices. They had tn
site selected, on the shores of the Potomac
Other plans were perfected. But cloud
soon appeared in the horizon. The mayo
of Chicago had called n meeting of cit
zeus 10 discuss the proposition to hold a
international exposition in this city. Ne
York heard of il, and called meeting
too st. LOUIS not to be outdone IN ente
prise, nominated herself.
Then ensuc. one of the most interesting
. spiritcd cont .sts for supremacy ever SEE
in this or any other country. In fact, a
history may be ransacked in vain Tor
parallel. 1t was a municipal tournamel
which brought out the energy, the cha
acteristics, tie good nature, the wit al
!. the public spirit of all the rivals Early