Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-06-01
OPENED SUNDAY.
The Worlds Fair Attended by 1885,.
900 Visitors.
GREAT SUCCESS CLAIMED


CHGcAGo, May 20.-One hundred and
twenty-five thousand people after n
week of toll took in the fair grounds
Sunday, and with souls freed from
care drank in the inspiring music and
fcastcd their eyes upon the artistic and
natural beauties Of the White city,
while their minds were improved by
studying the works Of genius and in
dustry. 1t was the first open Sunday
and IL was success.
The sabbath sun was but two hours
old when the people began to c"hc into
the grounds All modes of trausporta-
tion brought their quotas and from the
steamer pirrs and the railroad came
long lines # people. But the masses
did not begin to arrive until afternoon.
Beginning about . o'clock the multi
tudes flocked into the grounds at every
gate and by o'clock G0,000 people
were inside the inclosure. The people
kept ON coming the entire after
noon and overtlowed the Mid
way plnisancc, whose every show
was crowded, until the attendance
mark had been elevated to 100, 900
After dark the grounds were lighted
up and this together with other
features of the illumination attracted
still more. and when the crowds were
about ready to go home IA conservative
estimate placed their number for the
day and evening at l25,000
1t was an orderly, well dressed crowd,
which evidently was of the opinion
that it had already been kept away
from its property altogether too long,
and they took possession in the name
of 'toilcrs' day"
The music during the day was Of an
cleyating character and the band
stands were surrounded by large
crowds, which grew enthusiastic over
Schubcrt's serenade, n selection from
"LohenCrin," Gounod's sacred song.
There is Green Hill Far Away"
meditation on Bach's prelude by Gou-
nod, "llullelujah Chorus" Wagner's
"llail Bright Abode" the good old
hymn, Nearer My God to Thee" and
the coronation march from Meyerbeer's
lie prophete." The music, which was
continuous from half past | in the
afternoon until 10 at night, was fur
nishcd by Sousa's, the Chicago and Gin
cinnnti bands.
Sunday opening was frowned upon,
however, in the north end of the park.
where the American state buildings are
grouped to suggest a happy and united
family. The multitude of visitors did
not throng the state circle, and the few
Thousand who passed that way were
not disappointed, apparently, to find
many of the buildings closed There
was so much else to see that was more
attractive than the inside of the state
buildings, most of which are made up
of so many reception rooms, the ex-
hibits being in the big buildings that
were thrown open. 4 few of the state
commissioners were left no alternative
| but TO close the doors of their buildings
rs the legislatures had so ordered, but
the great majority Of tho state boarls
acted ON their own authority In refusing
admission TO visitors.
! The doors of fifteen states and terri
torial buildings were locked for this
day only and visitors were generally
informed To that effect by cards. Mis-
souri,, Delaware, New York, Virginia,
West Virginia, Pennsylvania, North
Dakota, New Hampshire Rhode Island,
New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland
and Massachusetts were among the
buildings which the people obtained
only an outside view OF. Utah had the
closed sign on its door and North Da-
l<ota added to its announcement the in
vitation; Come on Monday" On the
doors Of the Bay state house was the
following typewriter legend: "By or
der Of the great and general court OF
Massachusetts this building is closed
ON the Lords day, Signed, Il. c.
llovey, executive commissioner.
The Maine commissioners had sign
outside their building which read,
open TO Maine visitors and their
friends only" but everybody who
pleased entered, ignoring the attempt
at oNclusiveness without absolute clos.
ing,
The influence Of the Anglican church
was seen by the visitors who desired 10
enter the buildings erected by Great
Britain and her mnjeSty's colonies All
were closed tight and no person could
be seen inside, which wns not the ease
with the closed state buildings The
great carved oak doors of Victoria
house were shut, although the union
jack loated from the root
Tho officials In charPe nf the GOVERN.