Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-04-29

Mrs. Palmer Drives the Golden Nail To-
observation-disclosures State Building For
maIIy Opened-Exhibits Greatly Behind
Time-Movement for a Special Fair
Historian.
CHICAGO, April 29-Mrs. Potter Palmer
will drive a golden nail into the Woman's
building at the Worlds Fair this after
noon to signify the completion Of the
building. In presiding at the meetings
of the Board of Lady Managers. Mra.
Palmer has become expert with the gayel,
and her friends think that tho handsome
lady president will be able to hit the nail
on the head and drive it into the arch Of
the assembly room with exactly three we'll
directed blows of the hammer.
The exercises are to be simple. Mrs.
Eliza Richards, of Montana, will deliver
the precious nail in its silver casket and
also a gold and silver hammer, and Mrs.
Palmer will thereupon proceed with her
own fair hands to finish the Woman's
building herself AS matter or fact, the
golden nail will be withdrawn and re-
turned to its place in the breast pin of
which it forms part. and the pin will
then be presented to Mrs. Palmer.
The Massachusetts State building, which
is a reproduction of the old John Hancock
house that stood in Boston during the days
when the town was making history, was
formally opened yesterday afternoon. Ex-
ecutive Commissioner E. G. Hovey, who
had entire charge of the building and the
arrangements for the opening, issued a
number of invitations to Massachusetts
people in the city, Worlds Fair officials and
others. They gathered in the spacious
rO0uns of the aOtionated LOOKING afrII
and enjoyed the hospitality Of the Bay
State.
Massachusetts is the first State to for
mally open it's building. The dedicatory
ceremony was held last fall when the build
ing was partly completed. 1t was then
decided that no great display be made at
the opening. Accordingly the gathering
was quiet The doors of the house were
unlocked and swung open to remain SO
for the welcome of Massachusetts visitors
from now on.
Matters are in a chaotic state, and when
President Cleveland holds his reception in
the great central aisle of the Manufactures
Building on Monday next he will find
everything all around him in a state Of
bewildering incompleteness. Practically
none OF the exhibits in the vast structure
ready for the inspection of the public.
To have things in the most presentable
command that there shall be a general
cleaning up on Sunday night, the idea be-
ing to present as good a front as possible
when the President gets here. Just now
the forty acres or SO of floor space are piled
up high with boxes, bundles and packages.
Hundreds of mechanics are rushing the
payilions to completion as fast as possible.
As yet scarcely single exhibit in this
building can be said to DO completed.
IL =, skc ,1.ok1 oko al
and the French are much behind with
their gorgeous pavilion. Five thousand
men have been at work in the building for
some time past, and the results of their
labors are almost imperceptible from day
to day. There is so much to be done that
at least thirty days are necessary to COM
plete it. 1t is a scene of chaos and confu-
sion, and notwithstanding the claims of
Chief Alliston the building is not in any
sort of shape for the admission of visitors
The last 80 cars of the Italian shipment
for the Fair, which had been delayed en-
route, arrived, and a large force of men
was set about the unloading and installa-
ton of the exhibits. The cars contained
paintings, bits of sculpture bits of bric-a-
brac, and several boxes of the finest porce-
lain. The greater portion Of the Italian
display will be in place on the opening day.
Word has reached here that special
train of 20 cars has passed over the Balti-
/ more & Ohio railroad, bearing part of the
| S., 900 Russian exhibit at the Fair. Three
Russian officials accompany the exhibit as
guard. Another train is expected to
| follow quickly.
At a meeting of the National commits
| sioners the Sunday closing question was
again revived. resolution was offered
| by Commissioner o. V. Tousley, of Min
nesota,. calling for the withdrawal from
the Judiciary committee of the resolution
| offered April 20 by Commissioner Eiboeck
/ of Iowa, regarding the matter of referring
/ the Sunday opening question to the local
/ directors. Mr.. Tousley said the matter OF
| whether or not the gates should be opened
/ had been settled once, and he saw no rea-
son for bringing it up again,
Mr. Eiboeck said he was opposed to the
withdrawal of his resolution. He believed
the gates should be opened, providing thai
4 it could be shown that the act of Congress
was contrary to the laws of the State o.
illinois. By closing the gates thousands O
laborers would be prevented from seeing
the Fair.
Mr. Hundley, of Alabama, agreed witt
Mr. Eiboec1 He said that the Judiciary
committee should be given an opportunity
to inquire and ascertain if the gates could
be legally opened.
After a discussion of considerable length
Mr.. Tousley asked permission to withdraw
his resolution. 1t was granted and tn
motion was withdrawn. Another of Mr.
Tousley's resolutions relative to the ap
pointment of a historian, was made
special order for Tuesdays session.
A motion to adjourn until Monda.
morning at 10 o'clock was then carried
This meeting will be simply for the pur
pose of assembling the commission for tn
opening exercises and no business will b
1 transacted.
The Duchess of Buckingham and attend
ants arrived in the city yesterday. Thu
Duchess is one of Great Bfitain's mos
prominent ladies' of title. She will renal
in Chicago for a few days, after which sh
will return to England, having complete
tour of the world.
shot I'm the Rmck with Revolver,