The morning call., 1893-08-25

Hemmed in by the green of nature, the
blue vault of heaven above, a multitude
stood as the sun descended the western
sky. For hours it remained motionless,
save for swaying back and forth like the
long roll of the Pacific until the fog from
the ocean came streaming through the val
ley and wrought fantastic images as it
drifted over the land.
1t was an epoch in California's history.
the day the Midwinter Fair became
reality, and this great mass of humanity
was present 10 witness the turning of
handful of earth because it was symbol
indicative of work for the needy, of pros
perity during the coming months and of
glories for the State, when from the sand
dunes where the thousands yesterday
stood, the sand dunes around and upon
which the gray fog writhed, shall arise
great and glorious structures. inspired by
art and butt by man.
Near TO the hearts OF people on this coast
has one of the speakers who addressed the
great coneourse always been, bat never
nearer than when. at the close of a stirring
address, he lifted his hands upward and
bending his gaze in the sa me- direction
asked the divine blessing on the great
work. 1t was not expecte came not
from an ord aimed clergyman, but the deep
silence that reigned everywhere, a silence
that allowed one to hear the chirping of a
bird on a tree hundreds of feet away,
showed how his thoughts were followed
and his prayer concurred in. Then in an
swer to a single question put by him came
a mighty shout. It was only the word
YES" but when that mass of people gave
volume to the sound it was like a wave
breaking on the rocks. He had asked
whether the fair would be a success,
whether it would pay, and there in that
beautiful Golden Gate Park was given the
peoples answer.
a bright bit of color in a mass OF human
ity was the grand stand erected for the
occasion. Large in itself it was dwarfed
when the residents Of San Francisco and
cities and towns adjacent swarmed around
20 RjISeiheir approval by their presence
~ o. their cheers to the work about 10
T. 1augurated. From this stand foated
y est music, and from it also came the
AIDS Of promise regarding the future and
woNdsreciting what had been done.
Alta signal from a leader the instru-
ments of two bands, combined for the
moment, pealed forth the stirring strains
of America" while at the same signal a
thousand voices took up the song, COM
mencing "My country It's of thee" With
them joined the many thousands in front.
at the sides and to the rear until every
man, woman and child was singing the
hymn of liberty.
DAgain was the blessing of God invoked.
this time by a clergyman, but before the
people bowed their heads he pointed to the
hills in the distance. There was gathered
different army, an army of men clad in
overaIls and blouses, standing beside
horses harnessed to wagons and by horses
attached to machines of various designs
1t was an army of workmen, and as the
last words passed from the grand stand
whips were cracked, starting the scrapers
at their task, and shovels and pickaxes
were brought into requistion. The work
had begun. the work that will only end
when buildings of noble proportions grace
the site and art has lent graceful hand in
harmonizing the whole
1t was wonderful, an inspiring sight,