The morning call., 1893-04-30
DRIVEN BY A WOMAN.
Mrs. Potter Palmer Can Handle
Hammer.
A Nail That Was of Gold and Silver
and Copper and Cleaning
Jewels.
Special to THE MORNING CALI.

CHICAGO, April 29.-The Worlds Fair
epitOme of the progress of civilization was
emphasized this afternoon when Mrs. Pot
ter Palmer, president of the board of lady
managers. stepped out from the throng of
well-dressed women gathered in the assem-
bly-roum Of the Woman's building, and
b:avely drove the last nail in that historic
structure, the first Of the kind ever built in
connection with any international exposi-
tion.
The exercises began with the presentat on
of the Florida flag, followed by presenta-
tions from the Connecticut, Kentucky, Cali
fornia, New York and Cincinnati rooms :;
then the presentation Of the Knapp flag,
then the gathering in the assembly-ro0m
and the driving Of the golden nail.
The singing of the martial chorus and
Battle Hymn of the Republic brought the
meeting 10 a close. and the hundreds of
ladies' present sang the grand battle song
with vim and earnestness which roved
their belief that the truth which was march
ing on was the truth that their sex at last
was in way TO lie recognized as coequal in
temporal affairs with the men, who for so
many ages have sat on high and ruled the
things on earth.
Inc golden nail driven by Mrs. Palmer,
made by j. II. Lyon. of Butte, Mont, had
required several weeks of constant work to
make it. II is composed of gold, silver and
copper, and Montana sapphires are set in
the upper portion of the shield, which is
attached to the nail near the head. The
nail Itself is pure copper, silver and unal-
!oyed gold, and rests In slide back of the
coat-of-arms and shield Of Montana, which
IS in the form Of a brooch. The shield is
perfect model Of the Montana seal.
The mountains are represented of copper,
and In the foreground are waterfall and n
stream of silver. The sunset in the crest of
the mountains and the sky, which forms
the background, are of pure gold, as is also
the ground in the extreme BACKGROUND.
The shield is inclosed in a circle of gold.
forming a band. on one side of which is the
figure OF typical prospector and on the
other farmer. The prosDector, a full
bearded and rugged-looking miner, is hold
Ing in his left hand a slouch hat, while his
right hand rests upon the handle of a
golden pick.
The farmer has golden smooth face and
holds hayrake in one hand, the other
resting upon bis breast. In the center, be-
tween these figures and having The appear
ance of a bright star in the SKY, is Mon
hdud sapphire. u DOH rlDO0n OF gold
running beneath the lower portion of the
brooch IS the Montana motto in letters of
black enamel. TIE metals In the nail and
the brooch were all presented by the Mon
tanians-the silver coming from the Granite
Mountain mine, copper from the Parrot
mine, and gold from the placers of High
land. south of Butte.
The formal opening exercises of the
Woman's building will be held at s O'clock
Thursday afternoon. They will include adj
dresses Gy Mrs. Potter Palmer and distin-
guished representatives of foreign nations:
Spain, by the Duchess of Veragua; Italy,
by the Countess Brogga; England, by Mrs.
Bedford Fenwick; Scotland and Ireland. by
Lady Aberdeen; Germany, by Frau Pro-
fessorin Laselowsky; and Russia, by Prin-
cess Schahovskay.
The nail was driven with a silver
hammer in the proscenium arch of the
assembly hall in the north end Of the
building.
The hall was lavshly adorned with flow
ers, and the arch where Mrs. Palmer stood
was hung with American beauty roses.
gracefully set off with background of smi-
lax. Then there were pansies, violets and
roses Of all degrees and colors, tastefully
placed about the hall. The work of ar
ranging the exhibits throughout the
building was suspended for the time being,
and the flowers, palms and ferns were ar
ranged about in odd corners and hooks
eveTyw here