Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-05-02


OPENING 1s19 FAIR
Ogssss Pssnsa - lvssy nsssna -
l3soo - ~ RApnsAsA
Len than q hous had bssa occupied
h The joasney fsn0 The staSting point.
and the tsiumpAant entrse within the
great White City vas nov IN order. Az
the head a The column emerged from
Midway Hainancs it vao met By . do
tachmsat oi The Cojumhian guard. &C.
conpanied b. Coloael Rice and hiastah.
and who lsum THE point took the right
u line. Slowly the proccssion moved
around the woman'a building. then south
Agsin pct the horticultural building
and the lagoon sacOmpansiug the wooded
Island. o. past the choral hall and the
beautiful Structure devoted % mines
and MINING. Here il veerrd 70 the east.
crossed the installation track and do
ecribed . sig-sag course 10 the west door
VI tho administration building. Two
platoons Il cavalry had been drawn up
between this structure and tho terminal
station. and between these passed tho
guests - East - they alighted from their
carriages. Timc was flying. however.
and they fingered but for q few moments
under the magnificent dome of the fairs
executive mansion.
Piaslbrm Arrangements.
Again the procession was reformed.
and. now::emerging from the eastern en-
trance. moved toward the platform from
which the formal ceremonies were to 10
conducted. Here the master of cere-
monies. with . score OF assistants, were
standing rssdy to direct the guests to
the proper sections in the order of prior.
ity. From the center Of the platform
proper there rsdiated . special. stand,
and upon this were chairs for President
Cleveland. Vice President Stevenson.
the duke OF veragua and his party and
the higher national and local officers Of
the fair.
Immediately in tho rear were the SEC
tons assigned to the members u the
diplomatic corps. while to the right and
left the other officers and gucsts Of tho
occasion were arranged. Behind these
wero placed the 0rcheatra. In front of
all. occupying the two wings on the
right and left o( the speakers stand.
was provision for somc 800 representa-
tives of tho press. Between the plat
form and the audience before it. every
nation and every tongue seemed 10 be
represented % the honor and glory Of
tho Columbian exposition.
Cheer the Prestdene.
At 10 o'clock the foreign commission
crs snd members Of the diplomatic
corps. resplendcnt in gold lace. jewels
and decorations. were escorted 70 the
east front of the platform amid r0using
cheerA Fifty minutes later the head a
the main pr0ceesioa emerged from un-
der the biG avenues of tho sdministra-
ton building and slowly descended 10
the center extension Of the ground and
grand stand. Just - the president up
peared in view of the audience the sun
broke fully and squareiy through the
clouds and Quickened the torrent Of en-
thudasm that welcomed the executive
Of the United States. While awaiting
the arrival Of the presidential party .
number Of women in tho crowd, who
had been on their feet for houru,
ewooned and the services OF several Red
Cross ambulance chairH were in con-
slant requisition for over half m hour.
The Exercises.
All was now in readiness Tor the inau.
guration Il the exercises proper. Ii had
been intended to preface the speech
making with . grand chorus Of 1000
voices. but owing to an overnight in
drawing the plans Of the platform, this
feature was eliminated and in its place
was rendered Columbian march. CON-
posed for the occasion by Prof. John X.
Paine.
Theodore Thomas welded the baton
and 600 instruments responded 10 the
wand Of authority. AZ the music died
away the blind chaplain Of the United
States senate. Rev. DIR. w. II. Milburn.
was lead forward. Facing the throng
with claspcd hands and bowed head, he
bcsought tho blessing II the Almighty
upon the proceedings Of the day and
the enterprise to be inaugursted.
Many ol those about him joined in
the '-amen" with which the man Of God
concluded his invocation. AZ he retired
10 his seat. Mis Jennie Coutthoui. q
Chicago reader and elocutionist Of na-
tioual reputation. vas escorted to tho
speakers stand TO read the opening
stxnzas of the poem Of the day. This
was entitled The Prophecy" and 10 the
production of w. A. Crofutt. . membss
II the journalistic profession at the
national capital.
PantlcuBo0lum.
Hearty applause rewarded the reader a.
she retired. and il was renewed when.
after the orchestra had rendered the
"Rienzi" overture by Wagner. Director
General Davis arose from his seat. and.
after bowing 10 tho chief magistrate
and those surrounding him. faced the
assemblage.
II VAS now the turn of the president
of the United States to present himself,
and as he slowly arose from his seat there
went up q cheer that seemed TO shake
the massive dome os the building and
which reverberated through the grounds
like the rattling of musketry. All the
while Mr. Cleveland stood erect. his left
hand behind him. his right nervously
lingering the button OF his frocx coat.
At last. when throats and arms alike
we're tired. and q srmbiance IT quiet
had once more cnme over the throng he
commenced HE address This 10 what
he said
Clevesautl's Addre~a.
II am here to join my fellow citizens
In the congratulations which bcft THE
os>.asion. Surrounded by the stapen
dous results al American enterprise
and activity and in view Il magnificent
evidences Il American skill and inseIii
eence. ve need not fear that shese cssn-
ordinations viii be exaggerated We
stand today in the presence a. the oldest
nations II the werd and rs,in. 10 the
great achievements here eshititei. ask
ins no allowance on tie ssssre - youth.