The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-06-14
GATES OPEN ON SUNDAY,
THE NEW ORDER ENFORCED
AT THE EXPOSITION.

Nearly 125,OOO People at the
Grounds-Music Of the Day-State
Structures, Government Build
ing and the British Sections Closed
Where the Sightscers Went.
After much determined opposition the
Worlds Fair Directors determined to open
the exposition on Sunday. and notice to
that effect was officially promulgated. The
Sabbath sun was but two hours old, says
Chicago special to the New York Tribune,
when the people began to come into the
grounds. All modes OF transportation
brought their quotas and from the steamer
piers and the railroads came long lines OF
people. But the masses did not begin to
arrive until afternoon. Beginning about
Q o'clock the multitudes focked into the
grounds at every gate, and by o'clock Co..
600 people were inside the enclosure. The
people kept on coming the entire afternoon
and OVERT owed into Midway Plaisance,
where every show was crowded, until the
attendance mark had been elevated to 10O,-
600. After dark the grounds were lighted
up. and this together with other features Oh
illumination, attracted still more, and when
the crowds were about ready to go home
conservative estimate placed their number
for the day and evening at 125.00O.
The music during the day was OF an ele-
waiting character, and the bandstands were
surrounded by large crowds, which grew en-
thusiastic over Schubert's Serenade and
selection from "Lohengrin;' Gounod's ss-
cred song, "There is Green Hill Far
Away" :" the "Meditation," on Bach's prelude
by Gounod Handel's "Halleiujah" chorus.
Wagner's "Hail Bright Abode the good old
hymn, "Nearer My God to Thee," and the
Coronation march from Meyerbeer's lie
Prophete." The music. which was continu-
GUS from hall past in the afternoon. was
furnished by Sousa's, the Chicago and Gin
cinnati bands.
Sunday opening was frowned upon, how
ever. in the north end Of the Park, where the
American State buildings are grouped to
suggest happy and united family. few
of the State Commissioners we're left no
! alternative but to close the doors OF the
buildings, as legislatures had so ordered, but
the great majority of State boards acted on
their own authority in refusing admission to
visitors. The doors Of fifteen State and Ter
ritorial buildings we're locked for this day
! only. and visitors were generally informed to
| that effect by cards. The Missouri. Della
ware, New York, West Virginia, Pennsyl-
| yania North Dakota, New Hampshire,
| Rhode Island, New jersey, Connecticut,
! MARYLAND and Massachusetts were among
! the buildings Of which the people obtained
| only an outside view. Utah had the closed
! sign on its door and North Dakota added to
Its announcement the invitation, Come on
| Monday" On the doors Of the !tBay State, "
house was the following typewriter
| legend
7By order of the Great and General Court
! of Massachusetts, this building Is closed on
the Lords Day. >,
siE. C. HOVER, Executive Commissioner.
/ ;1c;a had a T..
side their building which read: "Open to
Maine visitors and their friend3 only" but
everybody who pleased entered, ignoring the
ATTEMPT at exclusiyeness without absolute
closing.
The influence OF the Anglican Church was
seen by the visitors who desired to enter the
building erected by Great Britain and Her
Maiesty's colonies ALI were closed tight,
and no person even could be seen inside,
which was not the case with the CLOSED
State buildings. The great carved doors OF
Victoria House were shut, although the union
lack foated dom the root. Canadas nag
was flylng also, but the doors were closed
| and not even sign was put out for visitors
| to read New South Wales supplemented
| the "closed to-day" sign with the following
words: sKeep out. This means you. y
| Even d the India Building, which Is chiefly
| a private commercial enterprise, the "Closed
sign was hung out.
Machinery Hall was remarkably quiet
place. Two or three high-speed, but only
one big engine. ran during the day to furnlsn
the power necessary to run the Far. ano
their hum could scarcely be heard lOo zee.
away. The crowd in this building was not
yery large. but every other department struc-
t,re was jammed. Columbian avenue, In the
Manufactures Building, and the main aisle
| In TRANSPORTATION and Fisheries were crowd
ed oil day, and 1t was with much dlncu!ty
spectator could force passage. AS ind1'
| catiye of the crowd, 1t may be stated that tne
Fine Arts Building held the greatest multi
| tude. Every salon was packed, and the 10Y
ers were jammed by Il quiet and orderly
crowd or picture-lovers
The official in charge Of the Government
buildings and the battleship Illinois DID al
In their power to show the thousands OF VS.
itors who passed by that Uncle Sam othcially
did not tapprove OF allowing American citizens
or foreigners to view on Sunday the
panorama of art and genius or the
industrial work OF the Nations
The big painted signs "Closed," which
were used ordinarily when the Govern
ment Building was not finished, were PLACED
in front OF the doors, and guards were stu
toned there to keep people from breaking
and disturbing Uncle Sans peaceful observ
ance of the Sabbath. Even ''Old Glory wa
hauled down from every fagpole on the Dll
domed buildings. The other structures Wnicf
form part OF the United States Government
exhibit were also closed. and visitors were
stopped at the entrance to the North Pier oJ
the announcement that the model battlesnlE
was closed. Marines patroled the COCKS, ans
| few tars were seen cleaning AMI burnisnlng
but no favored civilians were seen ON tAl