Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-05-05
The Proceedings.


says; The procession was formed on Mich
igan avenue, headed by platoon of gray
coated South Park police. Behind them
came detachment of city police on horse
back. Next in line were two companies of
United States cavalry. Then came the
| special escort of the visitors, the Chicago
Huzzars. The procession of carriages was
led by those containing the national COM
mssloners. Then came the carriage con-
| tanning President Cleveland with Presi-
dent T. w. Palmer.
The foreign division was led by a car
riage occupied by the Duke of Veragua. the
first vice president of the commission. ex-
Gov. Waller of Connecticut, the first vice
president of the Exposition, Ferdinand
| w. Peck, and Commander Dickens of the
United States navy. The Duchess of Yer
aqua, with Mrs. Potter Palmer, president
of the board of lady managers, and Mrs.
Dickins, was in the next, and the Marquis
of Barboles, the son of the duke, and NJ II.
DE Young of California followed. Repre-
sentatives of foreign governments followed
in other carriages.
On arrival at the ''White City the pro-
cesson was met by detachment of the
| Columbian guard, and on leaving the car
riages and arriving at the platform, the
! sistants, was standing at attention ready to
direct the guests to the proper sections in
the order of priority.
First on the program was a Columbian
march composed for the occasion by Prof
John X. Paine. Theodore Thomas led
the orchestra of instruments. As the
music died away, the blind chaplain of the
| United States Senate, the Rev. DR.. w. II.
Milburn, was led forward to the front of
the platform by his adopted daughter, and
offered prayer. As he retired to his seat
Miss Jessie Couthoul, Chicago reader and
elocutionist, came 10 the speakers stand,
and read the opening stanzas of poem en-
titled "The prophecy written by w. A.
| Croffutt of Washington. The orchestra
then played the "Rienzi' overture of Wag-
ner, and then DirectOr-General Davis arose,
| and as soon as the hearty cheering had
subsidized delivered an address, in which he
sketched the progress and results thus far
of the great enterprise. He then introduce
ed President Cleveland, who said
II am here to Join my fellow citizens in the
| congratulations which befit this occasion. The
| enthusiasm with which we contemplate our work
intenstes the warmth OF the greeting we extend
| to those who have come from foreign lands to
illustrate with the growth and progress of hui
man endeavor in the direction of higher civili-
za ..S .ho hs,isre that nonr,or educa,ion and
the stimulation of the best impulses of our citl-
zens lead the way to a realization of the national
destiny which our faith promises gladly welcome
the opportunity here afforded us to see the results
| accomplished by efforts which have been eXerted
| longer than ours in the field of mans improve
ment, while in appreciatlve return we exhibit the
| unparalleled advancement and wonderful accom-
plishments Of young nation, and present the
| triumphs of a vigorous self-reliant, and indie
| pendent people We have built these splendid
edifices, hut we have also built the magnificent
| fabric of popular government whose grand pro-
| portions are seen throughout the world. We have
| made and here gathered together objects OF use
and beauty, the products of American skill and
invention; We have also made men who rule
| themselves.
Let us hold fast to the meaning that under
lies this ceremony and let us not lose the impress
| siveness of this moment. AS by touch the ma
chinery that gives life to this vast Exposition is
now set in motion, so at the same instant let our
| homes and aspirations awaken forces which IN all
time 10 come shall influence the welfare, the dig
nifty, and the freedom OF mankind.
As the President was concluding the
final sentence, his eyes wandered to the
table that was close to his left hand. Upon
this was the button, the pressure upon
which was to start the machinery and
make the opening of the Exposition an ac-
complished fact. 1t was an ordinary form
of Victor telegraph-key, such as is in use
in most telegraph offices, except that it
was of gold instead of steel, and button
of ivory instead of rubber. 1t rested upon
a nedestal upholstered in navy blue and
Golden yellow plush, and on the sides of
the lower tier in silver letters, were the
significant dates 1902 and 1898. AS the
last words fell from the Presidents lips
he pressed his finger upon the button
This was the signal for demonstration,
in fact, difficult to imagine, and Infinitely
more so of description. AT one and the
same instant the audience burst INTO a
laundering shout, the orchestra pealed
forth the strains of the Hallelujah chorus,
the wheels of the great Allis engine in ma
cbinerv hall commenced to revolve, the
electric fountains in the lagoon threw their
torrents toward the sky, flood of water
oushed forth from the McMonnies tount-
ain and rolled back again into the basin,
the thunder of artillery came from the
vessels in the lake, the chimes in manu-
features hall and on the German building
rang out a merry peal, and overhead the
flags at the tops lof the poles IN 'front.' OF
the platform fell apart and revealed TWO
giIded models of the ships in which Column
bus first sailed to American shores.
At the same moment hundreds OF nags
of ali nations and all colors, were unfurleC
within sight of the platform. The largest
was great "Old Glory" which fell int
graceful folds from the top OF the cenle
staff in front of the stand. The roof O
the manufactures building was gorgeous II
red gonfalons, while the agricultural build
inc was dressed in designs OF orange an'
white. 1t was a wonderful scene OF trans
formation, and amid it all cannon con
tinued to thunder, and the crowd to cheer
II was fully ten minutes before the demon
stration subsidized. Then the band playe'
"America'' and the exercises were at al
& end The Columbian Exposition was opel
z N the nations of the world. 1t was pre-
cisely the hour of noon when CleVelan'
touched the button and thus declared Tn
onening an accomplished fact.
Immediately following this ceremonial !
luncheon was served on an upper moor Q
tbe administration building. Followln
: this the President made the tour OF In
Grounds and then went TO his car to aWai
\ fhe departure of the special train on II
! return to Washington. -, ~
Meanwhile, the public was having IN
! fuII run of the grounds for the hrSt Tim
!. and was enjoying itself thoroughly
|. was cloudy all the afternoon, but nc RAJ
o va AID NOT mind the mlC