The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-03
THE DAYS CEREMONIES.

President Cleveland Faced the Largest Au-
dience Ever Greeted by an American.
The multitudes which thronged the
worlds fair grounds today were greater in
number than had been anticipated con-
sidering the inauspicious condition of the
weather. Probably three hundred thou
sand people were assembled when at II
o'clock the advance guard OF the cortege
signaled the approach of President Cleve.
land and the dignitaries of the day 10 the
worlds fair grounds. After entering the
grounds, the journey to the administra-
tion building was made With ali possible
dispatch, the presidential party not stop
ping 10 acknowledge any OF the popu-
lar oyations extended to the chief
executive. OF course the cheering
was tremendous when President
Cleveland faced the great mul-
titude assembed-the largest audience
ever faced by an American citizen. Fol-
lowing the president and the director
general were the members of the pres
dential cabinet under the escort of the
worlds fair officials, the Duke dc Neragua
and bis family, members of the diplomatic
corps, members of congress, senators and
other prominent dignataries who had
seats on the grand stand. The 1000
Columbian guards who surrounded the
administration building made a futile ef-
fort to keep back the crowd, but they
were swept forward by the resistless wave
and jamned against the railing until they
themselves became an unrecogniZsble
part Of that incoherens. struggling, but
good-natured and cheering area of hu-
manity.
At l1:30, to the minute, the program
opened with blast from the orchestra,
which rendered the martial air of the CO.
lumbar march OF John X. Paine. The
music lasted for fifteen minutes. and at it's
conclusion Director General DAVIS stepped
20 the front Of the platform, waved bis
hand supplicatingly two or three times TO
the vast audience, and then announced in
q tone which was lost in the hum of
voices that the Rev. w Fl. Milburn would
pronounce the invocation. The blind
chaplain of the U. S. house OF representa-
tiyes stepped to the front. guided by a
woman's hand. his adopted daugh-
ter, Miss Louie Gemley, escort
ing him, faced the multitude which he
could lever see. but whose presence he
felt BY the animation that permeated the
atmosphere. He Is one OF the historic
characters OF American politics, fret re-
ceiving his appointment of chaplain of
the house of representatives some years
ago. and lately being selected chaplain of
the u. S. senate. During his long resi-
dence in Washington Mr.. Milburn has
Leen the intimate acquaintance of presi-
dents, cabine. officials. senators and con-
qressmen, until today, although blind, he
probably recognized by the timbre of
their voices more men prominent in
American life than it has been the lot of
most men 20 ever know.
Chaplain sIilburn's Prayer.
After brief pause. when the murmur
of voices had ceased. the blind chaplain
uttered the following prayer:
"AI glory be TO the Lord God Of Hosts, that
Thou hast put into the hearts OF all tongues.
peoples and nations 10 keep feast OF taber-
nscIe in this place In oommemOration of the
most momentous Of all voyages, In which Co
lumbus lifted the veil which bid the new world
from the old and soened the gateway Of the