The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-02
The Woman's Building Dedicated with
Song and Numerous Speeches.
Addresses BY Mrs. Potter Palmer, the Count.
ess of Aberdeen an; Others. in Which the
Work Of the Fair Sex Was ExtOlled.
CHroAGo's HOPES REALIZED.
Worlds Fair Machinery Started I'm Motif
hY Pressdenf Cleveland

Worlds Fair Machinery Started in Motion
by President Cleveland.
CHICAGO, May 1.-The Electric Age was
ushered into being in this last decade OF
the nineteenth century today when Presi-
dent Cleveland. by the pressing of but
ton, started the mighty machinery. and
the rushing waters. and the revolving
wheels in the Worlds Columbian Exposi-
tion. No exhibit of the fair that is to at
tract the thousands TO this city for tho
next six months can be more marvellous
than the magical effect which followed the
solemn opening of the fair at 12:0s to-day.
OF the multitude of visitors-some estimate
the number as high as 500, ,0O0-probably nou
one fully realized the full import of the
effect that was to come from the arrange
ment, cleverly devised. in the opening OF
the exposition. Ii was known in vague
way that the PRESIDENT was 70 press q
golden key and that the electric cOmmuni-i
cation with the machinery was to start the
fair, but no one realized how intricate was
this machinery. how infinite the ramifica-
tions of thar electric spark. until the great
fountains threw up their aeysers seventy
feet into the air. and the rumble and hum
of wheels In the Manufactures Building
and the clatter of machinery in oil parts
of that area of mile square OF more told
the story of the final contamination of SOL
entifc thought. The hfeless started
into being on every hand. drsped
staSuary shed Its veil and revealed
TO the world the artistic lsbors of the past
eighteen months and in q moment all that
had been apathy, and inert. and inactive
through the long hours OF the Etorning
sprang into an animated existence and
thrilled the multitude and crowned rha
triumph of the exposition. In previous
expositions the possibilities of electricity
have been limited TO the mere starting Of
the engines in Machinery Hall. but in this
ii made thousand servants do Its bidding.
and from the great Corliss engines and the
mammoth fountains down to the minutest
acts where power and touch were requisite
the magic of electricity did the duty Of tha
hour.
WITHOUT A HITCH.
It was o'clock when the exercises were
completed and the White City left to
silence. !t was a big day, which began
under the lowering sky and eliminated in
the opel ng of the exposition by the Presi-
dent of the United States, and ended under
the scintillating glare of myriads Of electric
lights, which flashed from the mighty
buildings along the lago0ns. There was no
hitch in the programme as finally arranged
last night. The distinguished descendants
OF the great admiral in whose honor to-
days spectacle was inaugurated was ee-
corted from the Auditorium Hotel 70 tho
Lexington. where President Cleveland and
bis suite were IN waiting, aud the two
parties combined was taken I'D procession
through miles of streets lined with cheering
thousands TO the grounds of the exposition
There the formal exercises were gone
through with. Director general Davis.
upon whose shoulders the Atlss-like load OF
the enterprise has rested for months. pre-
eented the complete buildings 70 the Presi-
dent of the United States, who after a
brief but appropriate speech, declared the
Wcrlds Columbian Exposition fully
opened. How the cannon doomed. How
the flags futtered In mid cir, how the
fountains spouted and how the people
cheered is told IN the story OF the day's
proceedings ia detail. The cheering was
vociferous. Ii was repeated when ths
President stepped forward TO make has
modest address. and 1t broke again when
the signal was given which inaugurated
the fair. There was nothing petty or inad-
equate about the applause. The head OF
the Nation received bis due need of honor.
After the ceremonies the President aud
other distin zuished guests entered the Ad-
ministration Building The President him
self rested for q while in the director gen
erals Office. while the foreign diplomatse.
the Congressman. the State legislators and
other notabies of more or less MAGNITUDE.
gathered in the rotunda and agreed thar
while it was very fine. they were very glad
it was all over. Then everyone began
hunting something 20 eat. The di0nitarIes
were accommodated in the special dining
room. fitted up for the occasion in the Ad-
ministration Building, where they dined
In state. The common herd besieged the
restaurants throughout the grounds. and
while most of them succeeded in getting
sandwich or piece OF pie. there were many
who got nothing at all.
The crowd did not mind the mud. and
from noon till the last gate was closed the
broad avenues were alive with throngs
moving from one 10 another of the big
buildings and sweeping through the MIDI
way Plalsance IN an unbroken current
Every one saw ali the sights possible. and.
at last when the hour for departure az
rived. went away with the nrm reeolu-
70 annnn alraln