The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-05-05
THE WORLDS FAIR OPEN.

Monday, May l, will go down in histo-
ry as one of the most important periods
in time. The attention of the whole civ
ilized world was riveted upon Chicago,
the inland metropolis of the Western
Continent, and the opening of the
Worlds Fair was the event noted. Our
readers are familiar with the prepara-
tions that had been made for the occa-
sion. The naval parade and review in
New York of the week previous had
been a fitting prelude to the formal ex-
ercises of Monday. The details of the
programme carried out, the names of the
noted men and women present, the ex-
ercises at the various buildings, would
f. II several papers the size of the BAN
NER. We content ourselves, therefore,
with an abstract Of the main opening ex-
ercises, as sent out in the press despatch
es.
The procession of the morning re-
formed and moved from the eastern en-
trance of Jackson Park toward the plat
form from which the formal ceremonies
were to be conducted. Here was the Master
of Ceremonies, with score of assistants,
ready to direct the guests to the proper
sections in the order of priority. From
the centre of the platform proper there
radiated a 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 the rear were the sec
tions assigned to the members of the
diplomatic corps, while to their right
and left the other officials and guests of
the occasion were arranged. Behind
these were placed the orchestra. In
front of all, occupying the two wings on
the right and left of the speakers stand,
was provision for some 300 representa-
tives of the press, who represented near
ly every civilized nation of the globe.
At 10 o'clock the Foreign Commission
er and members of the Diplomatic Corps,
resplendent in gold lace, jewels and dec
orations, were escorted to the east front
of the platform, and amid rousing
cheers, so minutes later, the head of the
main procession emerged from under the
big avenues of the Administration Build
ing and slowly descended to the centre
extension of the grand stand. Just as
the President appeared in view of the
audience the SUI broke fully and square
ly through the clouds and quickened the
torrent of enthusiasm that welcomed the
Chief Executive of the United States.
While awaiting the arrival of the Presi-
dental party a number of women in the
crowd who had been on their feet for
hours swoOned or tainted, and the SER
vices of several Red Cross ambulance
chairs we're in constant requisition for
over half an hour.
1t was an inspiring scene that met the
vision of the Chief Executive of the ma
ton as he was escorted to his seat. Be-
fore him was such throng as he had
never faced before, 100000 people, pre-.
empting every foot of space between the
platform and the edge of the basin be-
yond, covering walks and lawns, to the
east and west as far as the eye could
sweep. Looking over the heads of
those before him he could see the whole
length of the Grand Basin, its surface al
most hidden from the view by goHdOlas
and steam launches, loaded down to the
waters edge with spectators. In the
foreground was the imposing McMonnies
fountain, typifying Old Father Time
steering his craft with scythe. Far in
the distance loomed up the colossal gold
statue of the Republic, and beyond it
again the inspiring Peristyle, crowned by
the Columbian arch and the heroic fig
ures Of the Quadriga and near them the
imposing facades of the Casino and
Music Hall. Immediately on his right
were the buildings devoted to agricul-
ture and machinery; on his left the
colossal structures dedicated to manu-
factures and electricity.
After the President. the Duke of Yer
aqua and all the other distinguished
guests had taken the seats assigned them,
everything was in readiness for the in.
auguration of the exercises proper.
1t had been intended to preface the
speech-making with a grand chorus OF
1000 voices, but, owing to an oversight
in drawing the plans of the platform
this feature was eliminated, and in its
place was rendered Columbian march
composed for the occasion by Prof. John
X, Paine.
TheO. Thomas welded the baton and
six hundred instruments responded tc
the wand of authority. The dull roar oi
the voices of the multitude was stilled as
the music burst upon the air. Not q
tenth of those in view of the platform
could have determind what portion ol
the exercises was in progress without
the aid of opera-glasses, but those at {
distance maintained as quiet and digni
| fled demeanOr az tha occunauta of thl