The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-07-05

audience. At the end of each line q
salute was fred.
Had Need ofPatience.
The -concour had need of patience
for it was not until 11:20 that Director
General Davis arm in arm with Vice
President Stevenson appeared at the
head of the steps leading to the plat
form and a mighty shout went up from
200. 000 thruats. Behind the director
general and the vice president came the
mayor and corporation, the national
commissioners and board of directors,
the lady managers and special
guests of the occasion. Below the
platform were the members Of the
Columbian chorus, men and women
fifteen hundred of them, each with a
big flag that later on was to be waved
in triumph to signalize the touch OF
the electric button that was to dedicate
the new Liberty Bell a thousand miles
across the continent. While the guests
were being seated on the platform re-
newed enthusiasm was created by the
appearance Of the venerable but
sprightly woman from Martha's Vine
yard, Mass, Mrs. Stafford, who carried
in a cardboard box her precious pos
session
The First American Flag.
She kept it close to her as she smiled
and bowed her Acknowledgements to
tine cheering multitude. She was given
a seat underneath the small fagpole
erected for the purpose Of receiving the
flag which was fastened to the line
ready for the hosting by Mrs. Stafford's
infirm hand at the stroke of 10 o'clock.
When the last of the guests had been
seated Director General Davis brought
his gavel down on the table and called
the multitude to order. Rev. DR.. John
Henry Barrows had been announced to
deliver the opening prayer. but he was
absent, and in his place Rev. DR.. Can
field of the Universalist church was in
troduced.
Vice President Stevenson was now in
troduced. As he stepped to the front
of the platform he was greeted with a
rousing cheer. he spoke in stentorian
tones, with considerable emphasis and
gesticulation and succeeded in getting
his statements to the hearing of the
great majority of those before and
about him. Brief and to the point. the
address was frequently interrupted
with applause and it decreased ten-fold
as the vice president retired.
Sang Columbia.
Then 8. C. Pratt, of New York, came
to the edge of the platform and at a
wave of his baton the chorus rose and
commenced the opening stanzas of
Columbia the Gem of the Ocean"
By the time that the chorus
was reached the audience was
wild with enthusiasm and
it Joined in the refrain with vim and
vigor, e n of thousands of arms wav-
ing the stars and stripes overhead. 1t
was a stirring spectacle, but it was to
be intensified later ON. When the sing
ing had ceased it was the turn of Mayor
Carter Harrison to speak in behalf of
the Worlds Fair City.
Mayor Harrison continued to speak
till within a minute of noon. Then he
paused an instant, after which. he said:
THE supreme moment is at hand"
For a moment the multitude stood
breathless. Venerable Mrs. Stafford,
shaking and trembling in every limb,
upross and grasped the cord of the flag
pole.
THE moment is here" shouted the
mayor. A roar of cannon, and then
with palsied fingers the old lady drew
the cord toward her and Paul Jones'
flag. old and faded. but still q priceless
emblem of liberty, went up 3 the top
of the pole in full view of the throng.
simultaneously Mayor Harrison grasped
the sword of Andrew jackson and
brandishing it over his head shouted
above the oar of cheers: MEN and
women of America. let every American
swear at this moment and by this
sword that he stands ready to draw his
sword in the defense of his country"
Forward to the stand, like the roar
Of q tidal wave sweeping inland, came
the voices Of tens of thousands of reso-
lutte men, and the weaker voices OF
thousands of the gentler sex, Eyes, yes,
we swear, we swear" From the bal.
comics of the structures behind and be.
fore, to the North and South, down
from the dome of the Administrator
building, came like an echo the deer
earnest roar, "Yes, yes, we swear, we
swear" Still the mayor stood with
sword pointed toward the flag like
Ajax defying the lightning.
The moment was dramatic. intense;
one of those moments that are exper.
fenced but once in a lifetime. There
was not a man or a woman in the vast
throng but at a call from the country
would have marched at the moment e
the defense of the flag. Then the scene
changed. With a preliminary burst 81
melody the combined bands com
menced the strains OF the .sSta,
Spangled Banner" and the chorus fol
lowed in unison.
"Sing, Sing, all sing" shouted Mayor
Harrison rs the refrain was reache,
| and flags were waved and hats wave,
i and handkerchiefs waved. Never be
fore, never again win jackson park re
sound with such a burst of song .
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