Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-05-05
The Worlds Fair Opened,

No exhibit OF the Fair that is TO attract
the thousands to that city for the next SIX
months can be more marvellous than the
magical effect which followed the solumn
opening of the Fair at 1o:0S Monday. Oi
the multitude of visitors-some estimate
the number as high as 200, ,00O-prohaoly
not one fully realized the full import OF the
effect that was to come from the arrange
menr cleverly devised in the opening oi
the Exposition. II was known IN q vague
wav that the President was to press
golden KEY ard that the electric communl-
cation with the machinery was 10 start the
Fair. but no one realized how intricate was
this machinery, how infinite the ramlilca-
ton of that electric spark. until the great
fountains threw up their geysers 20 feet
| into the air and the rumble and hum OF
wheels in the Manufactures building, and
| the clatter Of machinery in all parts OF that
area of mile square or more told the
story of the final contamination OF sclen-
tifie thought.
The lifeless started into being On every
hand. draped statuary she'd its veil and re-
| vealed to the world the artistic labors OF
the past Is months, and, in moment, all
that had been apathy and inert and inaet-
| i've through the long hours of the morning;
sprang into an animated existence and
thrilled the multitude and crowned the
| triumph of tho Exposition.
In previous expositions the possibilities
| of electricity have been limited to the mere
starting of the engines in Machinery Han.
| but in this it is made thousaed servants
| do its bidding, and from the great Corn
engine and the mammoth fountains down
/ TO the minutest acts where power ana
touch were requisite, the magic OF electric
| ity did the duty of the hour.
The multitudes which thronged the
grounds Monday were greater in numbers
| than had been anticipated considering the
| inauspicious condition of the weather
| Probably 500, 900 people were assembled
when a. ii o'clock the advace guard OF the
cortege signalled the approach OF President
Cleveland and the dignitaries of the day to
the Worlds Fair grounds.
After entering the grounds, the journey
to the Administration building was made
with all possible dispatch, the Presidential
lparty not stopping to acknowledge any OF
the popular overations extended to the
Chief Executive. OF course the cheering
was tremendous when President Cleveland
faced the great multitude assembled-the
largest audience ever faced by an Americ-
an citizen. Following the President and
the Director General were the members OF
the Presidential Cabhet, under the escort
of the Worlds Fair officials, the Duke de
Yaragua and his family, members of the
Diplomatic Corps, members OF congress,
Senators and other prominent dlgnltarles,
who had seats on the grand stand Inc
/ 1000 Columbian guards who surrounded
the Administration building, made futile
effort to keep back the crowd, but they
were swept forward by the resistless wave
and iammed against the railing until they
themselves become an unrecognizable part
of that incoherent, struggling but good-na-
tured and cheering area of humanity.
At 11:30 to the minute the programme
opened with blast from the orchestra,
which rendered the martial air OF the
Columbian march Of John K. PANE. The
music lasted for Is minutes, and at its con-
clusion Director General Davis stepped 10
the front of the platform, waved his hano
supplicatingly two or three times to the
vast audience, and then announced IN a
tone which was lost in the hum OF voices
that the Rev. W. n. Milburn, the blind
chaplain of the United States Senate would
pronounce the invocation.
The overture Of "RienzP by Wagner,
was next rendered by the orchestra and
then Director General Davis OF behalf OF
the Exposition delivered the opening ad-
dress which was very appropriately word
ed and quite lengthy. and President Cleye-
land responded as follows:
am here to join my fellow citlzens IN
the congratulations which befit this ocea-
sion. Surrounded by the stupenduous re-
suits of American enterprise and activity,
and in view of magnificent evidences OF
American skill and intelligence we need
not fear that these congratulations Will be
exaggerated. We stand to-day in the pres
ence of the oldest nations of the world,
and point to the great achievements we
here exhibit, asking no allowance on the
score of youth. The enthusiasm with
which we contemplate our work intensihes
the warmth of the greeting we extend 70
those who have come from foreign lanus
to illustrate with us the growth and prog,
ress of human endeavor in the direction OF
q higher civilization.
We who believe that popular education
and the stimulation of the best impulses OF
our citizens lead the way to realization
of the proud national destiny which our
faith promises, gladly welcome the koppor-
tunity here afforded US to see the results
accomplished by efforts which have Deen
ezerted longer than ours In the neid OF
mans Improvement; in appreclatiVe re-
turn we exhibit the unparalleled advance
ment and wonderful accomplishments OF o
yonng nation, and present the triumpns OF
a vigorous, self-reliant and independent
people.
we have built these splendid edifices,
but we have also built the magnificent
fabric of popular government, whose
grand proportions 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 them
selves. 1t is an exalted mission IN whlcn
we and our guests from other lands are en-
gagged as we cooperate in the inauguration
of an enterprise devoted to human en-
lightenment; and in the undertaking we
here enter upon we exempllfy, In tne no
blest sense, the brotherhood OF nations.
Let us hold fast to the meaning that un-
derlies this ceremony, and let Us not lose
the impressiyeness Of this moment. As by
touch the machinery that gives lie TO
this vast exposition is now set IN mouon,
so at the same instant let our hopes and
inspirations awaken forces which IN all
time to come shall influence the welfare,
the dignity and the freedom OF mankind.
At the conclusion Of bis address the
President touched the electric button and
the Worlds Columbian Exposition OF 1873
was ushered into official existence. The
hugh fountains 800 feet away from the
grand stand threw volume of water 10
feet into the air and the roaring OF the en-
gines in Machinery Hall, quarter of
mile away, told the multitude that the
electric spark had done its duty.
As soon as the ceremonies attendant
upon the formal opening of the Exposition
were over, President Cleveland, Governor
Atgeld, Mayor Harrison, the Duke De Yer
aqua and other notables were conducted to
the dining hall on the third floor of Ad-
ministration bnilding, where they were en-
tertained at dinner by the Worlds Fair
officials. When the dinner was. over the
party, with President Cleveland and Direc-
tor General Davis in the lead, was conduc-
ted from the Administration building and
was driven around the grounds. At the
Manufactures building, which was tho first
place reached, the Presidential party al
lighted at the rfAin entrance and walked
from one end of the monstrous edifice to
the other. From here they drove to the
north end of the grounds, among the state
buildings, and back along the main drive
past the Horticultural building to the
south end of the grounds. After having
thoroughly inspected the White City, Pres
ident Cleveland and his party were driven
TO Grand Crossing, where they took the
train for Washington.
The second day of the Worlds Colum-
bian Exposition was very busy one. The
reign of good weather, which kindly be-
gun last night that the fair might open
properly, continued, and within the past
twenty-four hours the great show has TAX
EN- a gigantic stride toward completion.
The seas of mud in front OF the grand
stand had entirely disappeared by noon,