Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-05-04
WORLDS FAIR LETTER.
Opening Ceremonies-The City will
Decorate Han dsomely.
Come In June II you want to see the
Fair at its best.
From Our Special Correspondent.
CHICAGO, April 26, 1898.

hho 'ioi,ois ohaI coine lOr tne opening
will find the largest crowd of distin-
guished people that was ever seen to-
gether in this country before.
First comes President Cleveland and
all his cabinet. With them will be
the Duke of Veragua, the guest of the
nation, and the only living descend
ant of Christopher Columbus. The next
in order will be the diplomatic corps,
all the officers of the World Column
bian Exposition and the national COM
mission.
On the greatest day President Pal
mer of the national commission will
make the first speech. He will an
nounce the completion of the buildings
and their acceptance from the officers
of the Exposition, and will formally
invite the President of the United
States to start the big show ON its road
to success and prosperity. President
Cleveland will then touch the button
which will make the greatest exposi-
tion in history of the world thing of
the present instead of the future. The
President and Vice President will take
quarters at the Lexington, on 22nd
street, while the ducal party will reside
at the Auditorium. On Monday NOM
ing next carriages will be at each hotel
at 8 o'clock, and the line will start
promptly at 8 o'clock. The escort will
be composed of the Chicago Eussars
and Park Police.
The line of march to the Park will
besouth on Michigan Avenue to Thirty
Fifth street, east ON Thirty Fifth to
Grand Boulevard, south to Midway
Plaisance, and through that thoroug-
fare to the Exposition grounds.
Here the opening cermonies are ex-
pected to begin at 10 o'clock, and it is
intended to finish them in time to per-
NIT the President to touch the button
promptly at 12 o'clock. Unless the
elementsrage continual warfare from
now until next Monday morning the
Fair grounds will be in better shape
for opening day than any other expo
sition was ever known to be. The rail-
roads that has been used to haul the
exhibits in are being taken up and all
signs of debris left by the great army
OF workmen is being rapidly carted
away. There is at present ton after ton
of soft mud of the consistency of
pancake batter all over the roadway {:
but that does not worry the officials.
They say they will have that all
scraped off with road scrapers and the
ground covered thickly with gravel
and sand, so even the roadways will
present clean, white front to the pub
lie when the Exposition makes its bow
next Monday.
The reports from all the building
commissioners show that they will be
ready on time. Taking it on the whole,
the officials feel pretty proud of their
work, and say that they will surprise
Mayday visitors by the completeness
of the exhibition they will have to pre-
sent for the critical inspection. The
Exposition grounds will present gala
appearance on opening day. Big red
fiagstatfs have been springing up in
the open space around the big build
ings every day for week back. These
go foot staffs will fly the American flag
on opening day and will make the sky
mass of red, white and blue. At
intervals of about twenty five feet on
all the buildings there are fiagstaffs,
from these will be flung the national
flags of various designs and colors,
alternated with brilliant bannerets
and streamers. This magnificent
blaze of color will impress the visitor
on opening day with the outside glo-
ries of the Fair.
There will be SO much going on on
the grounds, and SO many speeches to
listen to, that though there be any
deficiency in the installation inside
some of the buildings, the average Wis
itors will scarcely notice it
Chicago will dress in her best suit
of clothes next Monday morning.
Mayor Harrison has insisted that the
city buildings be decorated in man
ner commensurate with the occasion.
All the leading houses are commencing
preparations for as elaborate decora-
tion as was given last fall to the dedi,
cation ceremonies and parade.
Some firms are building large green
arches over the sidewalks, and State
Street today presents a fine scene to the
many strangers that are pouring in
from every direction to be in time for
the opening.
Our advice to our patrons is that if
they wish to see the Fair at its best, do
not come in May. This month, as you
well know, is very wet and chilly as a
rule. and the grounds get the mist that
arises from the lake, making it seem
colder than anywhere in the country.
The glorious month of June is the
best time to see the Fair. Every thing
will be completed. Nothing will have
become stale. The actors are on the
stage of the big drama, and will be all
over the grounds.
Come in June if you want to spend