The record-union., 1894-01-29
special to the REcoRD-UNIox.

L
winter Fair was formally opened yester-
day with most imposing ceremonies. NO
more delightful day could possibly have
been selected for the initiatory cere-
monies. There was a heavy fog during
the early morning, but long before the
parade hour it passed away and Old Sol
shone forth in all his splendor.
The parade was long and imposing and
consisted of Federal and State military
and civic societies. One or two other pro-
cessions that have been seen here may
have exceeded it in length, but in appear
ance or in interest evoked it never was
surpassed in the opinion of the jubilant
masses of humanity that looked on. All
the characteristics of big parade that
awaken emotion were in this, and absent
from it were customary divisions when
have nothing spectacular about them and
which the public would as lief miss. The
military never marched or rode better.
The paraderS marched along Golden
Gate avenue, through the Park to the
gates, and to the valley where the grand
stand was erected.
Thousands of windows were filled with
people, the majority of whom were Of the
fair sex, and they waved handkercnlets
and clapped their hands as manifesto
ton of their appreciation. The bright
hues of the Zouaves, the Austrian and
French guards and other independent
military companies added color to the
scene. For the picturesque parade to
pass any point occupied nearly an hour.
AS the procession entered the exposi-
ton gates and wound along between the
palatIal buildings on its way to the grand
stand, where it disbanded, the scene from
ntNf
Through the black crowd OF people 1t
slowly made its way, looking like moth
ing so much as an enormous and brill
iantly colored python instinct with life.
The yellow plumes of the cavalry, the
scarlet, bright blue and yellow facings of
the different uniforms, the white horses,
the girls flag brigade in their gowns Of
scarlet. white and azure the various reg1-
mental flags, the flashing swords OF the
officers, viewed from distance formed d
scheme of color as beautiful as it was
brilliant and effective.
At the gates the crush previous to the
beginning of the dedicatory exercises was
simply terrific, but. as is usual with Cali
fornIa crowds, good nature prevailed, and
as the strong helped the weak no really
serious trouble occurred. Once inside
the grounds there was room enough for
all to move about comfortably, though
the crowd in front of the grand stand was
somewhat unpleaSantly dense.
The ceremony of touching the electric
button seemed to be especially interest
ing to the majority Of the immense audi
ence, and when it was performed and for
the time being pandemonium seemed to
have broken loose in consequence.
OPENING EXERCISES.
The exercises opened with selection
by the Midwinter Exposition Band, fol-
loruo1 bV 10 intr06notOrU add rpSG by
James D. Phelan, who said:
THE California Midwinter Interna
tional Exposition is an accomplished
fact, and to-day, in all its beauty and in
the comprehensive classification of its
exhibits, is thrown open to the public.
1T is the peoples fair and it was
erected by and with the aid of all the peo-
pie. on the 23d of last August they as
sembled by tens of thousands to break
ground, glad with the prospect of ad-
vancing their State and conscious of its
charms and advantages, eager to throw
wide open to the world their golden gates
Of hospitality. In the name of California
we formally open the gates to-day.
Ladies' and gentlemen, this event will
mark an epoch not only in the develop
ment of our State. but, taking an extern
sive view, you will see that here, on the
shores of the Pacific Ocean, we are re-
cording to-day fact in the growth and
progress of the world Not alone then
in the character of its exhibits is our eX-
position international; it is international
in much broader sense; it is interna-
tional historically. Look back for mo-
lnent with the eye OF retrosPection and
you will see that the march Of civiliza-
ton, starting in the far East, somewhere
in Asia, has moved steadily westward.
"While the world was surprised that
the growth of America made possible the
holding of such an exposition 1000 miles
from the seaboard, yet to the student of
history it was no surprise. for we'll he
knew the westward march of civilization.
But the end was not yet. The orbit had
not been traversed. The cynical Sidney
Smith, not fifty years ago, Sneering at an
American book, said what appears TO be
now, in the light of this occasion, as
something prophetic.
''He said that prairies, grist mills and
steamboats, would be the natural objects
of Americans for centuries and centuries
to come; but, added he, when they reach
the Pacific Ocean, then epic poems, plays,
measures of memory and all the elegant
Qualifications of an ancient people, who
have tanned the wild earth and sat down
to amuse themselves, will be theirs.
Centuries have not passed since these
words were spoken, but we celebrate TO-
dav this great fact-a history making fact
in the annals of the world-that the
american people have reached the Pacific
Ocean. and that civilization. having
snruno in the remote East and pursued
its destined course, has reached the west
ern edge of the American continent III
California.
..The metropolis of the Pacific holds its
International Exposition of the arts, IN
dustries and sciences without apology,
and California, as a great American state,
holds up its head proudly and says for the
american people: Yes, we have reached
the Pacific Ocean. Civilization has COM
Melted its orbit, but it will henceforward
move upward instead of onward
Bishop Nichols then delivered prayer
s.America'' was then sung by the Mid
winter Fair chorus.
GOVERNOR MARKHAM'S ADDRESS.
Governor Markham was then intro
d,1ced and delivered the following ad-
11,.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The very pleasant task has teen assigned
&c IF attending the word OF welcome to
IL thousands assembled here to-day and
- sn9 9ba many thousands yet to come to our
State during the progress of this talr.
ssWonld that had at my command Mt
49,: 1yords that would convey to the
s..e,,aor s.ns within our midst the depth and
-.,a,.,,ltb of feeling of the people OF our
Ctate toward them, and our appreclatlon
- their nresence here IN connection Win
VI ..Tbongh may not adequately express
,,,yseIf upon this point, may, with Just
Id he permitted to say that the words
Ealifornia and hospitality are throughout
the. world Synonymous. NO STATE 10