The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-18
Great DAY At atlanta
Big Exposition Will Today BE Opened
to the Public.
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND's PART
Al Gray Cables lie viii Press Button
Which viii Put the Machinery In
Motion - This Vicinity VIII DO
Represented at tho Exposition.

Represented at tho Exposition.
The exposition at Atlanta will open
today. 1t is one of the greatest days
in the history of the south. Business
will be suspended in the city and the
most elaborate decorations will appear
on every side. At go this afternoon
President Cleveland will touch but
ton at Gray Gables that will start the
machinery in motion and the colossal
exhibition will be thrown open.
One of the chief features of the pro-
gramme will be the exposition ode by
Frank L. Stanton, whose songs are
known and loved all over the land
and have made that great paper, the
Atlanta Constitution. household
word in America and Europe.
The ode will not be read by Mr.. STAN
ton himself. but by Colonel Albert
Howell. jr.. of the Atlanta bar The
following poem, the last from his pen.
published in the big Sunday issue Of
the Atlanta Constitution. Is so charac-
teristic. 50 thoroughly musical and eX
pressve of the feeling now existing in
the south that 1t will be welcomed in
this place by the readers of The Trib-
une:
You Ought to Sec 'Em Now.
Talk about your NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. bullets,
an the like,
The thunder of your cannons, an where
lightnin' use to strike
Talk about the people that have been into
a row
Round the mountains of Atlanta-but you
ought to see 'em now!
Talk about your battlenelds-there ain't a
one in sight!
The mountains rise an kiss the skies-the
fields are bathed in light,
An the roses-they jest revel in the sun
shine full an free,
An they're comm back from Sherman
from Sherman an the sea!
Talk about your battlefields-why, amt q
single sign!
The blue has come to Dixie, an the boys
are all in line!
An here's the new Atlanta. with the
laurel on her brow
The boys have all been fightn" but-you
ought to see 'em now
Talk about your battlefields!-in all the
sonS-swept dells
The mock!n' birds are slngn', an the cat
tie shake their bells;
We jest can't think We ever had
wrangle, or row.
For the blue an gray are mixin', an you
ought to see 'em now!
Due 10 Colonel IIemphiIl
1t is really due to the efforts Of Col
onel Hemphill, editor Of the Constitu-
tion, that the exposition Is assured.
1t was near Christmas of '93. when
reading despatch regarding the Cot
ton Palace exposition of Waco, Texas.
that the idea of great exposition Mt
Atlanta was formed. Colonel Hemp
hills plan was eagerly accepted l.y all
the great men of the south, and thus
in less than two years the mighty en-
ferprise is an accomplished fact.
1t may be of interest to the people
of this region to know that much of the
work of grading Piedmont park has
been done bycOnvict labor. The convicts
We're furnished by the county, and the
assistance thus rendered has been in
valuable. They have labored in the
rain, and the heavy carts have been
dragged through almost impossible
mud to construct the beautiful lake,
Clara Nicer, which is the pride of all
interested in the exposition. Eighty
million gallons of water have been re-
quired to fill the lake, and this great
amount has been supplied by the city.
One of the superior advantages of the
exposition are its walks and drives.
Every one remembers the condition OF
the pavements at lthe Worlds Fair
and the continual state of mud they
were in because of the perpetual
sprinkling. All this is obviated at At
lanta. The pavements are composed of
crushed stone. so laid as to be simply
everlasting. No amount of rain will
make them muddy, and they will re-
quire no care.
Fine Electric Fountain.
The electric fountain will be on a
much more stupendous scale than at
Cbipap No wirpg tn no
the grounds. as they are all carried In
ducts beneath the surface. and are even
concealed In the hollow interior Of
poles
The great beauty of the exposition
consists in the fact that the Piedmont
is diversified by hill and valley. and
that the buildings are placed on eleva-
tions that give them noble promin-
ence. No state building Is handsomer
than that of Pennsylvania. 1t Is to be
permanent addition to the grounds,
and will be used as club house for the
Driving club after the close of the ex-
position. The grounds about 1t are
elaborately laid out. and on either side
of the front are two covered court ex-
tensions, whose pillored porticOes give
distinctly classical appearance. In
the center Is an open court. the stately
steps guarded by lions couchant.
A special feature OF the Pennsyl-
vania building is roof garden covered
with canvas. Seats will be provided;
and this spot will be "a positive attrac-
tion.
In the open court old Liberty Bell
will stand to be gazed at with rever-
ence by the assembled multitudes. A
special car has been built for it. and
1t will have triumphal procession.
such as 1t experienced In going to the
Worlds Fair. A regular itinerary has
been arranged and Ovations Will be
given all along the route.
Curtain with History.
Among the articles that will appear
with cherished relics of the union and
also with the Scranton exhibit Is a cur
tain that hung above the couch where
Lafayette the nations guest, slum-
bered when he was visiting America.
This precious relic IL the property Of
Mrs. Irene Evans, of 1911 Mulberry
street. who Is a typical southern wo-
man. her home, until recently, being in
Nashville, Tenn. Her grandfather's
roof sheltered the greatest men of their
times. One room, still preserved In
tact, was the resting place of Andrew
Jackson, to which he was borne bleed
ing after his famous duel. Henry Clay
and other statesmen whose names
stand high in the reverence Of the ma
tion were entertained at this hospitable
freside times unnumbered. 1t was
from this place that Lafayette accom-
panied the fair young mistress of the
house. Mrs. Evans grandmother, to the
great hall given in his honor, and Mrs.
Evan Is still tn possession of the
enormous tortoise shell comb carved
with exquisite beauty that her ances.
tress wore on thi occasion.