The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-05-04

,4-tg MAJOR A W. WILLS. ~ |
Commissioner General Tennessee Cen
tennial Exposition.
The men who have thought out and
worked out this wonderful enterprise
have done so in such an unpretentious
manner that the people of Nashville
themselves hardly realized that the
white city was an accomplished fact
until they heard its praises echoed and
re-echoed by the press throughout the
world
The principal buildings are as fol-
lows: First, the parthenon, an origin
ally designed and completed by Phidias
at Athens; the erechtheon, or history
building, will be the depository of val
liable relics; the commerce building,
known since the worlds fair in expo
sition parlance as the manufacturers
and liberal arts building; the educa-
ton and hygiene building; agricultural
transportation, Negro building, ma
chinery, government building, the
woman's building. minerals and for
estry, and others of lesser note, nearly
so in all.
The women of Tennessee have
played no mean part in the necessary
" DIRK of making the exposition a great
success. They organized the woman's
department by placing Mrs. Van Leer
Kirkman, a sweet, womanly woman
and a famous beauty at the helm as
president, and she has been ably as
sisted by Miss Ada Scott Rice as secre-
tary and board of managers selected
from the best material in the state.
The opening of the exposition
marks the Tooth year of the admission
of the state into the sisterhood of the
CONFERENCE.-The. The inaugural cere-
monies a year ago were attended by a
military pageant that was significant
of the prowess Of the Volunteer state,
and after the baptism Of arms comes
the sweet presence of art and science
and the formal opening Saturday was
marked by the absence of the citizen
soldiery in uniform, though every
man present was a soldier if called
upon to protect his home in fair Ten
nessee, and to main tain the dignity of
the Volunteer state. The members Of
both houses Of the legislature and
their wives sSembled at the Union
street depot of the Nashville, Chatta-
nooga & St. Louis railway at o'clock,
and were conveyed in special trains to
the handsome terminal station at the
west side Of the exposition park. The
place of rendezvous was the Admins
tration building, whence the officials,
legislators and distinguished guests,
including the governor of the state,
Hon. Robt. L. Taylor, Gen. Ignacio
Garfia, postmaster general of the re-
Oh bile OF Mexico and suite, escorted
Oy vast concourse of citizens, pro-
,eeded to the auditorium, which, in a
few moments, was filed with above
1000 people, while a perfect multitude
was unable to obtain admission, and
contented itself with listening to the
inspiring strains of Bellstedt e Bal
,enberg's superb military concert band
Of Cincinnati. The ceremonies were
opened with prayer by Ri Rev. Thos.
T. Gailor, co-adjutor bishop of Ten
nessee.
After America" had been played in
| a most impressive manner, Maj. J. w.
Thomas, president of the Tennessee
pOSIIlOA W. I'll OoO anu " 90 ACSS4NSN
! with cheers and applause.
The next address was by Hon. Rob
ert L. Taylor, governor of Tennessee.
AS he advanced toward the front of
! the platform the crowd rose as one
man, and it was several minutes be-
fore his excellency could proceed with
his address.
| When order was restored, or rather
when quiet once more reigned, Maj.
E. c. Lewis, the director general of
the association, under whose sl>illful
| guidance the marvellous project ma
| terialized and came into being, stepped
! forward, and as he did so the volume
! Of applause shook the very armament.
| At the conclusion of Maj. Lewis adj
/ iress, at given signal, the wires
flashed the magic word to the white
! house at Washington, President Nc
+ Kinley touched the button, and, as the
! band played Hail Column bia," the ma
! chinery was set in motion and the Ten
nessee centennial exposition was open
! ed to the world.