Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-05-21
OHN.W.THOMAS.]
PRE- SIDENT. |

President Mckinley placed the tip or
his right forefinger on a tiny electric
button in his office at the white house
at noon on Saturday. Then he pressed
it lightly and a thousand miles away
in the Southland the massive machln-
cry of the Tennessee Centennial EX-
position was set in motion. Flags or
all nations leaped from hundred PIN
nacles and "Old Glory foated out over
the scene from the top of the giant
Flagstaff, while the sons and daughters
of Tennessee and of all states, gath
cred in thousands to hear recited the
simple story of why the exposition is,
mingled their shouts with reverbera-
tions of saluting guns.
These opening exercises were simple
and dignified, befitting the character OF
the men who have made Nashville's SUI
perb white city In brief addresses the
governor of the state and the chief
officers of the exposition celebrated the
history of Tennessee, interpreted the
spirit of the occasion, narrated briefly
what has been done and then invited
the whole nation to participate in the
benefits.
Triumph OF Nashville.
No word of boastfulness, no syllable
of -glorification was heard. There
has been erected here the greatest, the
broadcast, the most beautiful and the
most complete exposition ever built
without government aid. 1t is big
enough to represent the whole nation,
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from
Canada to the gulf-more than 200
acres of park land, with all the con-
comitants of shady walks, groves,
lakes and flowers enough to deck the
garden of fairy queen. It's scope, lit
orally and fguratively, is broader than
any state, any section, over-reaching
even national boundaries and bringing
together the products of all civilized
peoples. The arts and sciences, edu-
cation and commerce, history and pro-
ductive possibility, the skill of handi-
craft which transmutes the coarse ma
terial of mother earth into the dainti-
est possessions of earths inhabitants |
and the genius which preserves the |
delight of humber beings-all are rep
resented within the walls of these
white palaces. In it's parts and in it's
entirety it has all the completeness of
the master workman's finished prod
uct. all the beauty of the artists con-
ception.
From end to end it is the work of
Nashville, the modest
capital of a modest state, a city which
is outclassed by a score of American
cities in numerical strength and in
dustrial Importance, city where less
than 100. 900 people live. Nashville men
conceived the idea Nashville men gave
the brains which has given that idea
form in landscape and architecture.
Nashville dollars have paid the bills
IN the last cent The last spadeful of
earth has been turned the last brick
laid the last nail driven and paid for
and the result is offered to the people
IF the whole country with the simple
invitation. Come and see" The men
IF Nashville who have done all this
ook for their reward only in the per-
;onal consciousness of work well done
md in the admiration of their fellows
'or the fabric they have reared. AS
me looks at this exposition with the
minds eye. taking in the associations
which cluster around the landmarks,
I'D and new, aboriginal and transplant
ID from other lands and other ages,
me wonders at the audacity of the or
ginal conception and marvels that so
much of this gray old worlds life story
an be told on so small page.
In the beginning, this exposition was
damned to celebrate the one hundre6th
birthday of the volunteer state" Pr
,neers of the same blood as those who
aid the foundations of this nation and
emented the stones with their blood,
arved a state out of the wilderness