Evening star., 1898-04-12
SCENE OF SPLENDOR
ssazz
Brillianoe and Beauty at Opening Of
Masonic Fair.
THOUSANDS OF VISITORS ENTERTAINED
President Mckinley Sends Cordial
Greetings by Telephone.
VICE PRESIDENT ATTENDS


: In the years to come, when the National
Masonic Temple shall have long been an
addition to the edifices In the national capi-
tai, old men and old women will look up at
it with mellow eyes, and. half signing, will
say, "Oh, what a fair that wasr'
This will only be the natural tribute of
their memories to something notable, in
spired by the delightful recollections Of an
entertainment stupendous as spectacle,
wonderful as the epitome of energetic ef-
fort, and altogether unique. novel, attract
i've and unrivaled by anything similar that
has gone before.
No one can deny that such is the proper
Characterization of the fair and the ex-
position that was opened last night in Con-
vention Hall and the commodious armory
building annexed thereto. For months the
members Of the Masonic fraternity In the
District of Columbia, and their wives and
daughters, sisters and sweethearts, have
been directing all their energies to pre-
pairing for the great event. Lodges, chap
tiers and communicates have We'd with each
other as organizations to most substantial
ly promote the project which was to assure
the erection in Washington of a central
temple, within whose walls every Mason
might ever find a warm fraternal welcome
and the individual members of these organ
1zations struggled in friendly rivalry with
one another for the honor of doing the
most for their respective bodies.
And Masons elsewhere lent a helping
hand. which is still extended and droppine
helpful substance into the treasury of the
temple fund. From the Atlantic to the
Pacific, and from the pine trees to the
palmettos, Masonic bodies and individual
la aCay1 how a
dences of their approval of the temple
project. Accordingly, the fair and exposi-
ton Is national in its character. as the
theme which inspired 1t Is national and
last night the sentiment of the great throne
assembled there was national. too. This
was exemplified in no uncertain way when
during the exercises with which the vast
festival was inaugurated the chorus broke
forth in the national anthem, America. .
The cheers that went up made the stars
and stripes tremble as they f1oated from
the high arched ceiling above, and then
with almost one accord the people Joined
their voices to those of the chorus and the
strains of the mighty hymn arose with q
force and strength unusual and impressive
The arrangements for the opening of the
fair had been prepared with wisdom, and
when the general public was admitted, at I
O'Clock, everything was in place in the
numerous booths, and even the early
cOmers, and they numbered hundreds, were
clad In variety of attractive and appro-
pirate costumes.
Martha Washingtons with prettily patch
ed cheeks that were made brighter by the
powdered hair above them, trfpped daintiIy
along with modest Puritan maidens whose
occurrences did not even disappear when
with Priscilla-like coyness. they asked fol
votes for this, that or the other article, iot
which such a novel and numerous VARIETY
are to be disposed Of at the fair by thi.
system of franchise.
Swiss peasants and daughters of the
Rhine swung along gaily on the silk-clad
arms of fez-topped Arab patrols, and every.
where the CLEAN of plump white shoulders
and dazzling expanses of manly shirt fronts
showed that the occasion was regarded n
many directions as being worthy of tn,
honor of full dress. The result of the ad.
mirable preliminaries was made more pro.
nounced by the excellent Judgment shown
IN conducting the opening exercises. Brew
NY. which Is not only the soul of wit hui
the very essence of good sense on such oc-
c9sions as that Of last night, was pleasant
ly predominant IN the exercises. After an
earnest prayer by Rev. Dr. c. B. Smith the
grand chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Ma
sons of the District of Columbia. and the
rendition OF Hall, Columbia" by the Ma
tlcnal Guard Brigade Band, under the ~.
Tectlon OF Prof. r. r. Strattan, Presid .nt i.
Henry Small, jr., Of the board of control
arose and simply introduced Samuel q
Faimer' the most worshipful grand master