The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1899-09-20
The President Declares the Great EXPOSE
tIon at Philadelphia Opened.
Philadelphia, Sept. IS, 1899.

gathered to witness the opening cere-
monies.
The main entrance of the building
on South street, leads to the main
building of the Exposition through n
wide and beautiful esplanade, with
many green swards and n profusion Of
evergreen decoration on the landscape.
The crowd passed through this grand
avenue Of approach, which is lined on
either side by succession of striking
buildings of peculiar and fantastic
architecture, in which the lighter
amusements of the Exposition, the
diversions, 80 to speak, of the show,
are to be seen and enjoyed. These
structures comprise group of build.
ings in which is gathered the inhabit-
ants of n Chinese village of 500 persons.
Near this is to be seen Oriental
room, in front of which one will see
the curious dancers and performers
of the theatre gazing at the passing
throngs, no doubt rs funny sight to
them rs they to the frstday visitor to
the Exposition. The busy prepare
tions for the camps for the holding Of
Navajo and Moqui tribes of Mexican
Indians were also visible from the es-
planade, affording an interesting pic
ture of aboriginal life.
The United States Marine Band of
~ pieces, in the full glory of their
gorgeous gold and red, had the honor
to do tho first thing i'll connection with
the opening of the Exposition. As
leader Santelman appeared, stick in
hand, he was received with vOciferous
applause, which was almost Immediate
ly drowned by the opening strains of
the "Jubel Overture. The Marine
Bands Overture was followed by pray
er and then Professor Rosewig' mighty
chorus of 500 trained singers burst in
tn the patriotic melody of America,
in which the audience with difficulty
refrained from joining. In the absence
of President p. A. b. Widener, who is
detained in the North, the first vice
president, Mr.. w. w. Foulkrod, open
ed the Exposition i'll an address ex
planning its scope and referring TO the
expected Importance of it's results. He
then formally on behalf of the EXPOSE
lion management, turned the enter
prise over to the Governor of the State
Of Pennsylvania.
Niee-P President Foulltrod's address
was followed by selection from the
" Creation" "The Heavens are Tell
ing" by Professor Rosewig's singers,
which was followed by an address by
Dneator- uenerai w. 4. wilson, who
gave an interesting account of the en-
terprise, its conception, its plans, its
purposes and its possibilities, showing
the immense advantages of such an
exhibit to American trade and Ameri-
can exports. and explaining with much
detail what was expected to
be accomplished and how it was to be
done. Upon the conclusion of the
Director Generals remarks, the Gov
ernor was introduced. Hereferred to
the timeliness of such nm exhibition,
nj n period when the American ideas of
liberty and humanity, as we'll as of
trade and commercial reciprocity were
being carried into every cline and Mt
n period when the American Govern
ment was holding sovereign sway, in
lands scattered all over the world. AL
though he was here to represent the
commonwealth and give its heartiest
endorsement to the Exposition, the fact
was dwelt upon that this is not sec
tional enterprise, not an exhibition of
the city and for the city, or for the
State merely, not of the North or of
the South, nor of the East or the West
of the country, but it represents in
peculiar way, the material trade and
interests of the whole
country.
More music preceded the address by
the Mayor of Philadelphia, Mr.. Ash
bridge, to whom the Governor trans
mitted the custody OF the exposition,
On behalf of the State and the manage
mont of the enterprise. The Mayors
speech was appropriately followed by
chorus, "Unfold Ye Portals" Mt the
conclusion of which the orator of the
occasion, Hon. w. p. Hepburn, Chair
nan of the Committee of the Inter
State Commerce of the House of Re-
was introduced. His
address, was n masterly presentation
rom the standpoint of statesman
who has had the opportunity and pos
,esses the ability to intelligently study
he subject of the influence of Ameri
,an commerce and American manufac-
hurry and the growth of American
upon the current history of
the world.
Archbishop Ryan, the conclusion of
n number by the United States Marine
Band and the reception of telegram
from President Mckinley, declaring
the participation of the United States in
the Exposition, dismissed the audience
with benediction, simultaneously
machinery was set in motion by the
President of the United States by
touching an electric button in the
White House. The great throng as
sisted by the United States Marine
Band, Professor Rosewig and the Grand
Organ, joined in the "Star Spangled
Banner" after which the buildings
and exhibits were inspected by the
guests and by the crowds that parti-
cipated in the opening exercises.
1t is predicted that the finest meteors
seen in thirty years W ill be visible in Nov
ember.
The distance from PHILADELPHIA to the