The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-13
Crush of People Was So Great that
Ambassador Porter Had Dim-
Guilty I'm Gaining Admission.
CEREMONIES VERY SIMPLE
PRESENTATION SPEECH BY COMMITS
SIONER GENERAL PECK.
Brief Reply by VI. Picard-Prohfbi-
lighting Parisians and Visitors.

| PARIS, May 12-The American pavilion
| at.the exposition was formally turned over
| to the authorities and public this after
| noon. The Inauguration took place in the
| presence of embassy and consulate officials.
| a number of high French functionaries,
| foreign diplomats and commissioners and
such concourse of American citizens that
many who were provided with tickets were
unable to gain admittance to the building.
French municipal guards and policemen
formed a Gordon around the building.
keeping the space in front of the main en-
trance on the embankment of the Seine
free for the passage of the official party.
| The crowd assembled mainly the ter
race around the building, facing the river.
| on which special platform had been
| erected for Sousa's Band.
| Before the hour set for the ceremony the
crowd became so dense that orders were
| given to the police to keep the people at
| respectful distance from the doors. The
| French officers adhered so strictly to the
| letter of their instructions that even per-
sons holding invitation tickets were not al
| lowed to pass. Considerable confusion re-
| suited from this cause, and the United
| States ambassador, General Horace Por-
| ter, with his party. found their passage
barred until an official, perceving him from
the building, FASTENED to meet him, and
| the ambassadors party scrambled through.
/ The arrangements for handling the crowd
| were very unsatisfactory and many gave
| up the effort to enter.
The interior of the pavilion was brightly
decorated with American flags and tri-
color bunting, while from the summit of
| the dome around the golden eagle few the
| stars and stripes and the French flag. The
balconies were occupied exclusively by in
/ vited guests, while the floor of the
building a double line of American guards
| with white summer helmets formed an
| aisle through which the official party
| passed from the main entrance to the spot
| where the presentation took place. Behind
| these guards Americans who gained ad-
mission stood and witnessed the proceed
ings.
! CEREMONIES BRIEF.
The ceremonies connected with the for
NAL transfer of the building were quite
simple, consisting of the two addresses. Sou
sas band provided music and the selec-
| tions played were composed purely of
American airs, except the .'Marseillaise.'
Mr.. Peck reached the pavilion about 2
o'clock to await the arrival of M. Picard,
| who, escorted by b. d. Woodward, assist
ant United States commissioner, entered
the exposition gate at the Invalides bridge
| at 2:30 o'clock and proceeded Immediately
| along the Quay d'Orsay to the entrance
| of the American building, which faces the
| Seine. After brief glance at the eques-
trian statue of Washington, which guards
| the portals of the American national pavil-
ion, NJ. Picard ascended the steps leading
to the door. Here Mr.. Peck stood, sur
| rounded by the members of the United
| States commission, and he welcomed the
| French commissioner general Sousas band
struck up the "Marseillaise." All the spec
strains of the French hymn NJ. Picard was
| conducted by Mr.. Peck to the center of the
| rotunda- The audience greeted the conclu-
sion of the air with cheers which NJ. Pic
proceeding with the ceremony, Mr. Peck
| delivering his address and M. Picard re-
plying in a brief and eloquent speech which
| evoked hurrahs from the audience. Mr..
Peck said. addressing NJ. Picard:
| 1.-THE great Nation which / have the
honor to represent has. by your suffrance.
planted this building on the soil of our sis
ter republic France. We rejoice that we
| have been permitted to erect this structure
| on the Rue des Nations. an international
| avenue, destined to become the most famed
| and historic feature of your great universal
| exposition, for these homes of the people
| of the world, standing by the side of one
another, will promote in a large degree
| that great fraternity which should exist
| between the nations of the earth. We have
| builded our structure as a part of your
| great international undertaking, and.
| therefore, 1T is my duty and great pleasure
to transfer TO YOU, as the executive head of
| the exposition this edfice. which is the gift
| of a nation gladly uniting with other ma
tons in bringing to France its resources
and products as a contribution to the great
peace festival so happily inaugurated.'
GOLDEN KEY.
Mr.. Peck here presented NJ. Picard with
a golden key and pendant, representing the
pavilion. souvenir. and concluded with
the words: II know my countrymen will
join me in the sentiment: 'vive lie Com
| missiare General Picardr 'vive lie EXPOSE
ton Unverselle de 1907 'vive la Francer I"
NJ. Picard replied: 'It is for me verita-
BILE good fortune. and at the same time
| profound pleasure, to be able, on this SOL
| emn occasion, to offer the eminent repre-
| sentative of the United States my most
cordial congratulations. The palace of
| majestic elegance which you constructed
| on the banks of the Seine, and which we
inaugurate to-day. appears to me not only
temple to mark the progress of peace,
but also a superb monument raised to the
| time-honored friendship of two nations.
4 feel certain that will be faithful inter-
| prefer of the sentiments of my fellow-citi-
zens in thanking the powerful Republic of
the United States for the friendly welcome
| given to the invitation of the French re-
public and admirable participation in the
| work of concord whereby all countries de-
| cided to close the nineteenth century"
In expressing his thanks for Mr.. Peck's
| souvenir of the occasion NJ. Picard said:
'It constitutes new pledge of the prestige
of your excellent intercourse, and particu-
| larly the indissoluble bond connecting the
| United States and France Gentlemen, /
| ask you to salute the starry banner, the
| folds Of which are so closely blended with
those Of the tri-color. Long live the United
| States of America! Long live their Illus
trious President Mckinley, Long live their
commission and its head. Mr. Peckr'
| At the conclusion of Mr.. Picard's re-
marks a general reception was held
Sousa's Band gave a concert during the
! remainder of the afternoon.