The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-11-22
OPENING OF THE GYMKHANA


pleasing
an American batleship was the hrst
attraction on entering. Inc Dutch
windmill and Japanese booth STOOD out
with much prominence in the center Oh
the hall, while right behind was
splendid reproduction OF the dewey
arch in New York. Ranged on either
sides are the booths representing Eng
land, Scotland, Ireland, Germany
France, Italy, Russia and other nations
of the old world well accumulated
representation of "Blarney Castle Is
given; also the House That Jack
Built, the Pan-American Express
company the Womens Exchange of
Simpkinsville, and others. A gypsy
booth, the work of the Charles Monson
company, is formed at the lower end,
and here you can have your fortune
told for a small sum. a comfortable
smoking room has been opened where
lovers of the weed can enjoy a quiet
smoke.
To the music of the orchestra the GER
emonies began with the grand review
of the nations. Passing from the eX
ecutive chamber and out in front of
the Dewey arch the procession turned
about the great hall between the
throngs which completely hemmed it
in, and with it's waving banners and
multitudinous colors moved before the
battleship where it was reviewed by
the guests of the evening. After the
parade had described the circumfer-
ence of the hall it brought up once
more before the battleship on whose
deck stood General Ford and Governor
Lounsbury ready to deliver the formal
opening speeches.
General Ford in introducing Governor
Lounsbury, after referring to the ur-
gent needs and the work of the Day
nurseries, for which funds derived from
this festival We're to be utilized, said in
part as follows:
THE officers and managers of this
Festival of Nations have requested me
to ask your attention for few mo-
ments to the formal opening of their
Gymkhana. The attention and time
and talent that have been contributed
to prepare for this occasion and to
maintain its success for the ensuing
evenings deserve this complimentary
attendance. One and all who have con-
tributed by work. means or presence
will accept most sincere thanks. AS to
the origin and significance of the name,
so strange to most of you, 1t may be in
| teresting to those who are not familiar
with it to know that it was recently
referred to by Kipling. 1t originated in
India. In old times it expressed a
grand carnival of such a wide sweep in
character as to comprehend everything
of it's nature which all people enjoyed,
from picnic to a football game or
horse show. Ordinarily, to visit the
nations represented on this floor the
tourist would proceed with a Baedeker
in one hand and large letter of credit
in the other.
Through the efforts of the efficient
women engaged in promoting this fes-
tival you are able to dispense with both,
but your ready cash will be exceedingly
welcome. Following the custom of old
er nations, where the sovereign of the
country or it's most distinguished man
of authority is asked to be present and
formally open such occasions by stamp
ing their personal endorsement upon the
object and extending a welcome to all
the people from the smallest child in
the community to those of the largest
means and highest in authority, / there
His Excellency Hon. George e. Louns-
bury, governor of the commonwealth of |
the state of Connecticut"
Governor LounsbuTy in opening pleas |
ingly spoke of his interesting quest, on
receiving his invitation to address the |
Gymkhana, to obtain definition of the !
word and how he at last fell back upon
the title festival of nations as throwing
complete light on the subject. Adding, !
he proceeded:
81 find that l was not mistaken,
though had not grasped the full mean
ing of your festival The nations are
not here, but you have brought with
you that spirit which lies at the basis
of the civilization of the whole world.
You have come here tonight in that
love which, in one word, best defines
and sums up the essence and the spirit |
of Him who is the Ruler of all the ma
tions and who has an earthly as we'll as
a heavenly court.
ut is not for me tonight to speak of
the special worth of that charitable
work for which this festival is given. I
would not rouse your mere sympathy
for the poor children, for all the world
transcends all sympathy.
81 will not speak of worn and weary
mothers, for though sympathy is a
God-given impulse and a power in the
world, it dies out when it's object is
gone or is forgotten ] would that we
all tonight could put our charity upon
a higher plane than that of sympathy,
that we could give from our souls, from
ourselves and because we are ourselves,
and that we could count good will and
help to others, not as incidents of the
day or the year, but as the life mission
upon which heaven has sent us.
when the object of our charity is
worthy and pressing, and when our
pockets are full, it is not well for us
to inquire into our motives for giving.
Let us give tonight, and after we have
given, and when we are alone let us ex
anime our motives and come back to- ,
night with a fuller purse and,
if need be, with higher motive.
You may be sure of this-that in
your charity you name your own re-
ward. If you have come here tonight
with that lowest of all innocent mo- ,
tive the desire to be amused, you shall
III