The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-08
ST.LOUISH ONORS Dewey
SHE TURNS OUT EN- MASSE TO WEI
COME THE ADMIRAL.
A TWO DAYS ENTERTAINMENT
Begun Yesterday with Receptions. and
Speech-Making Ten y nousa nd child
rem take Part I'm the Public Recepr.op
at the Exposition Building - The Ad-
miral Greatly Pleased With this
Part of the Programme-ue sarren
ders to the Little Ones.

St Louis. May 4.-Ten thousand sun
day school children waving American
flags, cheered and sang sacred and pa
triotic songs in ono OF Admiral
George Dewey at the public reception
at the exposition building today.
The two days celebration in honor
OF Admiral Dewey began his morning
with a short informal reception on the
floor of the merchants exchange. trad
ing being meantime entirely suspended
in the pits. The big hall and the gal
leries round it were packed. Escorted
by President Whitelaw, Of the mer-
chants exchange the admiral ascended
the rostrum and after a few remarks
by President Whitelaw. Mayor Zeigen-
helm made a characteristic speech,
bidding the admiral warm welcome TO
st. Louis. The admiral amid renewed
cheering replied, thanking the citizens
of st. Louis for his reception. But I'm
not ready to be called Uncle George
Dewey, of America as the mayor sug-
gests," said he with a smile. at least
not Yet. I'm not old enough"
Later, the party drove through the
residence district. Near Forest mark,
the admiralS carriage was stopped for
a while a hundred girls, stu
dents Of Forest Park university. pre-
sented him with an immense bunch of
American Beauty roses and gave their
college yell in response to his thanks.
the drive was a continuous ovation,
By the time the admiral reached the
exit of the park, the procession of We
hicles, horsemen and bicyclists on each
side and behind was a mile long.
AT l O'Clock p. m. the party was
driven to the University Club for
luncheon and an informal reception,
and shortly after 3 o'clock the carriages
were driven to the exposition building
for the public reception. For hours a
crowd inside the building numbering
fully 20. 600, including the Sunday school
children, had waited patiently the COM
ing of the admiral, while thousands of
others, denied admittance, filled for
blocks the streets leading TO the build
ing.
The admiral was greeted with wild
cheering by the crowd outside. but his
real reception came when the chill
dren inside the building spied his en-
trance. In an instant every person
in the building was standing up shout
ing and cheering. while in the hands of
the frantic children the waving flags
looked like a sea of the national colors.
Then, led by the band, 10000 childish
voices started The Red, White and
Blue the children at the same time
waving their flags. The song was at
once k up by nearly every person
in the building, even the admiral,
standing and holding a small flag in
his hand. joining. Then America" was
sung. In this, too, everybody Joined
n as the grand words of the national
anthem rang out in a tremndous
volume of music, the admiral, visibly
agitated, bowed his Acknowledgements
right and left.
At the conclusion of the song, Chair.
man w. H. McCIain, leading two little
children, pressed through the crowd
I'm half of the children of st. Louis
he said, Il wish to present to you thi:
silk flag, and to Mrs. Dewey thest
songs" Then the youngsters, flushed
and smiling, stepped forward and CAV,
to the admiral a silk flag with tn
: words and music of "On Land and Sea
printed thereon, and to Mrs. Dewey
81 portfolio of the songs of the children
printed on white silk.
Then the admiral surrendered
Taking the children in his arms h
= kissed them heartily and thanked
Il them, while the thousands of othe
children looked on and yelled their de
light.
FL Two more songs, Columbia" an
Dixie" brought the admiral to atten
i ton and started the cheering again
Then the two returned to the hotel.