Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-05

American flags cheered and sang sacred
and patriotic songs in honor OF Ad-
miral George Dewey at the public re-
ception at the exposition building to-
day. The song service, which was the
last of a series of functions that occu-
pied the time of Admiral and Mrs.
Dewey from early in the day, tool,
place late this afternoon at public
reception given in the big building in
which four years ago President Nc
Kinley was nominated and was attend
ed by an audience that packed the edi-
flee almost to suffocation.
The two days celebration in honor
of Admiral Dewey began this morning
with a short informal reception on the
floor of the Merchants Exchange, trad
ing being entirely suspended in the pits
during the visit OF the distinguished
guest. This reception was limited TO
members of the exchange and their
families, but the big hall and the gal
leries around it were packed when a
wild cheer announced the arrival OF
Admiral and Mrs Dewey and the mem
bers of the Admirals party. Escorted
by President Whitelaw, of the Mer-
chants Exchange, the Admiral ascend
cd the rostrum and after few brief
remarks by President Whitelaw Mayor
Ziegenhein made a Characteristic
speech, bidding the Admiral warm well
come to st. Louis. The Admiral re-
piled thanking the citizens of st. Louis
tor his reception. But I'm not ready
to be called Uncle George Dewey of
America, as the mayor suggests" said
he with smile. cat least not yet.
I'm not old enough"
Immediately after. the reception at
the Exchange the party took carriages
and were driven along the boulevards
and private driveways leading through
the beautiful residence district of the
West End and thence to Forest Park.
Near the entrance to the park, just
opposite the Blair monument, the Adj
miral's carriage was stopped for a mo-
ment, while a hundred girl students
of Forest Park University presented
him with an immense bunch of Amer
lean beauty roses and gave their col
lege yell in response to his thanks.
The drive along the park koulevards
was continual ovation for the Ad
miral. During the three-quarters of
an hour spent by the party in driving
through the park, the carriages were
followed by hundreds of vehicles laden
with enthusiastic people, and by the
time the Admiral reached the exit of
the park, the procession of vehicles,
horsemen and bicyclists on each side
and behind was miles long.
At l p. m. the party was driven to
the University Club for luncheon and
an informal reception and shortly az
ter 8 the carriages were driven to the
exposition building for the public re-
ception. For hours a crowd inside
the building numbering fully 10000,
including the Sunday school children,
had waited patiently the coming 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
children inside the building saw him
walking down the steps leading to the
section reserved for the Admiral's
party. 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 sea of the national coll
ors. Then, led by the band, ten thou
sand childish voices started The Red,
White and Blue" the children at the
same time waving their flags The
song was at once taken 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, and as the grand
words of the national anthem rang
out in a tremendous volume of music.
the Admiral, visibly agitated, bowed
his Acknowledgements right and LETT.
AT the conclusion of the song, Chair
man w. H. MeClain, leading two little
children, pressed through the crowd
In behalf of the children of st.
Louis" he said. Il wish to present to
you this silk flag, and to Mrs. Dewey
these songs
Then the youngsters, flushed and
smiling, stopper forward and gave 70
the Admiral silk flag with the words
and music of "On Land and Sea" print
ed thereon. and to Mrs. Dewey a port
folio of the songs of the children print
ed on white silk. Then the Admiral
surrendered. Taking the children ia
his arms he kissed them heartily and
thanked them, while the thousands of
less fortunate children looked on and
in shriH voices yelled their delight.
Two more songs. Columbia and Dix