The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-05
DEWEY Is THE IDOL OF THE CHILDREN
Ten Thousand Sing and Cheer in His Honor in
ST. Louis.
(By the Associated Press

10y the ASSOcldIeu TEeSS'l
st. Louis Mo, May 4.-Ten thousand
Sunday school children waving American
flags cheered and sang sacred and patri-
otto songs in honor of Admiral George
Dewey at the public reception at the eX-
position building today. The two days
celebration in honor of Admiral Dewey
began this morning with a short informal
reception On the floor of the Merchants
Exchange, trading being in the meantime
entirely suspended in the pit. The big
hall and the galleries around it were
packed Escorted by President Whitelaw
Of the Merchants Exchange, the Admiral
assembled the rcstrum and after a few
brief remarks by President Whitelaw,
Mayor Ziegenheim made a characteristic
speech, bidding the Admiral warm well
come 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
suggests" said he with a smile. AT
least not yet. I'm not old enough.
Later the party drove through the resi-
dence portion of the city. Near Forest
Park the Admiral's carriage was stopped
fer a moment while a hundred girl stud
ents of Forest Park University presented
him with an immense bunch of American
beauty roses and gave their college yell
in response to his thanks. The drive was
continuous ovation. BY the time the
Admiral reached the exit of the park.
the procession of vehicles. horsemen and
bicyclsts 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
after o'clock the carriages were driven
to the exposition building for the public
reception. For hours a crowd inside the
building numbering fully 10000, including
Sunday school children had waited pa
tently the coming of the Admiral, while
thousands of others, denied admittance
filed for blocks the streets leading to the
building. The Admiral was greeted with
wild cheering by the crowd outside, but
his real reception came when the chill
dren inside the building sped his en-
trance. In an instant every person in the
building was standing up shouting and
cheering, while in the hands of the frantic
children the waving flags looked like
sea of the national colCrs. Then, led by
the band, ten thousand 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 Ad
mral visibly agitated, bowed his ac
acknowledgements right and left At the
conclusion of the song, Chairman w. II.
McClain leading two little children,
pressed through the crowd. I'm 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 smil-
ing, stepped forward and gave to the Ad-
miral a silk flag with the words and music
Of ION Land and Sea-" printed thereon
and to Mrs. Dewey portfolio of the songs
Of the children printed on white silk.
Then the Admiral surrendered. Taking
the children in his arms he kissed them
heartily and thanked them, while the
thousands of other children looked on and
yelled their delight.
Two more songs, Columbia and
Dixie brought the Admiral to attention
and started the cheering again Then
the two returned to the hotel
The Admiral and Mrs. Dewey were given
a notable banquet tonight and magnifi-
cent silver punch bowl the gift of The
citizens of st. Louis, was presented to the
Admiral