Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-12-18
"WEDNESDAY, DEC. Is, 1904.
THE EDITORS AT THE EXPOSITION.

Thursday last was South Carolina
State Press Association day at the South
Carolina Interstate and West Indian
Exposition. 1t was red letter day for
many newspaper men and their wives,
daughters, sisters and sweethearts from
all sections of the State. 1t was the
writer's good fortune to represent the
Keowee Courier on that auspicious occa-
sion. The editors had been invited to
come to Charleston as the guests of the
exposition managers, and as news
paper man never was known to slight an
invitation to partake of a good thing, he
wcnt-she went-they all went. Aud to
say they were glad to be there, is put
ting it lightly. They came, they saw,
and were conquered. Their most fanci-
full dreams were more than realized.
AT eleven o'clock Thursday morning
the party was met at The Argyle Hotel
by a committees, with Col. J.. G. Hemp
hill, the veteran editor of the News and
Courier, as chairman. Mayor j. Adger
Smythe was also present, to extend a
welcome in his own inimitable style
After the exchange of greetings and
hearty hand snakes the arrival of two of
the largest special cars of the Consoli-
dated Company was announced. They
were soon filled, and the ride of two
miles to tho exposition grounds begun
amid the chatteriug of merry voices.
Arriving at the grounds, the party as
sembled at the spacious auditorium.
Here addresses of welcome were made
by Col. }. G. Hcmphill, manager of the
department of promotion and publicity
of the Exposition Company; Col. j. H.
Averill, director general of the Exposi-
ton Company, and Col. j. Adger
Smythe, Charlcston's popular mayor
Happy responses were made by Presi-
dent L. II. Aull, of the State Press Asso-
citation, Governor M. b. McSwceney and
Mrs. Virginia ID. Young. Several fine
selections were admirably rendered by
the First Band, United States Artillery
corps.
A procession was formed in front of
tho auditorium, and the party proceeded
across the easy asphalt walks toward the
Sunken Garden. Tho band stand and
coming tower comes in between and
this was made the first stop and the
beauties of the surroundings fully
enjoyed. Then over the archcd bridges
to the gardens in the miniature lake, and
again across, when opposite the central
entrances of the South Carolina building.
Inside the Agricultural building there
was found large force hard at work
getting the finishing touches put on the
various and beautiful State exhibits.
Spartanburg, having large space and
having also very nearly completed the
work of erection and decoration, ro-
ceived n great amount of attention.
Half an hour or more was spent in this
building and then the steps were turned
to the other great buildings in the chain
of palaces. The Colonades, where the
handsome exhibits from United States
war and navy departments are being
placed, received considerable notice, and
the visitors were particularly interested
in the miniature models of the United
boats. The Cotton Palace was reached
after a time and the multitude of booths
and exhibits taken in with a passing
glance only. There was not time for an
extended examination of any one thing,
and the march was continued around the
mile and Il third circle Of the court. The
Dalace OF Commerce received some atten-
ton and then the Mines and Forestry
building was visited. Everywhere the
visitors turned they were surprised and
pleased with the grandeur and excellence
of the structures. No minor detail
seemed to be overlooked and buildings
of such size and capacity had not been
contemplated by those who have only
read figures and descriptions of the eX-
position. AS was often remarked, The
exposition will have to be seen to be ap-
prcciated and understood. The press
party went across the Grove street road
way into the Natural section and the
first building visited here was that OF
Maryland. Ii they had been pleased
before the visitors were dOubly so when
they entered the exquisite homo of the
Maryland commission, with its restful
air, and its almost classic beauty of ar
chitecture and finish. The New York
building, the Pennsylvania building and
the Philadelphia building were all Wis
tied and duly admired and then trip
was made to the Palace of Fine Arts
al NV, gJ,
the Fisheries building, and view of the
Machinery Hall, Electrical and Trans
portatlon buildings was had across Lake
Juanita. The procession was moving
towards the Woman's building at this
time, and the buildings for Illinois,
Honduras the Louisiana Purchase com
mission, Guatemala Alaska, Cincinnati,
the Negro building and other structures
in various stages of completion were
shown. The party had walked more
than one mile by the time the entrance
to the splendid old Colonial residence
was reached that forms the principal
portion OF the Woman's building, and it
was with the greatest of pleasure that
all went in and were made comfortable
in the many and beautiful and interest
ing rooms ir charge of the Womans
department
AT TIE wOMAN'S BUILDING.
y tea ana reception was rendered by
the ladies Of IT," Woman's department at
three o'clock in the afternoon. The
visitors had spent four hours on the
grounds and walked several miles, but
here pleasant surprise was in store
i hc doors of the largo assembly hall
were thrown open aud the visitors in
vltcd to enter, rest and refresh them
selves. The room had been transformed
by dc1t hands into IA perfect bower of
beauty. Flowers and pottcd plants add
to its charm. At tho western end of the
hall were seated Governor McSwceney
and Mrs. McSwCeney, President and
Mrs r.. III. Anil, Mrs. $. G.. Sin onds,
president OF the Woman's department.
and the ladies Of the Executive Board,
consisting of Mrs. Rawlins Lowndes,
Mrs. W. II. Brawley, Mrs. Charles
Litschgi, Mrs. Hendricks, Mrs. Il. f.
Alston, Mrs. Aston Pringle, Mrs. j. G.
TiGdcman, Mrs. Brackett and others.
Mrs. Simonds, on behalf of the Wo.
mans department, opened the proceed
ings by extending a cordial welcome to
the visitors in which she expressed the
pleasure it gave the ladies of the depart
partment to have the Press Association
present with them upon the occasion of
the formal opening of the Woman's
building.
Governor McSwecncy responded on be-
half of the State and the members of the
association, saying that it gave them all
great delight TO be with the good women
of tho State, who had dono so much to
make the exposition a success, and with
out whose work and heroic labors it
would have been impossible TO have held
N "a l,O lyn1 axty.,,