The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-06-07
MARK TWAIN BIDS
FAREWELL TO THE RIVER.
Continued From Page One.


heard expressed here with regard to France
and the French people are in entire syInpa-
thy with our sentiments
, The music We have heard has been large
| ly French music. We have been made TO
| feel completely at home Kindness has
| met US everywhere; cu= hearts are touched
! and nowhere m America have we felt more
at home than in St. Louis, where We have
/ made so many friends. l can almost say
that hoped the Worlds Fair would open
sooner than the date set Tor It. An earlier
3 opening would bring Us back sooner, and
friends never lie 70 be long parted.
The Exposition IS TO be opened on April
90. II it were to be opened or April I.
All Fools Day, We would be here Just the
same. and run the risk Of becoming the vic
tins Of April fool pranIls and Jokes" Then,
addressing himself more directly TO Presi-
g dent Francis, toward whom most OF his re-
marks had been addressed, VI. Lagrave con-
tinued:
! President Francis has been kind enough
/ TO call me his friend. therefore l will take
the liberty OF saying, my friend, hope TO
see you again soon-at the greatest inter-
national exposition ever held The speaker
was interrupted by loud cheers. He con-
clUded by referring again to the friendly
character Of the reception that he and the
other members Of the party had in St.
Louis, and alluded TO the presence OF the
Countess de Rochambeau by saying that
the party was delighted that she was with
them. as she represented the best part Of
France-her wcmanhood. He spoke Of the
presence Of Pierre Chouteau, member OF
one Of the oldest French families OF the
city and Of his efforts to secure a suitable
IN for ba
speech throughout was highly compliment
tary TO the people OF ST. Louis.
GOVERNOR FRANCIS'S TOAST
TO FRANCE AND LOJBET.
President Francis began the toastmak:ng
BY historical sketcn OF the part tae
French had had played in settling the Missis-
the occasion in these words:
We are favored and nOnOred today by
the presence in our midst OF the distln-
guished representatives. OF France. We
welcomed them yesterday and we renew
that welcome now. We said then that
spect to our guests, the tricolor Of France
hoated over the Louisiana Territory, and
so do we gay to-day that the navigation Of
this great waterway. which was for 50
long a bone OF contention between your
country and ours, is now. to our sincere
pleasure. possessed by both peoples N
we trust that the relations now existing
may not only continue but he strengthened
y D.
that you will join me in the sentiment
which l now propose, the distinguished
President Of the French Republic. And may
the Commissioner General from France TO
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition favor
ing US with his presence to-day. succeed in
the effort which on yesterday he pledged US
he would exert, to induce that President to
be the guest Of the Exposition to be held
in St. Louis in 1904
NO foreign country is closely associ- |
ated with this beautiful land and this ma !
jestic river is La Belle France. and no ,
people other than our own were so inti- |
mately connected with the great event |
which this Exposition is held to Commemo-
rate as were those whom you represent. The |
friendly relations now existing between |
your people and ours and which have been (
materially strengthened by this visit OF 4
yours, will be still more strongly cemented !.
by the presence In our midst Of the IL |
lustrfous President of the French Repub- |
lie. May there be no surcease OF effort on |
your part, Mr.. Commissioner General TO |
bring abbut an end so greatly desired and |
Cess Is our earnest wish
MAYOR WELLS ASSURES
ALL VISITORS L WELCOME.
Mayor Wells was introduced by President |
Francis and responded in complimentary |
terms 10 the French visitors. and assured |
them that none Of the strangers who would |
coIIe tC tHs gates ot the cit! Wouid receive |
more cordial welcome or greater hospital |
ity than the citizens Of France. Then the |
Mayor turned his remarks in another direc- |
ton. He said:
I'VE of St. Louis take great pride in hay
ing in our midst and with US to-day a gen
tleman whose pleasaniries have brought |
sunshine and joy in every household in |
America
1T would not be proper or incumbent
EFFORT TT Of that kind on On m my y part % Would iEi be be
like eating soup with a fork; 1t would he
Ike an EFFORT on my part TO get President
Francis to admit that this Worlds Fair
will not be the greatest Exposition that has
ever been held. at least the greatest Fair
that has ever been held since the death of
n IAN |
who sits on my right, over whose grave
were shed bitter tears. the grave OF Adam.
with us. and. sir. without power or law or
ordinance, but for the reason that every
wave and every ripple Of this great Miss.s-
forth in gladness to have you once more
on Its surface, am going to call upon our
distinguished guest, the Countess de Ro-
chambeau, to christen this harbor boat
Mr. GuilIemin. first secretary Of the
the party for the courtesy they had re-
ceived. Pierre Chouteau. direct descend
ant Of Laclede. who founded st. Louis, re-
sponded to Mr.. Guillemin. speaking in
French. Alexander De Menil paid high
tr,buts TO the Msrnnis De Lafayette.
VISIT ST. LOUIS STORES.
On returning to the Planters Hotel, the
members OF the party either retired to their
rooms to rest or went TO walk about the
shopping district. Among those who went
10 NiSlt the SHOPS were tne count ana
Countess de Rochambeau. They made sew
eral purchases and returned TO the hotel
about p. m.
Supper was served for the party in its
private dlning-rUOm at 1:15 p. m. The re-
past was informal. but It was after 10
o clock before the guests began to leave the
table. Before separating to prepare for
their departure. the distinguished French
men expressed admiration for their enter
tainment while here in the highest terms.
They were well pleased with the accom-
and service afforded them At the
Planters Hotel. and declared their st. Louis
hosts the most hospitable they had met
since arriving in America. Their entire
visit here was pleasurable. the programme
Of entertainment being carried out without
q hitch. They said that from the first day
they had been made to feel perfectly at
home. and that the informalty of the vari-
Dus functions given in their honor had given
an especial charm to their visit.
Shortly after IL o'clock the party entered
carriages and was driven to Union alton. |
escorted by Pierre Chouteau, Alexander De-
Menil. Thomas ". Cridler and Jere Hunt.
At 1l:45 D. m. the party departed for Chi
raEo in a special car attached to the Chi
cago and Alton train.