The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-01-05

To estimate an American city in sixty
hours requires a measure of self-confifence
greater even than that of the average
newspaper man. 1t is possible. oweve
in that limit of time to feel its pulse and
gain some idea Of its controlling interests
and distinctive characteristics. Certainly.
if one goes to st. Louis prepared through
Il reading of The Crisis 10 look for GER
tain things. and il during his short stay he
is privileged to meet representative leaders
and touch the institutional as Well as the
personal life of the city, he comes away
with certain distinct Impressions.
Both of my evenings Were passed In the
society of persons who stand for the in
| telligence. culture. business enterprise and
| the moral and spiritual ideals of the place.
One company consisted of the directors of
the coming Worlds Fair and their guests,
who had that afternoon participated in the
ceremony of breaking ground for the EN-
position, Governors, Congressmen, Nation
al Commissioners had been summoned to
give dignity to this initial act III Il series
whose grand contamination will undoubted-
ly be the most magnificent Exposition
which this country has even seen. With
$50. OOo, go to draw upon. with the indorse-
ment of the national Government and its
large appropriations. and with the business
integrity and resources of st. Louis pledged
to the undertaking. it can hardly be less
notable in reality than it is now seen 10
be in vision by its sanguine promoters.
At any rate, the banqueteTs We're Lrim-
ming over with hope and enthusiasm. We
sat down to well-laden tables at . o'clock,
a considerable time after the usual hour
for the adjournment of the Boston Con-
gregational Club. The formal speaking be-
gan about IL. Though good. 1t was not
so significant as the presence OF between
TO and go picked men, with determination
and capacity written all over their faces.
Little more has been done at Forest Park
the site of the EXDosition-than to clear
away vast stretches OF woodland prepara-
tory TO building; but after setting these
men and hearing them talk. after learning
that they propose to employ great gangs
CT workmen every hour in the twerty-four,
you can hardly doubt that in so short a
time as a year and six months hence u
great, beautiful city will have sprung up
on meadow and upland. perhaps surprising
in its loveliness the White City at Chicago
and the Pan-American at Buffalo.
My next night was in connection with the
annual banquet of the New England
Society. This always brings together men
and women of Pilgrim strain whose hearts
are still tender at the thought of Plymouth
Rock and the old oaken bucket, and who,
in the midst of a city of alien elements.
have preserved to a large degree their
traditions ara lueais. Like the sons Oh the
Pilgrims who take up their abode in New
York or Brooklyn. these ST. Louis Pilgrim
Society folk do not believe in narrow eX-
ternal conformity TO Puritan ways. Their
banquet was as delicious and ample as
their music was exhilarating and modern.
The bibulous element was not So much in
evidence as on the preceding evening. but
there was just as much good cheer about
the tables in one of the capacious banquet
rooms of the Mercantile Club. Major
General Bates was the guest of honor
the celebrated soldier who, after rcstur-
ing order in. one of the provinces of Cuba.
was sent TO negotiate that now famous
treaty with the Sultan of the Sulu. He
Is now in of the Department of
the West, with his headquarters at Omaha
West-PoiEter though he is and successful