Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1903-05-01
OBLIGATORY RITES
GREAT WORLDS FAIR
60, 900 People Crowded Lib
eral Arts Building.
MOST AusPIcIous OCCASION


In Presence of Governors, Senators
Representatives and Distinguishes
Guests from Various Nations, Presi.
dent Roosevelt Spoke.
st. Louis, April 30.-The rites which
presented the Louisiana Purchase ex
position 20 the world were performed
in the Liberal Arts today, wiz all
the dignity and splendor befitting such
an occasion, a parade of II 600 sol
diers down Landell boulevard to the
worlds fair grounds forming a bril-
liant prelude to the ceremony of ded.
ication
Sixty thousand people were crowd.
ed into the auditorium where, in the
presence of official representatives OF
all the civilized nations of the world,
the words of dedication were spoken
by the president of the United States.
AS the last syllable fell from the speak.
er's lips and the dedication of one Of
the worlds greatest fairs was com.
pleted, 10000 voices rose in a prodi.
gious note of applause.
An Imposing Company.
President Roosevelt, ex-President
Cleveland and an imposing company
of diplomats, governors, senators, con.
gressiOnal representative government
officials and representative of the ex
position came to the Liberal Arts build
ing from functions which were served
in tents on the grounds.
President Roosevelt, former Pres
ident Cleveland, President Francis. of
the exposition company; President
Carter of the worlds fair committee;
members of the cabinet and the su.
pIeme court took seats in the center
of the platform. At the presidents
right sat the visiting diplomats, a dis
tinguished looking contingent In
this section also were other distin-
guished foreigners and representatives
of the state department at Washing
ton. To the left of the president sat
the joint delegation of senators and
representatives representing congress,
foreign commissioners to the fair, Gen.
eral Miles, Adjutant General Corbin
and General Bates, with many others,
scarcely less distinguished
The two front sections of the audi
torium proper were occupied by the
governors of states and their staffs,
the national worlds fair committee
commissioners, United States senators
and congressman who were not mem
bers of the congressional joint dele
cation and other notable guests. Across
the aisles was a brilliantly gowned as
semblage of women, including wives
and guests of the men connected with
the ceremonies and the board of lady
managers.
Miles of Bunting and Flags.
Back of these rose, tier on
tier, thousand of the common
ly spoken of as the general
public" Those in the rear of this
contingent had difficulty in hearing
the speakers, for the hall is a long
one and the miles of bunting and
flags, exhibiting the mingled colors
of Spain, France, and the United
States, impaired the acoustic proper
ties Of the building. Although many
could not hear, all could see, and the
rear guard cheered the appearance of
the speakers as heartily as the more
fortunate ones who could hear their
words.
At the conclusion of the speeches to-
day being the one-hundredth anniver-
sary of the signing of the treaty which
transferred the Louisiana Purchase
from France to the United States, a
centennial salute of 100 guns was
fired
The days demonstration will con
clude tonight with a display of fire
works on a significant scale.