Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-01
Kings and Emperors Send Representatives
to St. Lsuis Celebration.
STATES AND UNION DELEGATES ATTEND
Governors, Diplomats and Soldiers Join
Public at St. Louis
BLANKETS CLoTHE FASHIONABLE BEAUTIES
Cold, Wet weather Fails to Trouble
Great crowd, witch Laughs when
smart Set VeiI FiImy
Dresses.

ST. LOUIS, April sO.-Rulers and repre-.
sentatives OF rulers. those who make the
laws and those who enforce them. soldiers,
sailors and great concourse OF the sover-
eign American people today Joined In one
enthusiastic whole to formally ded cate the
Louisiana Purchase exposition grounds and
hand them over TO the nation.
1t was a raw, cold day, with Just enough
snow to emphasize the lateness Of the
spring and more than enough rain TO make
the crowd OF shlvering spectators uncom-
monty uncomfortable, yet there was not
enough Of both combined to keep one away
or dishearten any who were there. The
flags which warmed the somber lines Of
city streets into a glow OF Oriental color,
were, indeed, draggled and forlorn and the
dyes in some OF the cheaper decorations
failed to stay in place, but this none no
ticed, being apparently content to take all
things as they found them and unite in
making light OF all discomforts.
Blankets Cover smart Set.
The crowd of women. wives and daugh-
ters OF the distinguished guests, had turned
out in all the glory OF modern civilized
garb though anxious to eclipse the gilt
tering uniforms Of the military contingents
gathered to typify the power OF the great
republic and its component states. These
were in torture. Laces silks and bows OF
colored ribbons lend enchantment, but
hardly servo to turn the penetrating cold
of a late Missouri spring. Consequently
Mrs >odell. wife OF the governor OF New
York. and other members Of the board Of
lady managers hunted up supply OF warm
army blankets and distributed them among
| their shivering sisters Thus all unintention-
ally the earliest of nj fha rapas IN, contzoI
the Louisiana Purchase were represented
by proxy and crowd looking for all the
world like rows OF Indian squaws sat and
shivered and beamed, cheered and waved
dainty handkerchiefs when at length Presi-
dent Roosevelt walked across from the
| luncheon tent to receive. on the part of
the nation. the frst tangible signs OF next
! years monster fair
| But all this came late In the day long
after the western empire had shown It's
power and rivaled the pomp OF its older and
less democratic sisters by a monster gath
ering Of the clans and an elaborate parade
of 11,OOO troops through the city streets
This was the show feature Of the Gay, but
IL was less what the hordes Of visitors came
TO see than the subsequent gathering In the
| Liberal Arts building on the fair grounds,
where one president and one ex. president
CT the United States, the eficial repre-
sentatives Of half the nations OF the world
and the executive heads of practically
every state in the union united in the ON
cial dedication ceremonies. Here II was
that President Roosevelt received probably
the greatest ovation yet given him since
he left Washington nearly month ago on
his long western tour. There we're $4,000
people there representing every class and
every country in the world.
Nations All DO Honor.
In the center OF the platform sat those
| destined to take the more active part In
the pending ceremonies. There sat the
president and his predecessor in once,
Grover Cleveland. and Mr.. Francis and Mr.
Carter, the presidents respectively of the
| exposition company and the Worlds fair
commission. To the right was the entire
diplomatic, contingent removed temporarily
from Washington to typify the homer their
respective governments wished to pay these
United States. and with them oficials OF
the State department and still other dis
| tinguished foreigners.
! To the left were those representing the
national congress and the three generals,
! Miles, Corbin and Bates representing the
army and all that it's power typiies.
The two front sections of the auditorium
proper were entirely taken up BY
governors of states and their stafis,
the national Worlds Fair commits
sioners, the United States govern
ment board, United States senators and
congressman who were not members Of the
congressional joint delegation, while across
the aisles was a brilliantly gowned assem-
blage Of women, including wives or guests
OF the men connected with the ceremonies,
and the board of lady managers
Behind these rose tier on tier Of the
general public.
Those in the rear Of this contingent had
dificulty in hearing the speakers. for the
hall is a long one. and the miles OF bunt-
ing and flags. exhibiting the ming ed eolors
OF Spain, France and the United States
impaired the acoustic properties Of the
building stIll all could see and the rear
guard cheered the appearance Of the
speakers as heartily as II actually able TO
follow their words.
Surely never has such a gathering con-
gTegated on American soil and seldom on
that Of eny Of the older countries.
When at length the formal transfer was
made and President Roosevelt cocepted Mr.
Francis tender OF the grounds and build
ings a salvo OF aerial guns broke forth in
long booming salute and the serried multi
tude within the building rose cheering. Yell
Ing Itself hoarse in honor OF the man the
nation has chosen as its chief spokesman
and Of the land he represents.
Then all surged forth. gay. animated and
not at all discouraged by the climatic gloom
and dripping rainclouds, ana then, later.
surged back again to see the first Of the
gigantic fireworks displays arranged for the
three days celebration.
|