The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-09
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the mind. leading the reader centuries
away from expositions the book is laid
away and tho calm that should precede
slumber and pleasant dreams has soothed
the Exposition President and prepared him
for sound rest.
For time. Just before his family left the
city. the utter quietude of the Kinioch Club.
three miles east OF Fforissant. was an oasis
for Mr.. Francis. Amid the very exclusive
atmosphere OF this place of refuge he spent
many nights and Sundays.
II the night has been passed at the Fran
els residence. the morning drive to the Ad-
ministration building is filled in with dicta-
ton on the way. Mr.. Thompson. the private
secretary. always carries with him a port
manteau full Of correspondence Twenty
letters Il an average dictation during the
drive.
Once In his ONCE. II Is not such an easy
matter to interview the head OF the EXPOSE
ton. II every person who called was adj
mitted. the Exposition would never be
opened on May l. 1904. Two workrnen who
had been refused employment at the United
States Government building called one
morning to have President Francis attend
to their cases
VI COuf8e tue SIsSlQcut udo no dutuOf1ty
to bring about such q condition. They went
away disappointed, yet the missions OF most
Of the callers are not more unreasonable
than that Of the workmen. The number OF
women who call ia see Presiden: Francis
would require a separate census Their err
rands are varied
Luncheon at the Administration buildfnS
cafe d served at o'clock. President Fran
cis has his private dining-room. where sell
dom q day passes that he has not from four
to . dozen guests-State Commissioners and
foreign representatives or Government on
Gals. The Invitation to sit at the Presi-
dents table . . personally extended ono.
The company at luncheaon nearly always
includes Director Of Exhibits Skiff. Director
Of Concessions and Admissions Gregg and
Secretary Stevens. acting Director Of Ex-
ploitaion. Director Of Works Taylor. menu
bers or the Presidents cabinet who
are the nearest Exposition officials
to the directing ofacer. In the absencs
Of other guests. the cabinet discusses In .
pleasant way the Affairs Of the Exposition.
These iuncheons have their utility In
soothing out wrinkles which often perpleX
the administration. Commissioners from
distant States may have a real or fancied
grievance to bring to the attention Of the
President. After one Of these dinners little
II left OF the misunderstanding. 1t is . very
good-natLred way Of setting the wrono
thing right.
President Francis spends his summer w.
cation In another manner. which has coma
into fashion only lately. He drives over the
grounds more frequently than in the days
Of rough construction. when his judgment
Of the work could not be 30 technically kesn
- Il has become in these days OF dscora-
tion. The Exposition President ID carefully
scanning the decorative progress of the
Fair.
So II IL that David r. Francis 10 spending
his summer. 30 he will spend another sum-
mer before Q vacation beckons him away
from three years Of solid drudgery In pre-
pairing what millions will come Thousands Of
miles to enjoy only for days.
7. r. MacNECHEM.