The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-05-03

CONFUSION SO GREkf
BEMARKS RARD 10 HEAR
GiSer4 arts Building, Vince Escr'
4ises Were Held, Was a erTi-
table Sea Of k'aceS and
Sight Seldom Seem

St. Louis, May 1.-The buildings q!
the Louisiana Purchase exposition o.
Thursday were dediruted with all pos
siDlo pOn1p and ceremony. In every
way the exercises were 4 Si!CCC..s;, bl:]
the weather WIS bed. The wilAh bje>H
feTceiv from T." west, sending great
clouds Of dust vhirling into the faces
OF the troops as they marched past IT,
president, and at times SO nearly blind
ed the prcsi lent it WAS we'll nigh In
possible for him to sec across the street
in which the troops We're marching.
Added to the discomfort OF the wind
and dust was q temperature which
sought for the marrow, and generally
reached it. The women who, on the
strength OF the warm weather OF We'd
nesday, came in summer dresses to
the reviewing stand, suffered keenly,
although the officers commanding the
guard around the reviewing stand pro,
Vided them with blankets. Both Pres.
ident Roosevelt and former President
Cleveland remained in the reviewing
stand exposed to the icy wind until
the end Of the parade, although their
faces were blue and their limbs were
stiffened by the cold. Conditions in
the Liberal Arts building where the ded-
ication ceremonies were held, were lit.
tie better.
Of all the speakers, President Roose-
welt alone was able to make his voice
carry further than fifty feet from the
stage. By far the largest part of the
assembly could hear nothing, and it
was nearly freezing to death. Thou
sands of people in the rear part ct
the hall were constantly moving about
and producing a muffled roar that
would have baffed fog horn.
When the president rose to speak he
was cheered to the echo. He bowed
again and again, suggesting by his
manner that quiet was restored. Final
ly he mounted the broad railing in
front of the rostrum where he could
be seen from every part of the hall,
and again motioned for silence. There
was everything but silence, and Presi-
dent Francis suggested that he proceed
with his speech and quiet would fol-
low The president laughed and shook
his head. Taking advantage OF luIl,
he called, Now, my fellew-citizens,
give me all the chance you can, for
need it.
The chance was given, and the pres
ident began his address. A burst of
applause greeted his statement that
the Dutch had done great things Tor
the country in its infancy, and the
president laughed in manner which
plainly said: THAT means my ances-
tors"
Another outhurst Of applause. which
was long continued after he had
spoken about fifteen minutes, caused
him to. laugh and remark to Presi-
dent Francis, Now, think I'm DONE"
and when the applause died away he
went on with his speech.
Following the presidents address
the chorus rendered Unfold, We Por-
tails
Senator Carter then introduced ex-
President Grover Cleveland, who
spoke.
After leaving the hall the president
was entertained at dinner in the ad-
ministration building. from the win
dOws of which he watched the fire
works until 10 o'clock, when he en-
tered his train.
At 2:25 the assembly was called to
order by President Francis. The noise
was SO great that his voice could not
be heard twenty feet from the rostrum
Cardinal Gibbons delivered the invoca-
ton.
Following the invocation Of the car
dinal, United States Senator Thomas
H. Carter Of the national committee
who acted as president Of the day, was
introduced. and spoke.
After the rendition Of The Heavens
Proclaiming," by the chorus of Z00O
voices, David R. Francis, president of
the fair association, delivered an ad-
dress, presenting the buildings of the
fair.
At the conclusion of President Fran
els address terrific cheers broke forth
to greet President Roosevelt, who de-
livered the dedication address.
The exercises were closed by a ben
ediction delivered by Bishop Potter
of New York.
Thousands of people occupied an
immense stand near the Administra-
ton building during the evening to
witness the display of fireworks The
display was delayed until the appear
ance of the president. when a great
battery of fifteen-inch aerial moons
were exploded in a saulte, which was
almost deafening. The spectacle closed
with the printing in letters Of fire of
the words: Farewell until 1904
Rice Company.