The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-23
THE REAL CENTENNIAL
LOUISIANA PURCHASE ANNIVERSARY
OCCURS NEXT MONTH.
1t Will he Celebrated I'm New Orleans
with Social Gayeties and
Formal Ceremonies.

Correspondence of the indianapolis Journal.
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. N.-The Centen-
NAL celebration in New Orleans next month
OF the transfer of the wide domain of the
old Louisiana territory will mark a men,
orable occasion. The observation of the
same event in st. Louis next summer will
come a few months after the actual date of
the historic fact it commentaries, just as
the fair in Chicago was delayed beyond the
date OF Columbus's discovery. and for that
reason the New Orleans Centennial, which
is In charge of the Louisiana Historical
Society. win undoubtedly attract additional
attention by reason of its tipeliness The
cession OF Spanish Louisiana TO France pre-
liminary to its sale to the United States,
took place in November of 1903, with elab-
crate and significant formalities. in which
congratulatory and polite speeches were
dulled somewhat by apprehension that a
hitch might occur somewhere in the pro-
gramme- This not developing, however,
the French representative was enabled to
complete the programme a month later by
turning oyer the princely territory to the
American commissioners, Claiborne and
Wilkinson. This ceremony took place on
the morning of Dec 20, 1902 on the balcony
of the old City Hall, or Spanish Cabildo,
in New Orleans, and came TO an end in the
parade ground. or Place dArmes, directly
nag was lowered and the American colors
were raised 10 the roar OF cann0ns in the
town forts and on the river
This actual ceremony the city of New
Orleans means TO commemorate on the
proper date and hour and Just where the
ceremonies in which the French and Amer
lean commissioners participated took place.
The old Cabldo still stands changed only
by the addition of a French mansard roof
and from its quaint balcony, on the same
spot where the commissioners consumated
IN he of
next month-which this year falls on Sun
day-the centennial celebration will come
to fitting close: This last day will begin
with Pontificial high mass and TIE Deum
I'm the old st. Louis Cathedral just adjoin-
ing and then an Grafton will be delivered
from the Cabildo balcony, at the end of
which the national colors will be raised in
the public square opposite. When this
ceremony took place 100 years ago, the
French flag was lowered and the American
colors were raised on the same staff. Half
way there was pause and then a salute
by the artillery. The American soldiers
and colonial militia, who were drawn up on
opposite sides OF the square. presented
arms and as the French flag fell lower
the American military commander took
charge OF the French troops The recalling
OF this detail will form the dramatic Gull
mination OF the centennial exercises.
A LAST CENTURY BzLL.
This ceremony also marked the end of a
period of social festivities in the city in
which the Spanish and French representa-
tives played hosts by turns TO the Ameri-
can commissioners. Among other events OF
this sort the French commissioner enter
tanned the Americans at a grand ball and
reception. IL has been described as a re-
markable function. surprising in brilliancy
any other affair OF similar kind ever given
In city noted for it's social pleasures. Hum
dreds OF the noted beauties OF the day were
present and in the style OF the time the
affair began with a concert. at which there
were light refreshments. At the conclusion
OF the concert a ball followed. concerning
which the contemporary writer's grew en-
thusiastic particularly over the brilliant
picture made by the ladies who graced the
occasion The gowns were described as
generally simple and of white, and flowers
were more noticeable than jewels. but the
historians OF the function spared no words