, 1904-04-30
Palace Of Mines and metaIurgy, Louisiana Purchase Exposition.

testified the peoples appreciation for
his invaluable work in making the ex-
position a success.
Addresses followed by Thomas H.
Carter. president of the national COM
mission; E. H. Hartman, speaker on
behalf of domestic exhibitors, and by
representatives of the Congressional
and other committees that have had
much to do with the affairs of the en-
terprise.
AS Secretary Taft stepped forward
to deliver the Grafton Of the day the
volume Of applause shook the very
armament. and it was at once seen
that the multitude regarded the secre-
tary of war as the central figure of the
days exercises. Secretary Taft's ad-
dress was brief and very characters
tic Of the man, who is known to be as
modest as he Is able.
When these formalities were con-
cluded there came a scene that vas no
table for its intense impressiveness.
President Francis stepped to the front
of the stand and faced the expectant
multitude. 1t was a few minutes past
the noon hour. and these words came
from the clearest Of voices:
Ladies and Gentlemen: l will now
dictate a telegram:
ITO the President Of the United
States of America, Washington, D. c.:
The representatives of the nations
cnp1 prnntin0S an1 rnntncf that vnu
put in motion the machinery of the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition"
A few feet away sat tie telegraph
operator who sent every word as it fell
from the lips of the speaker. who
paused at the end of every few words.
The vast audience was touched as
it had not been by anything else that
had happened during the opening .ex-
ercises. The clicking of the telegraph
instrument was heard by all within a
radius of many feet. so silent and
noiseless was the vast throng. One
could easily imagine what was going
on at the other end of the wire at the
nations capitol. No n spoke or
moved. A minute passed by. Then a
few seconds more Of stiffness, that
told that the hearts of these people
we're in the right place. and then, as
the tension was growing stronger and
more significant the report Of a can
non was heard. and the people jumped,
applauded, shouted, frantically waved
their hats and h~andkerchiefs and gave
every other indication Of rare delight.
The band played, every n shook
hands with his neighbor, with the nota-
BILE present, and fairly mobbed Presi'
dent Francis and the other officials
and directors who had made the scene
possible. Those who fingered about
the speakers stand heard read the tel
between President Roosevelt and Pres
egrams exchanged between President
Roosevelt and President Francis. The
majority Of the multitude, however.
were up and gone, eager to e what
the great exposition looked like now
that it was really an accomplished
fact.
Following the conclusion Of theopen-
ing ceremonies the denizens Of THE
Pike B tuelT innings. lueTe was
a parade Of all nations Just to make
known the fact that the great amuse-
ment feature of the exposition was
open to the world and prepared to fur
nish entertainment to all corners for
the next six months. Every cline was
represented IN the picturesque pageant
that wound about the exposition
grounds. starting from the Admins
tration plaza and marching and coun-
termarching through the principal ave-
nues of the Ivory City. Japanese and
Cossacks walked side by side and sub
jects Of the Shah hobnobbed with den
liens Of the land of the white elephant.
There were diminutive Fflipinos and
giant Patagonians, buxom matrons
from the Alpine country and scantily
clad South Sea islanders, whose home
is neal the equator. There were PEG
pie Of all races. creeds and colors, to
say nothing Of a magnificent display
of wild animals, lions that ride horse
back, elephants that stand on their
heads and tigers, leopards and other
beasts whose habitat is the jungle Of
India or Africa