Gilpin observer., 1904-05-05

progress toward higher material and
spiritual existence. 1t Is the measur-
ing rod OF that for which myriads Of
hands and myriads Of brains have
been striving-an increase in the con-
troll which mind and muscle have over
the inanimate resources that nature
furnishes. Not alone in the mechani
cal sciences, but in the fine arts, edu-
cation. in philosophy, in religion, by
comparison Of the leaders Of thought
had in personal cbference, are all
of these steps of modern progress
marked, and while the buildings and
the machines and the congresses and
the beauty and the glamor and the
pomp OF such a celebration and expo
sition as this shall pass into memory,
and every material evidence disappear.
the measurement that they make Of
progress, noticed as 1t is in the his
tory of the world, become benefit to
mankind, the value of which cannot
be exaggerated.
at reduces the size of our world,
in that 1t brings all nations into one
small locality for a time, but 1t in.
creases enormously the efficiency o.
those engaged in carrying on tn,
worlds progress by enabling each to
gather the benefit OF the others work"
The conclusion of the speech of Sec
retary Taft was the signal for the.
opening of the fair. In the White
House at Washington President Roose-
welt was waiting for the signal which
was to tell him that the proper mo-
ment had arrived to touch the golden
key that would open the fair in earn
est and set its manifold machinery in
full operation.
Secretary Taft had not turned to
resume his seat after concluding his
speech before the signal had been
flashed to Washington over the wires
of the Postal Telegraph Company. In
stantly there was returning fash
which started the machinery in Ma
chinery hall in operation.
Strictly speaking, this was all that
was accomplished by the presidential
touch on the button at Washington.
Operators here were waiting for the
response from the White House and
as quickly as it came they touched
the keys which released the fasten-
ings of the thousands of banners that
were secured to the STATS on the
roofs of all the large exhibition pal
aces. This portion of the work, as far
as could be seen from any one section
of the grounds. was perfect. Every
banner apparently caught the same
breath of air and unfurled and floated
out as one. At the far end of the la
COON the Louisiana purchase monu
ment was the place for the cascades.
This portion of the ceremonies had
greater interest for the people than
apparently any other feature Of the
opening. Hundreds of thousands Of
eyes were focused on the three white
inclines that extend from the coionade
to the lagoon basin. The first CLINT of
white foam at the summit of the in
cline was greeted with with a tremen-
dous cheer, which deepened as the
great flood Of water came splashing
tumultuously down to the lagoon be-
low. 1t was a sight full of beauty
and the great crowd which witnessed
1t appreciated and applauded to the
full.
simultaneously with the rush of the
water all the bands burst forth at once
into the strains of THE Star-Spangled
Banner" Every man in the great
crowd uncovered and when the last
strains of the martial song had died
away, the exercises were finished and
the exposition proper had commenced.
The first feature of the exposition
was the concessionaires' parade. This
was made up of all the different fea-
lures which will figure on the Pike"
during the life of the exposition.
The Pike is to the ST. Louis exposi-
tion exactly what the Midway" was
to the Columbian Exposition in Chi
cago. The features, though different
in character, furnish practically the
same form of amusement There
were in this parade some who had ac-
tually been present upon the famous
midway eleven years ago, and many
which had not been seen or heard OF
at that time. This procession. with
its diverse unique attractions. gave
much pleasure and delight to the
crowds, which cheered it most enthu-
| siastically along its line of march.
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