The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-12-08

ct. Louis, Special.-The Louisiana
Purchase Exposition has ended. The
stupendous and magnificent exposition,
whose tendrils OF interest have extend
ed into every portion OF the civilized
world, and even into aboriginal re-
cesses, bringing within the gates Of st.
! Louis millions of visitors from
throughout the entire world, has run
Its course, and now passes into history
as probably having comprised the most
representative collection Of the re-
sources. industries, art, people and GUS
toms of the world ever assembled.
The best order has been maintained
throughout; there have been few
fires, but all were Of small moment,
with the exception OF the destruction
of the House of Hoo Hoo, and the par
! tial destruction Of the Missouri Build
! ing. recently. The former was immc-
diately rebuilt No loss Of life has oc-
CURED during the exposition from acci-
dents. st. Louis has proffered most
| 81 at lotS W lhC "oiAap e@Ab
| it has been accepted.
| Throngs of visitors have poured in to
attend the exposition with the expecta-
ton OF being pleased and satisfied.
They have departed amazed and graft
! fed. The opinion has been expressed
at all times. on all sides and without
reserve. that the Louisiana Purchase
! Exposition has been a success. The
man probably most prominently known
! in connection with the Worlds Fair is
| the president, David r. Francis, and 1t
was deemed fitting that the final day
shoulu be designated as Francis Day
! in his honor.
This exposition has been the work
OF my life" said President Francis. 1T
has consumed my entire time for the
past four years, but every hour has
been an hour Of pleasure to me. l have
exhausted my stock of adjectives in
trying to describe this fair. 1t is as
difficult to do it justice as it is to paint
the lily"
The closing exercises were held at
the base Of the Louisiana Purchase
monument. in the plaza Of st. Louis,
where were held seven months ago
the exercises that formally opened the
gates to the world The principal
speeches delivered were by Governor
Lockery, of Missouri. and President
Francis.
President Francis. in his address.
spoke OF the lasting influence OF the
fair. (which marks new epoch in the
intellectual and industrial advance
ment of the world and the dawn of a
new era in the industrial relations OF
governments and people" In conclu-
sion he said: May the enterprise with
which we have been connected for
nearly seven years past bring into still
closer brotherhood all the nations and
all the peoples who have participated
In it. May it deepen our patriotism.
May it strengthen our for a benign
Providence that smiles upon US"
Promptly at o'clock all the great
exhibit places were closed and visitors
were excluded. In the Palace OF Agrl-
culture onslaughts were made On some
of the exhibits, where the settings were
COMPOSED of straw and fragile mate
rial. and for time general demolition
was threatened. but prompt action in
| aHecllnS SeleTal eJeCthenI PuI
stop to the threatened turmoil.
Steadily the white bulbs silhouetted
the exhibit palaces against the night.
periodically the illumination OF the
Terrace of States surmounting Festival
Hill changed from white to red, then to
green. and then black and white. Over
on Agricultural Knoll the great floral
clock clicked off the minutes Of the de-
parting pageant. And in the night rang
out the tones OF the massive bell. as
the midnight hour was tolled by the
great clock. Instantly hush seemed
to peryade the entire grounds. The
glowing electric bulbs slowly began
dimming. the pulsations Of the great
engines that drove the cascades gradu-
ally died down. The light faded stead
ily. diminishing until but faint glow
was perceptible Suddenly there was
darkness. and the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition had passed into the chron-
icles OF history.