Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-12-09
END OF WORLDS FAIR
President Francis Was the Guest Of
Honor.
LARGE CROWD GATHERS ON GROUNDS
Totsl Admissions During the Fair Have fa
Exceeded Eighteen Mllons-The Ciosiui
Day, Known as "Fraucls Day" Observer
as Holiday In ST. Louis-Mr. Francis
Speech.

St. Louis, (SpcciaD.-Thc Loujsian;
Purchase Exposition has ended. The
stupendous and magnificent exposition
whose tendriIs Of interest have ex.
tended into every portion of the civ
ilized world and even into the abort
ginal recesses, bringing within the
gates of ST. Louis millions of visitor:
from throughout the entire world, ha:
run its course and now passes into
history as probably having comprised
the most representative collection o.
the resources, industries, art, people:
and customs of the world ever assem-.
bled. From the inception of pro,
ject to hold an exposition fittingly t.
commemorate the one hundredth an.
niversary of the purchase of the Lou.
isiana Territory, until the portals were
thrown open and the world was in.
vited to enter and enjoy the com.
plcted exhibition Of the worlds life
occupied period of seven years. The
Duration of the Exposition has been
seven months, and during that time
nothing has occurred to throw a
dampening effect on the interest or tc
detract from the Exposition in any
way. The best order has been main.
tanned throughout; there have been a
few fires, but all were Of small mo-
ment. with the exceptions of the de-
struction of the House of Hoo Hoo
and the destruction of the Missourian
Building recently. The former was
Immediately rebuilt. No loss OF life
has occurred during the exposition
from accidents. St. Louis has proffcr.
ed her most gracious hospitality to
the world, and it has been accepted.
Throngs of Visitors.
Throngs of visitors have poured in
to attend the Exposition. with the ex-
pectation of being pleased and salts
fled. They have dearted amazed and
gratifcd. he opinion has been OK
pressed at all times, on all sides and
without reserve, that the louisiana
Purchase Exposition has been a sue
cess. Congratulatory messages were
received in large numbers from all
parts Of the country and from abroad
conveying fluctuations upon the Sue
cess of the Exposition.
The man probably most prominent
y known in connection with tho
worlds Fair is president. David K
Francis, and it was deemed fitting
that the final day should be designated
as Francis Day." in his honor.
"This Exposition has been the work
of my life" said President Francis
ut has consumed my entire time tor
the past four years, but every hour
has been an hour of pleasure to me.
| have exhausted my stock of adjec-
tlves 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. On the opeu'
ing day the vast assemblage was buoy
ant in spirit and filled with a unani
nous desire to give expression tc
good feeling; on the closing day de-
preston prevailed generally because
Of the conclusion at hand, and it was
rather mournful assemblage that
formed a solid phaarX around the tai.
monument and listened to the tare.
we'll addresses.
Immediately upon the closing OF the
gates a large force of men began the
work Of packing and shipping the
exhibits. There are more than 500
officials Of tho United States customs:
service on the ground, and they vii
remain on duty until the last exhibit
has been shipped to the home address
of the exhibitor, or to such other des
| tination as may be selected.