The daily tribune., 1904-04-30


and science. and the formal opening
today Was marked by the absence Of
soldiery in uniform.
The place Of rendezvous Was the
great plaza to the north Of the Grand
Basin aud in the shadow Of the i'm
posing louisiana Purchase monument.
At 8 O'Clock the board of directors Of
the far. the members Of the national
commission. the board Of lady man.
ayers and other officials met in the
Administration building. where there
was an interesting little ceremony ~
q prelude to the more important event
Of the day. This consisted Of the
presentation to President Francis Of Q
gavel with which to call to order the
Assem- blage of notabies. The 9avel
WAS made Of many pieces Of wood
taken from various trees grown in the
Forest park portion of the exposition
grounds.
President Francis and his party
we're escorted from the Administration
building to the scene Of the days
ceremonies, where they wsre joined
by the foreign commissioners, who
had mbled earlier ut the British
pavilion; and the governors Of states
aud state mmissions and committees
who had rounded mp at the United
States government building. Secre.
tary Taft, as the representative of
President Roosevelt, was escorted to
the grounds by q military guard. md
proper escorts were furnished also to
the members Of congress and other
specially invited guests
Promptly at half past ten the exoz.
cises OF the day began There was
little formality, hardly any display to
attract the seekers Of the picturesq ne
and still the programme WAS carried
out amid surroundings and in a man
ner in all ways appropriate. The
ceremonies were opened ~ith an in.
vocation by the Rev. Frank W. Gun.
saulus Of Chicago The invocation
was followed by the rendering Of
America" by the bands, and an ad-
dress by the Hon. D. r. Francis,
president Of the exposition. Presi-
dent Francis WAS given q great ova-
tion. In brief address he reviewed
the history Of the exposition enterprise
from its inception to the supreme
moment now at hand. eulogizing the
work Of his colleagues and praising
the public spirit Of the citizens of st.
Louis in general. He set forth the
objects of TIE exposition to be to COM
memorate the past, present the ad-
vantages Of the present, and inspire
hope for the future-the past, the
present, the future of America and
the whole world. Loud and contin.
nous cheering followed the conclusion
OF President Francis remarks, and
the band struck up 1.-THE Star
Spangled Banner amid tumultuous
cheering and waving Of hats and
handkerchief.
William H. Thompson, chairman Of
the committee on grounds and build
lDgs. stepped to the front Of the speak.
er's stand and introduced Isaac l..
Taylor, director of works. An ova.
tion was rendered to Mr.. Taylor, who
had managed great part of the huge
task of preparing the exposition and
had done many things that only a
g reat man of remarkable versatility
can perform. He said that he had
worked many months on his speech.
and that in delivering it he would
deliver the keys of the buildingg to
President Francis, which he did.
The transfer of the exhibit palaces to
F. ]. V. Skiff, director of exhibits,
was then made. Mr.. Skif delivered
bIIef address and was accorded q
rousing reception that testified the
peoples appreciation for his invalua.
BILE work in making the exposition 3
success.