The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-06-24


so, and the colors grow more entranc-
ing-until a final burst of rose and
purple hues from the wings an
nounces that the climax is reached?
The excursions of the Minnesota
Editorial Association have had some
thing of the same cumulative effect.
The rose and purple glasses were s,ld
in front of the calcium light on the
occasion of the 1904 excursion. III
was a trip that will live in memory; n
trip to dream of; trip that gave
every participant enough vivid mental
pictures to start private gallery. In
point of numbers, of interest, OF con-
geniality, of fun, instruction and
profit. it marked the grand climacterlc
of all similar excursions of the asso-
citation. 1t included railroad, river.
trolley and automobile riding.
enough of each and not too much. 1t
gave Minnesota editors chance TO
see the grandest of all big eXpositlons
and meanwhile to enjoy comfort, good
meals, thoughtful attendance and all
the minutiae (which mankind needs in
order to have a good time. Even the
weather contributed to the gala oc-
casion. for day by day the sun shone
through high, fieecy clouds and cool
winds blew, and the Sexton floods of
the preceding weeks had laid the dust
to rest.
Its destination was the st. Louis
Purchase Exposition, of course. All
the world is going there this summer
if anywhere. Ought to, too. The
editors will give readers their indl-
vidual impressions during the next
few weeks, while this account is a
sort of composite of the whole, to-
gether with a few small nosegays
for the buttonholes of the many kind
ly folk who made it possible for the
editors to take this magnificent out
ing in comfort and happiness at
minimum of expense.
The Highway to the Exposition.
The orchestra over, the curtain rolls
up at the Windsor hotel in ST. Paul,
the associations headquarters;
goodly place to foregather, with Mngr.
VIM. Hayes in the near foreground,
and a special 5 o'clock dinner for
ediors only, in the far-off rear. At
$50 p. m. the special train provided
by the Minneapolis & ST. Louis road
rolled out of the Union depot with the
party safely aboard, 800 strong.
All. that special train! 1t was no
Sunday-picnic, cheap skate of a train,
but one of the Purple Emperor type;
eight solid vestibuled Pullman sleep
ers of late construction, that kind
that makes poor man realize in how
many respects he is better housed
and cared for than the kings of half
a century ago. AS if the train itself
was not enough, General Passenger
Agent A. B. Cults of the M. & st. L.,
assigned to his chief clerk, c. HI.
Fleming, the duty of personally at
tending the expedition and giving it
all possible aid, duty which he exc
cuted with the urbane experiences
born of long training. He joined at
Minneapolis with several others, and
a few more came on at Albert Lea.
So the beautiful train Jared on
through the picturesque farms and
groves of Southern Minnesota, the
high speed and smoothly ballasted
roadbed adding the last touch of en-
joyment 1t was long and pleasant
evening in which to get acquainted or
re-acquainted, and the procession of
editors and ladies through the train
became regular continuous perform
ance.
Sunday morning found the train at
Moberly, Mo-, where the hotel at the
station, helped by another near by,
served a bountiful breakfast in the
true southern style of hospitality. A
tie-up on the road ahead Sent the
train around by another line, a
change of plan which was arranged
by the executive committee with its
usual ready promptness to meet and
solve unexpected problems. The
change made the arrival at st. Louis
late, but the excursionists saw more
country, and had a ride down the
river bank and around the city of st.
Louis before reaching the fair
grounds, so there were no complaints.
The delay, however, emphasized the
advantages which are enjoyed by
those who travel to the exposition
by the Minneapolis & st. Louis. The
terminals of the other roads are at
the Union station in ST. Louis, and
the visitor must hunt up street car
routes and transfers, and experience
long delays and some expense before
he finally reaches the Exposition,
whereas Jn6 WdDdSH SYSTEM, VI WHICH
the Minneapolis & st. Louis is a part,
lands its passengers at the gates of
the grounds, with cluster of hotels
and boarding houses all about the
neighborhood, and the Inside Inn
close at hand via the "Intramural.'
Without taking into consideration the
unrivalled service of the M. & st. L.,
this matter of convenience andmoney
saving should make it's route the
popular one to the fair all this sum-
mer.
Entering Exposition Grounds.
The excursion party disembarked
at the Exposition grounds at about
Z p. m. with whoop and a cheer
and debouched into a wide, brick
paved court, with guards and gates
and carriages in the background, and
Charles S. Mitchell, superintendent OF
the Minnesota Commission, occupying
the entire foreground, his manly
countenance expanded into a howl
of greeting, "Hooray! This way, girls!
This way, boys!" This arrangement
of the stage properties was repeated
so often during the week that it is
mentioned as type. When perplex
tiles and doubt assailed any group Of
editors, which was often, it was usu
ally Mitchell who was found close al
hand, telling them what to do anC
where to go. He came nearer to be
ing the ideal Charley-on-the-Spot thar
any Johnny of the South.