The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-02
WORLDS FAIR HAS
COME To A CLOSE
FRANCIS DAY ENDED IT
IN HONOR OF ITS PRESIDENT THE
DAY WAS NAMED.

81. Louis Exposition Is Now De-
Scribed as the Most Complete and
Successful Ever HeId-Many Wis
itOrs Were Received, and They
Were Amazed aud Grntihed-Ad-
dress Delivered by President
Francis on the Closing Day.
St. Louis, Dec. 1.-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 recesses,
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
resources, industries, art, peoples and
customs 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 imme-
diately rebuilt No loss of life has
occurred during the exposition from
accidents.
st. Louis has proffered her most
gracious hospitality to the world. and
it has been accepted.
= 4 r,ntarad in fO
attend the exposition with the expecta-
tion of being pleased and satisned.
They have departed amazed and graf
ified. The opinion has been expressed
at all times, on all sides and without
reserve, that the Louisiana Purchase
EXPOSITION has been a success.
The Work OF Francis.
The man probably most prominently
known in connection with the Worlds
Fair is the president. David r. Francis.
and it was deemed fitting that the hnal
day should 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 mas
been an hour of pleasure to, me. have
exhausted my stock of adjectives in
lENlIlK 10 QSSCElDt liAto AdiAs ~ 70 ~
difficult to do it justice as it Is to paint
the lfly."
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 Gov. Dock
cry of Missouri and President Francis.
Mr.. Francis in his address spoke of
the lasting influence of the fair. (which
marks a new epoch in the intellectual
and Industrial advancement OF the
world, and the dawn of new era In
the international relations of govern
ments and people" In conclusion, he
said: May this 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 II
strengthen our love for benign Prov
idence that smiles upon u.s."
Great Exhibit Buildings Closed.
Promptly at o'clock all the great
exhibit palaces were closed and visitors
were excluded. In the Palace of Agri-
culture onslaughts were made on some
of the exhibits and settings composed
OL clIdW anu Afdklt anu lOt
a time general demolition was threat
ened, but prompt action in effectlng
a general ejectment put a stop to the
threatened turmoil.
AS the night drew on throngs con-
centrated in the main avenues to view
for the last time the magnificent elec-
trio illumination. One solid stream
Of humanity swept through the pike
from end to end. The spirit OF revelry
was there.
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 back 20 white. over
on Agricultural Knoll the great floral
clock clicked off the minutes of the
departing pageant. And I'm the night
rang out the tones OF the massive bell
as the midnight hour was tolled by the
great clock. Instantly hush seemed
to perv.ade the entire grounds. The
glowing electric bulbs slowly began
dinming. the pulsations Of the great
engines that drove the cascades gradu-
ally died down. The light faded stead
lily, diminishing until but a faint glow
was perceptible. Suddenly there was
darkness, and the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition had passed into the chron-