The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-09-24
BANQUET TO CONGRESS DELEGATES
GROWING SOCIAL FEATURE OF FAIR

The browning social feature of the en-
tire Worlds Fair period was marked last
night when more than 100 guests sat
down TO the banquet tables in the NAM
moth hall at the German Tyrolean Alps
to DO honor 10 the officers and speakers
OF the Congress Of Arts and Science
Never in any age has there assembled
such brilliant gathering of the cream
of leaders in all branches OF science from
the four quarters of the globe. and 1t is
doubtful If there ever will be again a like
experience to those who attended the
function last night which scintillated with
the brightest lights of this intellectual
and educational period.
1t was a gathering which forced upon
one the deepest impression. and IL WAS
with a feeling OF almost reverence and 4
sense OF a fleeing epoch OF lifetime
that that immense body arose to drink the
several toasts and listened TO the
thoughts OF the worlds greatest minds
Gathered from every prominent ednca-
tional and intellectual center OF the world.
tho guests gave to the banquet a most
cosmopolitan appearance. and at the diff
all the prominent languages of to-day
The scene OF those .Oo guests seated at
the long row OF tables. with the speakers
table running across the south end OF
the hall. the dark strings Of black and
white Of the dress suits dotted here and
there by some brilliantly colored and gold
covered uniform. the balconies filed with
beautifully-gowned women and tbs. C;srt!a
Repubhcaine Band seated in tiers behind
4 Lad lrvnc
long remain fresh in the minds of those
ing.
The tables were decorated with cut
flowers. but aside from this there were
but few attempts TO make the big banquet
itself attractive.
All admissions were BY card and by
clock the guests began gathering. There
was little or no confusion. and all OF the
tables filled rapidly without any rear
engagement. the speakers table being the
last TO become settled.
President Francis was among the last
OF the speakers to arrive. and when ne
finally took the chair at the center, the
ceremony. When the dinner was well I'M
der way the Garde Republicaire Band
took up its place on the stage At
their arrival was caused BY a holding out
against playing in a hall which had
German name.
AT SPEAKERS TABLE
At the speakers table and to the right
of President Francis were: Simon New
comb. President of international Congress
OF Arts and Science: RoIla Wells, Mayor
Of st. Louis: Doctor Theodor Lewa.d.
German Commissioner General; Professor
Hugo Muensterberg. Harvard University:
w. X. Harper. president OF the Chicago
University: Professor p. NJ. Mattheef,
Commissioner General of Bulgaria: u. J.
Hill. United States Minister 10 Switzer-
land; George De Szogyny. Commissioner
General from Hungary: Mrs Boyce-Hun-
sfcker. Board OF Lady Managers. Profes-
sor A. NJ Small. Chicago University. and
John Schroers. Chairman OF the Commit
tee On Education
To the left were: James Bryce. London;
Howard ! Rogers Director of Con-
Frederick ]. V. Skifr. Director OF Exhib-
its; Professor CASTOR Darboux. Paris; +.
W. Lehman. St Louis. Attic Brunalu.
Italian Parliament: Duqpe de Estrada,
Muncio. Mexican Commissioner General.
Professor Gore. Columbian University.
Washington: NJ; Artonns. Secretary OF
president OF the Missouri State Cniver-
sity.
When the dinner was about half finished
President Francis, who acted as toast
master. arose and proposed toast to the
President of the United States. This was
drunk standing. and the band played
The Star-Spangled Banner" amid great
the Rulers of the Countries and Nations
Represented at This Board was respond
ed to. followed by the band playing the
French national air.
To President Francis was given a rous-
ing reception when he arose to speak.
After referring 10 the Louisiana Purchase
he SPOKE of the Fair "a a monument 10
Monroe and Livingston upon which stood
out in has relief the Inscription. We
Have Lived Long and Accomplished
Much. but This Is the Growing Event
President Francis then said. to use the
words of Livingston: 4 have attended
many feasts. and have addressed many as
semblages. but this is the crowninS Of
fort Of my life He reviewed briefly the
history of the Worlds Fair. and was
often interrupted by applause as he re
ness with which il was marked. hut the
hurricane of hand-clapping broke loose
when he referred TO the International
Congress of Arts and Sciences as the eli
ton Company's efforts and results.
Professor Simon Newcomb. president of
the International Congress Of Arts ana
Sciences. was the next speaker introduced
and he brought out the muitifold benefits
that had resulted from the lectures and
presence of the master minds al the Fair.
His speech was heartily applauded
At the mention of James Bryce's name
there was a thunder of applause. and
when he opened his speech with the state
ment. Il come among you. 1 hope, not as
from all parts of the hall He said that
Great Britain had borne no little part in
the progression of science and pointed out
some of the greatest scientists He men
toned Sir Isaac Newton and Sir James
Watt, and then said that there was one
whose name stood out paramount to all.
Charles Darwin.
Mr.. Bryce felicitated the Exposition man.
agement. and said: This Fair is as much
vaster and more comprehensive than the
Paris Exposition as the United States Of
to-day Is greater than the original Loui-
siana Purchase
He then asked the question, Has this
congress been a SUGGEST" and pointed out
wherein 1t had. and spoke of the banquet
and other special social functions as OF the
most pleasant Of his career. Every meet
Ing Ike this II an occasion Of good wiz