Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1904-12-07

Honor-Closing Scenes impressive.
st. Louis. Spccal-rhc Louisiana
Purchase Exposition has ended. The
stupendous and magnificent exposition.
whose tcndrils of interest have extend
cd into every portion of the civilized
world. and cycn into aboriginal re-
ccsses. bringing within the gates OF st.
Louis millions of visitors from
throughout the entire world. has run
Its course, and now passes into history
rs probably having comprised the most
representative collection of the re-
sources industries. art. peoplc and Gus
toms of the world ever assembled.
The best order has been maintained
throughout; there have been few
fires, but all were - small moment.
with the exception OF the destruction
oi the House Of Hoo Hoo. and the par
thai destruction of the Missouri Build-
ing. recently. The former was immc-
dlatciy rebuilt. No loss of life has oc-
CCrr'd during the exposition from acct
dents. ST. LOUIS has proffcred mos:
gracious hospitality to tho world. and
II has hccn accepted.
IhronCS OF visitors have poured in to
attend the exposition with the cxpecta-
non ot being pleased and satisfied.
!hey have departed amazcG and graft
fed. The opinion has been expressed
at all times. on all sides and without
reserve. that the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition has been a success. The
man probably most prominently known
In connection with the Worlds Fair is
the president. David r. Francis. and 1T
was deemed fitting that the final day
should he 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 tho
past -four years. but every hour has
| hecn an hour OF pleasure to me- have
exhausted my stock OF adjectives in
! trying To describe this fair 1t is ms
| difficult To do il 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 10 the world. The principal
| speeches delivered were by Governor
! l-ockcry. of Missouri. ana President
! Francis.
President Francis. in his address.
| spoke Of the lasting influence OF the
! fair which marks new epoch in the
intellectual ana industrial advance
ment of the world and tho dawn OF a
new era in the industrial relations OF
| governments and people" In conclu-
sion he said: May the enterprise with
which we have been connected for
nearly seven years past bring into still
closer brotherhood all the nations and
oil the peoples who have participated
In it. May il deepen our patriotism
May IT strengthen our for a benign
Providence that smiles upon us
| Promptly at O'Clock all the great
exhibit places were closed and visitors
were excluded. In the palace of Agri-
culture onslaughts were made on some
| ol the exhibits. where the settings were
| composed Of straw and fragile mate
rial. and for time general demolition
was threatened. but prompt action in
Affecting general ejectment put n
| stop to tho threatened turmoil.
Steadily tho white bulbs silhouetted
the exhibit palaces against The night.
| periodically the illumination Of the
! Terrace of states surmounting Festival
/ Hill changed from white 10 red. then to
! green. and then black and white. Over
ON Agricultural Knoll the great floral
! clock clicked off the minutes OF thc de-
/ parting pageant And in he night rang
| out The tones OF the massive bell. as
the midnight hour was tolled by tho
| great clock. Instantly a hush seemed
TO pcrvadc the entire grounds The
glowing electric bulbs slowly bceau
dimming. the pulsations of the great
engines that drove the cascades gradu-
ally died down The light faded stead
| lily, diminishing until but n faint glow
was pcrceptible. Suddenly there was
darkness. and the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition had passed into the chron-
| icles of history